𝐊𝐀𝐕𝐀𝐍𝐀𝐆𝐇 𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐑 ; 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓁𝒾𝒷𝓇𝒶𝓇𝓎 ›› 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐎 & 𝐋𝐔𝐂𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐄 .
naivety didn’t much have anything to do with it . at least not USUALLY . not when it was the voice of a kavanagh that weaved their words & spoke of PRIVILEGE . every kavanagh knew the privilege their last name gave them . & he would be willing to bet even his LIFE on them using that to their advantage in almost all aspects of the life they made for themselves . the youngest kavanagh boy , maxime , undoubtedly used it to rig the horse races he rode in . who was REALLY going to want to beat the son of the man that could steal a horse right out from under you with a single word ? & theo imagined there was no way estelle kavanagh could have gotten HALF of where she was today ; a political radical that went against society norms like it was the norm , if her father wasn’t there to soften the edges for her by uttering sweet words — no doubt making light of his daughter’s actions & beliefs ; she’s a women with ideas & nothing more , there is no harm . nothing will ever come of it — straight into the ears of the politicians that HATED women like her . or ladening the pockets of the cops , that would have arrested her & thrown away the key if it had been someone like his own sister , with heavy coins . but when LUCIE spoke of benefitting — that she understood that there was privilege attached to her last name — there was a quality in her voice that made it sound different . as if MAYBE she understood what that benefit , that PRIVILEGE , meant when it was compared to someone like HIM . at least . . . theo conway the kavanagh soldier . the theo conway who was just a body amongst many . the theo conway who could be replaced as easily as one of the thoroughbreds he looked after in their stables . someone whose name held no weight unless it was attached to the privilege that came with the kavanagh’s . theo conway , second in command of the reapers , however . . . it was the FIRST time he’d mattered . it was the first time he’d gotten a taste of what it was like to get even a morsel of a taste of what it was like to be henry or james kavanagh . when people saw his blue eyes glinting as sharply as the tip of his knife , twisting fluidly & tauntingly in his hand , above the black fabric that covered the rest of his features , it wasn’t the kavanagh name that made them cower . it was the reapers . it was HIM . it was truly no surprise why henry had FINALLY returned to killadavan . that kind of power was intoxicating . it turned even the most kind-mannered men into wolves . because once they’d had a taste , NOTHING would ever be able to quench their thirst . & henry kavanagh had been drinking straight from the source since before theo had even been born . there was nothing , theo imagined , that henry wouldn’t do to get back the grip that he’d been slowly but surely losing on killadavan over the past years . & it was THAT theo conway , second in command of the reapers , that shifted within him to smother the growing curiosity about the soft quality of lucie’s voice that made him think that , even with her naivety , she knew that the benefits the kavanagh’s reaped from the world — just because they were a kavanagh — weren’t RIGHT . & turned towards an angle that fitted right into place of the notch he’d been working into the walls lucille kavanagh had up around herself . “ you might not be naive enough to think that . ” he started easily in agreement as his gaze flittered over to her once more , steady & unwavering , but there was a hanging BUT attached to the last of his words & he paused for a breath before he uttered it , “ but you ARE naive when it comes to believing their way is the only way to get a room full of kavanagh men , or a room full of ANYONE , to respect or listen to you . ” a coaxing brow rose upwards as his lips pressed together . there WAS after all many ways in which to command attention . & lucie possessed the greatest of them all . a pretty face could bring even the strongest man to their knees if its owner knew how to use it to their advantage . “ you’ve just got to figure out what your way is . ” his arctic eyes lingered upon her for only a beat longer before they drifted from her . settling once more upon the archway that opened up the hallway into the foyer he’d slipped from soundlessly & unnoticed before . “ you might surprise yourself with what you’re capable of when given the chance . ” & though he’d spoken those words in hopes it would capture her . make her believe that he saw that there was MORE to her than what anyone had ever seen in her before . he also hoped that there was SOME truth to it . if this plan was going to work , she NEEDED to be capable of more than she thought she was now . though for now , he couldn’t push too far . he only needed to plant a seed . & if he played his cards right , which he always did , he would succeed . it was why he let a grin carve across his lips as he looked back at her , noting the BRIGHT crimson that stained her cheeks , as he caught her gaze shifting to settle upon him out of the corner of his eye , “ i would give you the answer to that question but i imagine it would only make your cheeks burn an even brighter shade of red . ” the curve of his lips lingered upon his lips even as she turned her focus away from him . an action in itself that caused a quiet low tone of laughter to rumble from his chest . “ because it IS an absolutely ridiculous notion , ” the working harsh lit of his voice smoothed out into something more in line with the idea of what a proper man was as he stole her words to use as his own . but as he continued with his own , his voice shifted back to its rugged form , “ there is NOTHING proper about the talk that happens when men , including your brother & father , are allowed to talk without worrying about being overheard . ”
he was certain that BOTH his mother & sister would rightfully clip him around both ears for uttering such words he’d dared to speak to her . because though he WOULD have talked about such things with the likes of lucie’s brother at least . james seemed to have always liked to PRETEND he was on the same level as all the men that worked for him . believing they were comrades instead of the pieces upon a chessboard . theo wouldn’t have DARED utter a word of nights spent behind closed doors in front of his mother or sister . both because he imagined neither wanted to know & because he knew that sort of talk was FAR from the way they’d both bought him up to behave . it was innocent enough ; just enough to cause that flushed red to blossom upon her cheeks & nothing more , & he uttered not a single word more . but it WAS bold to dare to speak it to a girl such as lucille kavanagh . she WAS a kavanagh after all & before now , she hadn’t known he’d even existed . but that was perhaps why he’d said it in the first place . testing boundaries . seeing what made her tick & what made her smile & blush & anything in-between . it was the only way he was going to figure out just how he was going to get her to FALL for him . that & allowing her to know HIM . that was going to be the HARDEST part of all ; opening up to a kavanagh . letting them into the only parts of his life they hadn’t been able to drench in sickly red blood . if there were even such parts that existed . their fingerprints seemed to be EVERYWHERE he looked . but he’d spent his whole life swallowing down the acidic taste that sharpened his view of the world . walking beside her telling her about his history , & his father , as if a noxious storm wasn’t brewing in his chest was just another day in the world he lived in . but even HE couldn’t tame lightning . & it struck as they passed across the threshold of the archway that opened out into the grand entrance . he’d been expecting it . the sympathy . it had been what he was fishing for when he’d revealed his father’s death . make her believe he was a poor boy doing what needed to be done for his family after the death of his father & she would be like putty in his hands . girls like her seemed to LOVE tragic stories . but noting the way she fell out of his peripheral vision as she faltered & hearing her words falter not even seconds after she’d tried to speak . . . the lighting crackled across the blue of his eyes , darkening it . he didn’t DARE look in her direction . knowing FULL well that the sympathy , the pity , he’d find upon her rounded , quixotic features would crack his resolve right in two . instead , he kept moving . one , two , three paces away from her as his hands slipped from the pockets of his woollen pants . unwinding the tension in his body first with the flexing of his hands first before it rolled up to his shoulders , softening their edges , before it wiped his features free of the deadly storm that raged within his chest . he’d been fishing for it , but he didn’t WANT her sympathy . not really . not when it was hollow . not when it was HER father who had put his 6 feet below ground . the only comfort he could take in that moment was the notion that one day her father would end up 6 feet below ground as well . & HE’D be the one that put him there . the muscle flicked in his jaw as his eyes lifted up to the landing at the top of the grand staircase . how long had it been since he’d left the foyer earlier in search of lucie ? would he have still be standing down in this entrance , left to wait like a god damn schoolboy summoned by the teacher ? this was why james would NEVER be seen as an equal among the men . his hands shifted to fold atop one another behind his back as he finally turned to face lucie . his features a perfect rendition of a man that had grieved & let go . though there was a small shuttering , a slightly crease appearing in between sharp brows , as he studied her features . he could see sympathy plain as day . but there was no pity . no . . . no there was something else . something else he would have never guessed ; GUILT . it caught him for a rare moment of surprise . hands tightening around each other as they lay hidden behind his back . but within a few seconds , his lips parted & he spoke as if there had not been a single sign of it , “ it was a long time ago . he knew the risks . just as we ALL know the risks . it’s a part of the job . a part of our lives . believe it or not but being a kavanagh man isn’t the most DANGEROUS job we can do . ” & he knew that more than anyone . he was , after all , a wolf hiding in plain sight amongst the sheep . “ you have nothing to be sorry about — ” he paused for a brief moment , the tilt of his lips beginning to curve into a smirk once more as his eyes surveyed her & he spoke once more , “ you weren’t the one that killed him after all . ” the words rolled off his tongue smoothly , a jesting note attaching itself to his words , but he could feel them cut deep . his lips were poised to continue but a noise from above them tore his attention upwards towards a slamming door & heavy footsteps that grew louder to reveal their owner at the top of the grand staircase . so it seemed james kavanagh HADN’T been in his office . his jaw tightened . but a breath was inhaled as he looked back at lucie . it COULDN’T be a good look for either of them really . but with him standing three paces away from her with his hands still clasped behind his back , there was truly nothing for james to suspect . that was . . . unless LUCIE was to say something . he exhaled before his voice came once more , this time lowered for only her to hear as he leaned in ever so slightly , his eyes dropping to the floor in an act of false self-consciousness , “ this may be asking too much of someone i just met but if i could — ” he trailed off for a second as his eyes darted to the stairs , “ if i could ask that we keep WHERE we had our first meeting between just us two — ” his eyes lifted to hers then , a shade of quiet pleading colouring the blue hue of his eyes , “ i would be eternally grateful . i don’t believe your brother would be quite as understanding as YOU about me getting lost in search of him . ”
she’d spent her whole life in rooms full of all different kinds of kavanagh men . her father , her brothers , and the men that served them . but she had always lingered on the edge . lucie never quite felt like she BELONGED in a room full of men like that . her brothers were practically born and bred for it ; as long as she could remember , each of them were meticulously groomed to take up a crucial role in the kavanagh hierarchy of command . when her father was gone , james would be next ; lucie wondered how long it would be before her nephew followed suit . maybe she was lucky to be the last of them . the youngest kavanagh girl . a blessing and a curse . her father’s indifference allowed her a childhood free from the burden of growing up too soon , but it left her on the outside . he favored his sons , that much was clear , because they would one day inherit the empire he’d been building for decades . anything left over was spent on abigail , his favorite daughter born from his first marriage . . . or estelle and the PROBLEMS she caused for the kavanagh family name . when it came to lucie , there was no time , no energy . in rooms full of kavanagh men , she went unnoticed , if she was invited in at all . she felt the chill of ice blue eyes on her once more , but her gaze remained settled ahead as they walked down a hallway lined with paintings in golden frames on one side and grand windows overlooking the property on the other . sunlight passed through the glass in golden rays , and by now , mist made up of morning dew was long gone . warmth crept into the estate once more . she could feel it beneath each footstep and in her cheeks . . . though that might’ve had more to do with the way he spoke to her . it was so familiar , like this wasn’t the first time they’d met . he spoke to her like he knew her , and though she knew he didn’t , it made her think that MAYBE , she wanted him to . lashes fluttered and her footsteps almost faltered at his words : you might surprise yourself with what you’re capable of when given the chance . maybe he was TEASING her . mocking her . finding amusement at the thought of her slipping into the same place that the likes of james and henry commanded . but in the moment she met his gaze , she heard an echo of something she’d buried deep , deep down . something silenced by years of being molded into the perfect little golden-haired darling in hopes that her mother would ease up or her father would look in her direction for longer than a passing glance . something that banged on the doors of rooms she’d been locked out of until her knuckles were bloody . something that WANTED to be in a room full of kavanagh men , respected and heard . he seemed to be entirely sincere ; there were other ways , he’d said , and that thing inside of her wanted to find HER way . “ i suppose you’re right , ” she said softly , studying his sharp features as they approached the archway . then , with a placating smile , she silenced the echo before it became too loud , “ but what use do i have for a room full of kavanagh men , really ? ” golden locks fell over her shoulders as she turned ahead once more , “ i’ll stick to my libraries . ” it was the very room she wanted to retreat to as she felt her whole face heat up . it only burned more as he pointed it out . “ my cheeks are n–– ” she tried to protest , looking over at him with wide eyes and a slackened jaw . it was no use lying , not when the proof was right there on her face . not when he’d already noticed . fighting back the smile that threatened her lips was just as useless . so she leaned into it , allowing a quiet bout of laughter to pass her lips . she shook her head , eyes falling to the dazzling grin on his lips for the briefest moment . so familiar , yet she knew she’d never met him before . she would’ve remembered a grin like that . a devil’s grin . her breath caught in her throat , and though the laughter subsided in a pause , the curve on her lips remained . “ you have a dangerous smile , theo conway , ” she admitted before tearing her eyes away , shaking her head . as he continued , her nose scrunched , and she shook her head more vehemently than before . “ alright , enough of that . i won’t pretend to think my brother and father are gentlemen by any means , but i could do without the suggestion , thank you very much , ” she nodded , arms swinging behind her back to loosely interlock her fingers . how strange it was to feel more at ease laughing with a perfect stranger than she would’ve felt if she were walking down that hallway with either of her own parents . it was that look he gave her . . . it wasn’t often that someone looked at her without looking straight through , as though she wasn’t even there . it piqued her interest , but she should’ve known better than to follow that natural curiosity . it seemed it always ended in her finding something she didn’t want to . like the fact that he’d been working for her family since he was just a boy . or the fact that he’d lost his FATHER because of hers . the lightness of their conversation dissipated as the house opened up to high ceilings and a grand staircase . her silent footsteps finally came to a stop .
she’d known for quite some time now that what went on behind locked doors wasn’t the most . . . savory . she’d known that her father wasn’t exactly a noble or honorable man . she’d known that DEATH clung to the kavanagh name just as wealth and power did . . . because SHE had lost someone to it , too . but first love or not , it wasn’t comparable . a girl losing a summer love was nothing next to a child losing a father . lucie’s heart began to race , and the blood flowing through her veins turned to ice . questions began to run through her head : how ? and for what ? when her father found out , did he reach out to the family ? did he pay for the funeral ? did he offer the widow condolences ? hush money ? did her father even know at all ? – he must . he must’ve known that the empire he built rested on the backs and bodies of men like theo conway and HIS father . her stomach turned . did JAMIE know ? was her brother aware that the man he trusted enough to invite into their home lost his father to the kavanagh name ? or was that how theo ended up here in the first place ? BECAUSE jamie knew and looked after him from afar ? the silk fabric of her shirt began to itch . the golden necklace around her neck began to tighten . the pearls in her ears began to feel heavier . her father sat high and mighty as a member of parliament . . . and he lined his pockets with blood money along the way . everything she had was bought with that blood money . everything . maybe it was something she’d known for a long time , deep down , but this was the first time she’d come face - to - face with it . she felt ridiculous , sputtering out an apology years after the fact , but what else could she do ? she crossed her arms over her chest , one hand lifting to nervously toy with the pendant around her neck . when he finally turned to look at her again , she was taken by just how blue his eyes were . so intense , so focused . like an artist admiring his work . . . or a predator admiring his prey . lucie swallowed , refusing to let her gaze falter , even as a smirk began to curl at his lips . “ perhaps not . but like i said –– . . . ” she watched him carefully , taking a steadying breath , “ i am not naive enough to think i don’t benefit from the kavanagh name . and everything that comes with it . ” and though he looked as if he had more to say , the sound of heavy footsteps interrupted before he got the chance . heavy footsteps that revealed james kavanagh at the top of the stairs , looking like he hadn’t slept a wink the night before . glasses slid down the bridge of his nose , and his face was twisted into a familiar expression : focus . frustration . she parted her lips to greet him , but before she could , theo was leaning slightly closer and speaking in a low tone . her breath caught in her throat as she studied him up close . sharp cheekbones . vibrant eyes . dark lashes . a scar she feared came from the job he inherited from his father . her brow furrowed as he trailed off , gaze flickering to his feet . for the first time since he walked into the library , it seemed his confidence was wavering . . . all because her brother had walked into the room . a powerful presence , indeed . as his request passed in a near whisper , lucie’s brows rose slowly . “ you want me . . . to lie to my brother , ” her tone was even as she repeated it in a slightly different way , “ you , a stranger , want me to LIE to james kavanagh ? ” lucie studied him for a long moment , giving no indication of whether or not she agreed . instead , she turned her face up to the grand staircase and smiled . “ good of you to finally make your way down , jamie , ” she took a few steps towards the very bottom of the stairs , AWAY from theo . he looked up from the documents in his hand , expression unamused as ever . “ lu –– . . . ” in that moment he realized theo was just a few paces away , and his gaze quickly flickered from him to her , back to him , then to her again . when he continued , his voice was a bit more stern than it had been when he started , “ lucie , what are you doing down here ? ” she gave him a quizzical look , though she knew exactly what he was truly asking : what are you doing down here unattended with one of my men ? “ when have you ever known me to sleep in ? ” he raised a brow ; she conceded . “ i WAS in the library , and then i was on my way to the kitchen . imagine my surprise when i reach the foyer to find a stranger standing about , ” she paused , taking a moment to look over her oldest brother as he reached the bottom of the stairs , “ you look like hell . ” a shadow passed over his features . “ careful there , ” he warned , but she knew any underlying threat in his tone was empty . james kavanagh was a dangerous man , but family was everything to him . and where she lacked love from her father , she’d always found it in him . “ sorry . i was just making sure our guest wasn’t left waiting here alone forever , ” she said , and then , lucie looked over at him as though he hadn’t made her blush only minutes before . as though his name wasn’t already burned into her memory . as though she wasn’t curious . . . or disappointed the moment she’d heard footsteps above , “ theo , was it ? ”