The Devil’s Witness

CHAPTER V: The past

Lucas’ POV

Dorian was waiting for me when I got home and when I got home, I stopped at the entrance to my apartment, I didn’t want to let him in.

He was leaning against the wall beside my door, arms crossed, his expression unreadable.

“You have a habit of appearing where you’re not wanted,” I said.

His eyes moved over me. “You have a habit of putting yourself in dangerous places.”

“I was investigating.”

“You were being reckless.”

“I thought you wanted me to investigate.”

“I wanted you alive.” The words came out too quickly.

We both went quiet then Dorian pushed away from the wall.

“You went to Le Jardin.”

“How did you know?”

“I told you. I know things.”

“That answer is getting really irritating.”

“So is watching you ignore every warning I give you.”

I unlocked my door. “Then stop giving them.”

Dorian followed me inside and I turned around immediately.

“Did I invite you in?”

“No.”

“Then leave.”

He didn’t move, Instead, his gaze landed on the folder sitting on my desk.

“You found Victor.”

I froze. “How do you know that?”

“Mara told me.”

My stomach tightened.

“She knows?” I was shocked.

“She knows you’re investigating her.”

“And you’re still standing here?”

Dorian’s jaw tightened. “You don’t understand what Mara is capable of.”

“Then explain it.”

“I can’t.”

“Of course.” I turned away and his hand caught my wrist.

I stopped.

“Let go.”

He did, almost immediately but neither of us moved and Dorian’s eyes stayed on mine.

“You think I don’t want to tell you?”

“I think you don’t trust me.”

“I don’t trust anyone.”

“That sounds like a personal problem.” I fired at him.

“It is.”

Something shifted in his expression and for the first time, Dorian looked less like the cold man I’d watched pull a trigger and more like someone who was exhausted from carrying something alone.

I looked away first. “You shouldn’t be here.”

“I know.”

“Then why are you?”

He didn’t answer then I looked back at him.

“Dorian?”

His gaze dropped briefly to my mouth before returning to my eyes.

The movement was so quick I almost convinced myself I’d imagined it.

Then he stepped closer and my heart stumbled.

“What are you doing?”

“I don’t know.”

That answer surprised me because Dorian Voss always seemed to know exactly what he was doing.

He reached up, hesitated, then gently touched my jaw.

I should have moved but I didn’t.

He leaned in and kissed me.

It was brief, barely more than a moment but it was enough to leave me completely still.

Dorian pulled away first, neither of us spoke.

His expression had changed, not softer, just… uncertain, as though he hadn’t expected himself to do it either.

I touched my lips, staring at him. “You kissed me.”

“I know.”

“Why?”

He looked at me for several seconds.

“Because I wanted to.”

The honesty of it caught me off guard. I swallowed hard.

“You can’t do things like that whenever you feel like it.”

“I know.”

“You’re impossible.”

“I’ve been told.”

Despite myself, I almost smiled then reality returned.

“You’re still not getting me to stop investigating Mara.”

Dorian’s expression hardened again. “I wasn’t asking.”

“Good.”

I walked toward the door and opened it.

He stopped beside me. “You’re going to get yourself killed.”

“Then I guess you’ll have to keep saving me.”

His eyes met mine.

For a second, something almost amused flickered across his face. “That’s becoming a problem.”

“What is?”

“Wanting to.”

He stepped into the hallway and I watched him walk away.

The door remained open long after he disappeared.

I had spent the last few days trying to figure out whether Dorian Voss was dangerous.

I had my answer now.

The more frightening question was why, despite knowing exactly what he was capable of, I wanted him to come back.

… later that night

I barely slept. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Dorian.

Not the man from the alley, and not the man holding the gun but the man who had stood in my apartment and looked at me like he was trying to understand something neither of us had the courage to name.

And, unfortunately, I couldn’t stop thinking about the kiss, It had lasted seconds or maybe less but apparently, seconds were enough to ruin an entire night’s sleep.

By seven the next morning, I gave up trying.

I showered, dressed, and headed downstairs to the small grocery store on the corner.

I needed coffee and food but mostly coffee to keep working.

The store was almost empty when I walked in. I grabbed a basket and headed toward the drinks aisle.

I was reaching for a bottle of juice when someone bumped into me.

“Sorry.” I turned.

The man standing behind me was holding a carton of milk in one hand and a ridiculous number of snacks in the other. He looked vaguely familiar then it clicked.

“Ethan?”

His face lit up.

“Lucas?” I laughed.

“Wow. It’s been years.”

Ethan Cole, my ex boyfriend who I met in my journalism class at university. We was very sweet and we dated for a little bit before he made me choose between my job and him.

He looked almost exactly the same, maybe a little older and hotter but definitely more confident.

“What are you doing here?” he asked.

“Buying food.”

He looked into my basket.

“That’s not food.”

“Coffee is food.” I laughed.

“No, it’s not.”

“It is when you’re a journalist.” He laughed.

I hadn’t realized how much I needed a normal conversation until then.

For the first time in days, I wasn’t thinking about the Black Vipers, or Daniel or Dorian.

I was just Lucas.

“Where are you working now?” Ethan asked.

“Still at The Daily.”

“Seriously?”

“Unfortunately.”

“I thought you’d be somewhere bigger by now.” He replied sounding like he was mocking me.

“I’m working on something big.” And the moment the words left my mouth, I regretted them.

Ethan noticed. “You can’t just say that and not tell me.”

“I can.”

“Still secretive?”

“Still nosy.”

He smiled. “Fair”

We moved toward the checkout together.

“So,” he said, “are you seeing anyone?”

I nearly choked on my saliva. “What?”

“It’s a normal question.”

“Since when?”

“Since I’m asking it.” I shook my head, nothing about that question was normal especially from him.

“No.” He looked pleased.

“Good.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“Good?”

“I’m asking you to dinner.”

I stared at him.

“That’s quick.”

“Friday, dinner, seven.”

I hesitated, everything was wrong with it. Ethan was normal and safe and he wasn’t a murderer but…

“Fine.” I didn’t know when I answered that.

“Great.”

He pulled out his phone. “Give me your number.”

I did and he sent me a message immediately.

My phone buzzed.

Ethan: friday, don’t disappear. I smiled deeply as I read it.

We reached the checkout and he paid for my coffee and the few things I’d managed to remember.

When I stepped outside, Ethan was still standing by the entrance.

“Lucas.” I turned and he pointed toward my phone.

“Don’t cancel.”

“I won’t.”

He smiled before walking away while I watched him disappear down the street.

For the first time in days, I felt strangely normal, well before I noticed the black car parked across the road.

My smile disappeared, it should as the driver’s window was tinted.

I couldn’t see who was inside but I knew who it was going to be. Who else was following me?

I walked toward it and the window lowered.

Dorian sat behind the wheel and he looked at me then at the grocery bag in my hand the down the street where Ethan had disappeared.

“Who was that?”

I stared at him. “Good morning to you too.”

“Lucas.”

“Ethan.” s**t! I shouldn’t have said his name.

“Who is Ethan?”

I laughed. “Are you serious?”

Dorian’s jaw tightened. “You were smiling.”

“So?”

“You don’t smile like that around me.”

The words slipped out before he could stop them.

I stared at him and he looked away immediately. For once, he seemed to realize he’d said too much.

I stepped closer to the car. “Were you watching me?”

“No.”

“You’re a terrible liar.”

“I was passing by.”

“At a grocery store?”

“Yes.”

“At eight in the morning?”

“Yes.”

“That’s convenient.”

His eyes returned to mine and asked what he always wanted to. “Do you like him?”

I couldn’t help smiling. “Why?”

Dorian didn’t answer so I leaned slightly toward the open window. “Are you jealous?”

His expression darkened. “No.”

“Definitely jealous.”

“Get in the car.”

“That’s not an answer.”

“Lucas.”

I laughed and for some reason, seeing Dorian irritated was satisfying.

“You’re unbelievable.”

“So I’ve heard.”

He unlocked the passenger door and I just looked at it then at him.

“What, you’re not getting in?”

“I didn’t ask for a ride.”

“I know.”

“Then why did you stop?”

Dorian’s eyes stayed on mine. “I wanted to see you.”

The words quieted me.

He looked almost annoyed with himself for admitting it so I opened the passenger door and got in.

The car smelled faintly of leather and his cologne and neither of us spoke for a moment then Dorian glanced at my grocery bag.

“You bought coffee.”

“Yes.”

“Have you eaten?”

I looked at him. “No.”

He sighed. “Let’s get breakfast then”

I smiled and caught the smallest hint of a smile on his face too.

For a man who claimed not to care, Dorian Voss was becoming remarkably bad at hiding it.