Bound By Four

Chapter 15

Elara's fingers shook slightly as she adjusted the old golden chain around her neck, staring at her reflection in the dirty mirror that was placed above the sink in the toilet of the bar she was currently in. The golden lights flickered continuously giving the bathroom a certain haunted vibe. After she had parted ways with Serene,she had immediately rushed back to the motel to get ready. And here she currently was dressed in a modest yet elegant gown as she waited for Lucian's message.

Her heart skipped when her phone buzzed in her purse. A text.

Lucian: Come out. I'm outside already.

Her stomach flipped. She contemplated leaving through the back and abandoned the whole dinner idea but decided against it. Slipping her phone back inside her purse,she exhaled a shaky breath before heading towards the exit. She had exchanged contact with serene after she had asked for hers first. She seemed like a nice person and she was the first friend she had made in a very long time. Serene felt like an older sister she never had and she was glad they had crossed paths. But she couldn't deny that she emitted a strange aura.

She shook her head, ridding her mind of any thoughts that would ruin the night. She had to think of how to face Lucian's brothers. Or at least try not to say something that would implicate her.

Stepping outside, she spotted him leaning casually against a sleek black car, one hand in his pocket, the other tapping against his phone. The bright glow from the tiny screen illuminated his face, painting his sharp features in white and blue. He looked like he had been summoned out of the cover of a vogue magazine.

“Do you live here, Miss Rivers?” He asked,his brows knitted in concern as he opened the car door for her.

Elara flushed. “That's silly. I do not live in a bar,Lucian. I actually live very far from here and it'd take more time to get there and then back. I was just saving you from the stress.”

He tilted his head, studying her, but didn’t press even though a question was at the tip of his tongue. Instead,he simply smirked. “You're very thoughtful. I love that.”

Sliding into the passenger seat,she immediately caught her reflection in the rearview mirror. Her hand darted to her hair to smooth the stubborn ones that had escaped the bun before adjusting her lipstick. She didn't look different from how she normally looked and she couldn't tell if it was a good thing. Lucian noticed her discomfort and his low chuckle filled the silence.

“You look beautiful” he murmured,his eyes trained on the road ahead as he pulled away. “You're the most beautiful woman I've seen today.”

Heat bloomed in her cheeks, and she immediately looked away facing the window while pretending as though the streets were the most interesting thing around. It was so strange that a guy younger than she was would make her feel this way. She liked feeling this way but she knew that it felt too good to be true.

They continued the drive in silence. It wasn't an uncomfortable silence but peaceful. It allowed her time to think. The further they went,the more she noticed how the scenery changed. Old houses that looked like they were a push away from collapsing stopped appearing, giving way to neatly lined street poles, beautiful green trees and magnificent buildings that looked more like estates than houses.

Elara’s lips parted slightly as she took it all in. “This is really beautiful. Wow”

Lucian glanced at her, his mouth curving. “I'll make sure to tell everyone that you thought their houses were beautiful.”

She offered him a small smile before facing the window again. The only time she had ever been in a place like this was during the first month she had been with Damien. He usually went to the rich neighbourhood to sell drugs to the young teenagers. “I'd like to hear what they think.”

Lucian pulled into a gated driveway,the golden bars sliding open as they neared and drove up to one of the largest houses she had ever seen. It gave off a certain Victorian era vibe, every window glowing warmly from within. Her nerves instantly tangled into knots. There was no backing out of this now.

She gripped her bag tighter. “your house looks like a f*****g castle.”

He shrugged, unbothered. “it sure doesn't feel like a castle. It's just… a building. That's it”

Her brows furrowed, but she decided not to pressure him into talking to her about his family problems. Instead she asked, “and your parents? I don't think you've mentioned anything about them. Don't they live here with you?”

She noticed the way his jaw tightened and his hand on the steering wheel tightened just slightly. She wondered if talking about his parents was a sensitive topic for him.

Finally, he parked and turned to her. “It's just my brothers and I here. My parents still aren't over their honeymoon phase so they live somewhere else.” Even though he tried to sound casual,she still didn't miss the weight in his voice.

Her nerves only worsened as they stepped out, her heels clicking faintly against the stone pathway. The house loomed above her, elegant yet intimidating, as though holding secrets within its walls.

Lucian reached out and rang the bell.

Her heart threatened to jump out from her ribs. She couldn't tell if she was excited or scared. All she knew was that she felt like turning back around and taking a bus home. But she doubted that she'd find a bus here. Everyone here had a car so there was no need for a bus stop.

Moments later, the door swung open.

Elara froze.

A guy stood by the door, tall and broad shouldered, bearing the same face as Lucian. The only thing different about the man in front of her and Lucian was the clothes they had on.

Her mouth dropped open. “Why am I just finding out that you have a twin?”

The man’s gaze slid over her slowly, lingering, assessing, before landing back on Lucian. A faint, knowing smile curved his lips.

“Nice to meet you, Miss Rivers”