Love And Vengeance

Little Brat

Evening crept in slowly, painting the sky in shades of orange and gold. From the large office window, Lucian watched the light fade over the city skyline. He had loosened his tie and was reading through a file, but his focus kept slipping. His mind still wandered back to Georgia.

The sound of the office door opening pulled him back to the present.

Damien strolled in, hands in his pockets, wearing that half-grin that meant he was up to something. “You still here?”

Lucian didn’t look up. “Where else would I be?”

Damien dropped down onto the couch like he owned the place. “At the club with me. That’s where.”

Lucian sighed, lowering the file. “I’m not going.”

Damien smirked. “You said that last week too.”

“And I meant it last week,” Lucian replied.

“Come on,” Damien said, leaning forward. “You’ve been too serious lately. One drink, that’s all I’m asking. You need to unwind a little.”

Lucian gave him a sideways look. “I’m not in the mood to watch you flirt with every girl in the club.”

Damien held a hand to his chest dramatically. “Flirt? Me? You make it sound like I don’t have standards.”

Lucian raised a brow. “You don’t.”

Damien chuckled. “Ouch. Low blow, brother.”

Lucian leaned back in his chair. “You’re not going to change my mind.”

Damien stood up and walked to his desk. “Fine. I’ll go alone then. And when people ask where the great Lucian Virelle is, I’ll tell them he’s too busy staring at balance sheets to have a life.”

Lucian gave a dry chuckle. “You already tell them that.”

“That’s because it’s true,” Damien said, grinning.

Lucian tried to stay firm, but Damien’s grin had that annoying way of breaking through his calm. Finally, he sighed and stood up. “Fine. One drink. Then I’m leaving.”

Damien’s grin widened. “I knew you’d come around.”

Lucian grabbed his jacket. “Let’s get this over with before I change my mind.”

They left the building together, the air outside warm but soft with the evening breeze. As Damien drove, music played low in the car, something upbeat that didn’t quite fit Lucian’s calm mood. He looked out the window, watching the city pass by: people walking in groups, couples laughing, restaurants filled with chatter and light.

They were nearing the main road when Lucian suddenly frowned. “Wait. Slow down.”

Damien glanced at him. “What?”

“Stop the car,” Lucian said, sitting up straighter.

Damien parked by the curb. “What is it?”

Lucian pointed toward a restaurant across the street, the kind with large glass windows that showed everyone inside. His brows drew together. “Is that… Leah? Or am I losing it?”

Damien turned his head sharply. Through the glass, they both saw her, Leah, sitting at a corner table, laughing softly at something on her phone, a half-empty milkshake in front of her.

Damien scoffed and leaned back. “I knew something was off when she agreed to go home too easily.”

Lucian sighed, rubbing his temple. “What are we going to do with her?”

Damien shrugged, already unbuckling his seatbelt. “What else? I’m dragging her ass back to your house.”

Before Lucian could say anything, Damien had already opened the door. Lucian followed him out, closing the car door with a quiet thud.

They crossed the street together, weaving between a few parked cars. Lucian stayed near the glass window, choosing to wait outside, while Damien pushed open the restaurant door and stepped inside.

The place smelled like coffee and fries, with soft music playing in the background. Leah sat with her back to the door, busy scrolling through her phone, completely unaware of what was coming.

Damien smirked, walking up behind her silently. He leaned down and, in one swift motion, lifted her off the chair.

Leah gasped, her phone almost slipping from her hand. “Damien!” she yelped, squirming in surprise. “Put me down!”

“You’re one naughty little brat, aren’t you?” he said, his tone half amused, half scolding.

“Brother, how did you even find me?” she asked, her voice small but guilty.

“Wrong question,” Damien said as he adjusted her on his shoulder, ignoring the stares from a few amused customers. “You should be asking why you didn’t go home.”

Leah huffed, tapping his back lightly. “I just wanted to spend some time with my brothers. Is that such a bad thing?”

“Running off isn’t the same as spending time,” Damien said as he started walking toward the exit. “You’re lucky Mom didn’t track you down first.”

She groaned. “Don’t remind me.”

Outside, Lucian watched the scene unfold with that calm look that said he wasn’t surprised.

Leah peeked up as they neared the door and whispered, “Don’t tell Lucian, please. If he asks, just tell him my flight got cancelled or something.”

The restaurant door swung open just as she said that, and Lucian’s calm voice cut through the air.

“Okay.”

Leah’s head whipped around so fast that her ponytail brushed Damien’s shoulder. Her eyes widened, and then, with a sweet, innocent smile that didn’t fool anyone, she said, “Brother, I didn’t know you came along.”

Lucian raised an eyebrow. “Clearly.”

Damien laughed, nearly losing his grip on her. “You should see your face right now.”

“Put me down!” Leah hissed, smacking his back lightly.

“Not until you’re in the car,” Damien said, walking toward the curb.

Lucian followed beside him, his hands in his pockets. “You really think she’ll stop running off after this?”

Damien shook his head. “Not a chance.”

“I can hear you,” Leah muttered, crossing her arms where she hung over his shoulder.

“Good,” Damien said. “Maybe you’ll finally listen.”

They reached the car, and Damien opened the back door. He gently set her down, but she didn’t climb in. Instead, she turned to face both of them, her cheeks flushed.

“I wasn’t doing anything wrong,” she said quickly. “I just wanted to get a drink.”

Lucian crossed his arms, his tone calm but firm. “You could have done that without sneaking off.”

Leah pouted slightly. “You both are so dramatic.”

Damien raised a brow. “Says the girl who practically ran away from home.”

“I didn’t run away,” she said defensively. “I just… took a small break.”

Lucian’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Next time you want a break, let us know before disappearing.”

Leah kicked lightly at a pebble near her shoe. “Fine. I’m sorry.”

Damien leaned against the car door. “You’re only saying that because you got caught.”

She gave him a fake glare. “You’re the worst.”

He grinned. “You’re welcome.”

Lucian sighed, shaking his head slightly. “Get in, Leah.”

She looked between them, knowing she couldn’t win this one. With a small huff, she climbed into the backseat, folding her arms. “You two are so boring.”

Damien slid into the driver’s seat, chuckling. “You’ll thank us later.”

Lucian got in beside him, closing the door. The car started moving again, the city lights beginning to flicker on as evening deepened.

Leah leaned her head against the window, mumbling, “You were supposed to go to the club.”

Damien smirked at Lucian. “Looks like she saved you from that tonight.”

Lucian gave a faint laugh. “Maybe she did.”

Leah peeked at him through the rearview mirror, a small smile forming despite herself. “See? I’m useful sometimes.”

Damien snorted. “Only by accident.”

She stuck her tongue out at him.

Lucian glanced at both of them, a quiet warmth filling his chest. For all the chaos they caused, moments like this, simple, human, real, reminded him what mattered most.

The car rolled down the street, the hum of the engine blending with their soft laughter.

By the time they reached Lucian’s house, the sky had faded into a soft blue, the kind that came just before night. Damien parked by the driveway and turned off the engine.

Leah unbuckled her seatbelt slowly, her tone playful. “You’re not really mad, right?”

Lucian turned to her, his expression calm but firm. “No. Just disappointed.”

She sighed dramatically. “That’s worse.”

Damien laughed as he got out. “You had that coming.”

Lucian stepped out too, looking at her over the roof of the car. “Go inside, Leah. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

She nodded, walking toward the door, but then turned back with a small grin. “Love you both.”

Damien smiled. “Yeah, yeah. Go before Mom calls.”

Lucian watched her disappear into the house, then looked at Damien. “You still want to go to the club?”

Damien shook his head, chuckling. “After that drama? I think I’ve had enough excitement for one night.”

Lucian smiled faintly. “Good. Because I wasn’t going anyway.”

Damien laughed as they headed inside together. “You win this time.”

Lucian glanced up at the sky, his mind drifting briefly back to Georgia, wondering what she was doing now. Then he followed Damien inside, closing the door behind them as the night finally settled in.