Page 89 of Privilege

Renzo recognized him.

Quickly, he snatched the back of his brother’s backpack, and pulled Diego behind him. His brother tripped over his feet, but all Renzo cared about was getting Diego out of Lucian’s view. He didn’t know what the man was here for, but he didn’t think it was anything good, either.

“Ren?” Diego whispered behind him, hugging his legs.

He reached back, and patted a hand against his brother’s head. He figured … his best bet was not to let this man think he had bothered him in any way by randomly showing up where he lived. Like that wasn’t threatening enough, really. If a fucking customer showed up at Ren’s place, he would beat the person within an inch of their life, so they never even thought about doing it again.

He didn’t think this would work out well for him if he tried that on Lucian.

Lucian smiled a slow, cold grin as he pushed away from the wall, and fixed the cuff on his suit jacket. Maybe it was the man’s posture, or the very expensive clothing and jewelry he wore, but the guy just screamed money. More than even his daughter did in her designer dresses and red-soled heels.

“Hope you don’t mind me dropping by, Renzo,” Lucian murmured, glancing up to meet Renzo’s gaze as he strolled closer. “Or do you prefer Ren?”

Renzo’s gaze narrowed. “I’d prefer if you left, actually.”

“Soon, soon.” Lucian shrugged. “No worries—this place isn’t really my scene.”

No fucking doubt.

Renzo chose to keep his mouth shut.

Not that Lucian cared.

He came to a stop just a couple of feet away from Renzo. Too fucking close, really. If he was intimidating several feet away, he was incredibly imposing being this close. Renzo refused to show it, though.

“If you’re here to tell me to stay away from your daughter—”

Lucian barked out a laugh. “Yes, I am here to tell you exactly that. And to explain a few things while I’m at it. Seems you don’t understand my reach, young man, or you just don’t care.”

Renzo refused to even blink with this man standing in front of him. “Go with the last one.”

“Funny—you’re a stupid one, then.”

“I—”

“Quiet,” Lucian murmured. “I know what my daughter did for you these past couple of days, and I know exactly where you were and what you were doing. See, I also know where you work on a daily basis, who works for you … who is supplying you.” The man leaned sideways a bit to smile down at Diego, but Renzo inched sideways to block his brother again. “And him … I even know his doctor’s name when he gets sick, and you need to take him in. I know the names of your sister’s teachers, and the address where she lives when she’s not coming back here to help you every once in a while.”

Renzo’s jaw stiffened. “Your point?”

“I made your life a little bit harder, didn’t I?” Lucian asked. “By taking away one thing—the daycare—you needed to fix it. Scramble to make it better. You fixed it this time around, but what would I take away next, young man? How much do I need to take away from you before you finally get the hint?”

Jesus Christ.

“Your sister?” Lucian asked, continuing on even when Renzo stayed silent. “Your apartment … or how about the way you keep it all afloat, hmm? What if I took away your ability to make money, and survive?”

Renzo tipped his chin up, fire in his heart and hate swimming in his blood. “You could try. My ability to get my hands on shit to sell isn’t dependent on the Marcellos, Lucian. You’re one supplier of many. Try something else.”

That was a lie.

It would be damn hard for him to work something else out, but he would do it.

“I’m sure,” Lucian said, stuffing his hands into his pockets. “Here’s the thing … you have no business with my daughter. And while I am usually fine to let my children do their own thing, not in this case, Renzo. See, I don’t know you, but what I do know, I don’t fucking like. I don’t want my daughter mixed up in you, your business, or your life. I don’t want her getting caught up in something I can’t save her from. You’re a wild card—I don’t know what number you’re going to show when I flip you over, and I can’t have that. Not when it’s my daughter’s safety that’s being gambled.”

Was that what it was about?

He thought Renzo was bad for her? That he was going to hurt her?

“I would never hurt Lucia.”