Goldsin (The Chrysophilist Trilogy Book 1)

Aurelia’s tension radiates like heat from a fire at my father’s words.

My eyes trail from him to her, catching every short breath that leaves her parted lips. Her hands are frozen by her sides, but her fingers twitch involuntarily as if they’re calling for a weapon to form between them.

She doesn’t need one. I’m seconds away from reaching for the gun in my back pocket, body coiled like a spring. If even one of her perfect red strands touches the ground, his head will be next.

I’m not the only one to notice the thickness in the air between us. Adrian follows closely, his eyes trained on Lucian, trying to decipher the reason for this sudden call and why it involves Aurelia.

“Sit down.” Lucian gestures to the chairs in front of his desk.

Adrian immediately complies, taking a seat with a straight back, attentive. I hesitate, unwilling to put any distance between myself and Aurelia.

She glances at me, her wide green eyes filled with uncertainty.

“Julian.” Lucian’s voice is sharp. Commanding.

Reluctantly, I take a seat next to Adrian, Aurelia on my other side.

I keep my body angled toward her, ready to leap if the bastard decides to shift his attention onto her. And I’m not the only one. Valentine stands as silent as stone at the far end of the room, close to Lucian, his full attention on her.

They share a look—not just any look but one filled with years of bonding. He speaks to her through it, and she listens, trusting him fully. It’s subtle enough not to attract attention, but since I can’t keep my eyes away from her, I notice it.

Her presence is like a magnet, drawing me in even when I know it’s dangerous. And despite the uncertainty we’re in, I can’t help but take in the details of her appearance.

I catch the way her red lips contrast perfectly against her pale skin. The shapes of the freckles dusting her nose. The stubborn tilt of her chin that tells me she won’t be broken easily. The shade of her green eyes—how there are two spots of brown in the left eye and just one in the right.

But I also see the fear lurking behind her brave façade. The tremble in her foot that she tries to hide by crossing one tightly over the other.

I hate seeing her like this.

Something inside of me roars for me to take action. To comfort her. To make her feel safe again. Yet I know any unexpected reaction from me would only draw more attention to her, putting her in danger. It’s already a miracle Lucian didn’t comment on her barely-there outfit.

Seeing a half-naked girl is nothing out of the ordinary for him. And yet his eyes run hungrily up and down her body as if she’s a piece of art he’s contemplating adding to his collection.

Fucking pervert.

Did he call her here just to have a good look?

Something simmers deep within me.

Or maybe he somehow found out about Aurelia’s involvement in DeMarco’s death. If that’s the case, things are about to get far more dangerous.

If only she trusted me enough to tell me why she did it, I could have prevented this inconvenience.

Not only that, but she decided to handcuff me and leave me alone in bed.

God, I’ll forever hear the taunting giggles that erupted from Emeric when he found me. The prick took pictures before untying me.

“Your friend here is quite beautiful, don’t you think?” Lucian’s eyes are still lingering on Aurelia. There’s a predatory glint in them that makes me want to put myself between them, but I control myself. Even as disgust churns within me.

“Her beauty is not the reason you called us in here,” I say with false self-control, “so cut the shit and tell us.”

“Ah, always straight to the point, aren’t you, Julian?” He leans back in his chair, fingers clenching together as he continues to praise Aurelia. “You see, I’ve been thinking about how best to utilize the golden one here. She has certain . . . talents after all.”

Aurelia stiffens beside me. She glances at Valentine, and he subtly shakes his head.

Is this it? Has he discovered her secret?

I swallow the lump forming in my dry throat, my hand centimeters away from the gun’s trigger.

I take a deep breath and focus on every single movement Lucian makes. I have a clear aim of his head from here—I could kill him before he could even take in his last breath. It would save Aurelia from his wrath, leaving me to take my brother’s bullet.

But she’d be safe.

Lies. The voice in my head mocks. With you gone, who’d protect her from the rest of the Inferno Consortium? Who would keep the demons at bay?

Lucian’s eyes narrow as he studies us, his gaze lingering on Aurelia for a moment longer. “Adrian,” he says, breaking the silence. “Leave us.”

Adrian hesitates, casting a worried glance in our direction before nodding stiffly. “As you wish, Father.” With that, he disappears through the door, leaving the four of us alone in the room.

No brother, no bullet to the heart. I might survive this after all.

“The girl has relied on our wealth—on the Inferno Consortium—for quite some time now,” Lucian starts, the words oozing from his mouth like venom. “It’s only fitting that she starts to prove her worth, don’t you think?”

Aurelia may have been adopted by Valentine, but that might as well be a misfortune, because in doing so he kept her close to us. Kept her part of the Inferno Consortium and close to Lucian.

She isn’t a lady. She’s a girl, and girls of the Inferno Consortium get used.

I grit my teeth, forcing myself to keep my anger in check as I feel Aurelia’s fingers digging into my arm. Her grip is desperate, a silent plea for me to remain calm despite the storm brewing inside of me.

“Aurelia is more than capable of standing on her own. She doesn’t need to prove anything,” I say with a tight jaw.

“Ah, but that’s where you’re wrong, Julian.” He leans forward, his gaze never leaving Aurelia’s face. It’s as if he’s trying to dissect her with his eyes alone. “Now that she’s old enough, she must learn to contribute to our world.”

“Your world?” Aurelia spits, finally finding her voice after what seemed like an eternity of silence. “The world of corruption and violence? I’m not interested in being a part of it.”

“Unfortunately, my dear, you don’t have a choice,” Lucian replies. “You’ve already taken the benefits that come with this life, whether you wanted to or not. Now the only way out is to become useful.”

Aurelia remains silent, her eyes wide, with something I can’t describe flickering in them. I can almost feel the weight of her dread pressing against me, suffocating us both.

As much as I don’t want her to take part in this fucked-up, twisted world I live in, there’s no denying the truth in Lucian’s words.

“If you want her to become useful, she’ll need guidance. I’ll help her, but on my terms.” My voice strains with the effort of holding back. The less I piss him off, the faster we can get out of here.

“Your terms?” Lucian raises his brows. A smirk pulls at the corners of his lips. “Very well. I will allow you to oversee the girl’s . . . integration into our world. But remember, she is ultimately my responsibility. Do not forget who you answer to.”

She is ultimately my responsibility. The pig.

“Of course.”

“Perfect.”

I hear my muscles strain as he looks at her.

“Now let’s get down to business.”

Lucian begins to outline his latest conquest, taking pride in the way Aurelia’s revulsion taints her expression. She’s a fighter, but even she has her breaking point. And it seems we’re rapidly approaching it.

I don’t blame her. I puked too the first time I heard Lucian’s detailed description of the woman he and his friends had fucked before carving their initials into her skin and hanging her as trophy art in one of our living rooms, leaving her to rot.

And then I fainted when he took me to see her.

I was only six.

“Is there a problem, golden one?” His voice drips with sarcasm. “You look as if you’re about to be sick.”

Aurelia swallows hard, throat bobbing.

Then her eyes dart between me and him before she lifts her chin, a dare shining in her gaze.

“I’m fine.” Her voice picks up strength. “Let’s just get this over with.”

His expression drops all trace of friendliness. “Remember, you are here because I’ve allowed it. Your life, your very existence, is dependent on your usefulness to me. Don’t forget that.”

A strange heaviness forms in my chest at seeing Aurelia’s freckles dull in color, the way her chest is suspended in the moment, as if she drifted someplace else before being forced back down into this hell.

She had the same reaction her first day of high school, when she stopped at my locker, a plate of star cookies in her hands—my favorite. I love eating the angles before digging into the middle. But I pushed right past her as if she didn’t exist.

Like my heart wasn’t fucking screaming to go back to her.

“Now, enough with the pleasantries—we have more important matters to discuss. Victoria Marlowe has informed me she’s grown quite fond of you.” His eyes stain her with his vileness.

Tensing, I contemplate his next words.

“Your task is simple,” Lucian continues, informing Aurelia of what she’s to do. “You will work together with Julian to ensure Victoria’s happiness and satisfaction. This will secure our alliance with the Marlowe family and keep the peace after the chaos of DeMarco’s death.”

“Father,” I say, my voice steady despite the need to gag at calling him that, “you can’t seriously want her to get involved in something this delicate. She will blow everything up. Victoria’s needs are being taken care of. She’s satisfied.”

Aurelia crosses her arms and huffs.

“Do not test me, boy,” he snarls. “If you refuse to do as I say, I’ll make sure your mother pays the price.”

I know he isn’t bluffing.

He’s done it before to keep me in line. But this time something inside of me snaps. I can’t let him hurt my mother, but I also can’t sacrifice Aurelia for it.

Lucian notices, because at the lack of a response from me, he says, “Her pussy must be gold if you’d give your mother to me to save her. It must be so if she’s being tossed between you and your brother. Since we’re keeping it in the family, maybe it’s time for my turn. What do you say?”

Aurelia stiffens next to me at his words. Her eyes round as she tries to mask the faint tremble of her body. A boiling fire ignites within me at seeing her like this.

Clenching my fists, I’m barely able to keep my bitterness in check. “You will not lay a finger on her.”

Lucian laughs—a cruel, mocking sound that echoes throughout the room. “Fine.” The amusement is clear in his voice. “You’d best do as you’re told, or I’ll be taking her to bed with me next.”

With that, he dismisses us from his presence.

Without needing to be told twice, we leave.

The air in the corridor is cold as we step outside, the chill settling into my bones. But it’s better than staying in the smothering heat of his office.

I glance at Aurelia, noticing how her body seems to tremble ever so slightly. Her eyes are wide, her lips pressed into a thin line.

“Julian . . .” Her voice is barely above a whisper. “How long has your mother been getting hit by your father?”

The question catches me off-guard.

I can’t ignore the genuine concern shining in her eyes. I hesitate for a moment, my throat tightening as I find the words.

“Since I was old enough to understand what bruises were. And that Mommy screaming wasn’t because they were playing tickle,” I say, my voice rough, borderline calloused. “He uses it to control me—to keep me in line.”

Tears shine in her eyes, and she reaches out to touch my arm. “I can’t let you choose me over your mother, Julian. I’ll help you with the Marlowe situation.”

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut, and I struggle to find the right thing to say.

How can I protect her if she refuses to stay out of harm’s way?

The truth is, I don’t want her involved in any of this—not with the Marlowes, and not with my family. But what choice do I have? She’s determined. And if I try to protect her, I’ll only be putting her in more danger. Plus, she got herself into this mess to begin with by killing DeMarco.

“Fine,” I concede, my voice straining. “But you need to understand that getting involved in my job means crossing lines you might not be ready to cross. Are you prepared for that?”

Like a knife digging into my flesh, I feel a sharpness bleeding me dry as all my past failed attempts at protecting my mom flood my vision. All the phone calls to the police, worthless when they were getting paid off the books by the Inferno Consortium; all the times I stood up for her; all the times I sought help from relatives and friends; all the times I begged Adrian to do something—anything.

Worthless.

“I’ve tried to shield my mother before,” I hear myself admit. “And it’s always ended badly.”

She hesitates, and for a moment I think she might back down.

But then she looks up at me, her eyes filled with determination.

“I can handle it, Julian. Trust me.”

Oh, I know you can, little one.

It’s not her I need to prepare. It’s me.

The thought of her getting caught up in the dark underbelly of the Inferno Consortium makes me sick with fear.

If anything happens to her, I’ll never forgive myself.

But you can’t even protect your own blood . . .

I lean in closer, our faces mere inches apart as I whisper my warning. “Just remember, though, if you’re going to get involved in my life, I won’t hesitate to get involved in yours. And I will find out the truth no matter what it takes.”

It’s a threat but also an invitation, a challenge for her to rise to.

She shivers at the proximity, her body tense yet oddly inviting. It’s clear she isn’t afraid of me—not in the way she should be, considering what we just went through.

As I pull away I study her face, trying to discern what’s going on in that little head of hers. But she remains unreadable.

“Is this another promise?” Her voice is tinged with something that sounds a lot like excitement. “You still have another promise to uphold.” She lightly bites down on her lower lip.

My dick stirs.

I still need to punish her, and lucky for her, I keep my promises.

“It’s a guarantee,” I say. “But no handcuffs this time.”

“Deal.” A smile tugs at the corner of her plump lips.