Page 80 of The Devil's Playground

Is it? As though me putting my gun away was a signal, someone moves their head around the corner of the building. I only see two cars—mine, and a flashy one that no doubt belongs to Damien—so I doubt it’s someone who is actually is trying to wash their clothes.

“Really?” I ask wryly. “No back-up?”

“I was already coming to see what one of my top enforcers was doing at another one of our operations after asking for a week’s leave. Personal business, he said, until my cameras caught him with a woman over his shoulder as he carried her into the cellar. Imagine my surprise when one of my guys said he saw one of Lincoln’s arriving ten minutes ago. I’d hope to catch you on your way out. I don’t think there’s any need for back-up, though, do you?”

That’s the thing about Damien Libellula that always rubbed me wrong. Even when was running guns alongside me and Link, he had this attitude that he was better than most crooks. Not only that, but he’s so damn rational.

Of course, if you cross him, you’re dead. If you insult him, you’re dead. If you so much as look at his baby sister wrong, you’re gutted with his trademark stiletto knife—and then you’re dead.

He hides his brutal side behind a gentile veneer that I’d buy if it wasn’t for the fact that I was on the streets the same time as he was. He might be a decade older than me, his salt-and-pepper hair making him seem older than his forty years, but I know the real Damien.

He prides himself on his honesty. If he says he didn’t bring back-up, he didn’t bring back-up.

But someone is still watching us from a distance. If it wasn’t for the way the lamplight falls on them, I’d think it might be a coincidence—until I notice the way they’re watching Damien specifically.

I look closer. It’s a woman. A pretty woman, maybe late twenties or so. She doesn’t seem curious, or in awe that the head of the Libellula Family is out for a stroll.

Oh, no. She looks furious.

“You sure,” I ask, a tiny jerk of my chin in her direction as I gather up everything we need for breakfast. “Looks like we’re not alone.”

He doesn’t even turn around. “If it’s a gorgeous brunette staring daggers into my back, don’t you worry about that. She’s not here for you. She’s gunning for me.” A low chuckle, as though he said something funny. “Probably because she’s pissed off I took her gun.”

I blink. “What?”

Damien waves his hand. “It’s personal. Like I said, don’t worry about it. I’m here because I want to know what went on in my cellar.”

He does, does he?

I don’t want to disturb Nicolette, and I only hope she’s so out of it right now that she doesn’t realize I’m taking her chin gingerly between my fingers before I turn her so that Damien can see what Alfieri did to her.

“This,” I bite out. “This is what happened.”

Damien sucks in a breath. “I was afraid of that. I’m sorry, Royce. Listen, I have a doctor on call. If you’d like, I can have her come down and tend to Ms. Williams.”

My fury was already building up. That just adds fuel to the fire. “McIntyre.”

“Pardon?”

“Her name is McIntyre.”

Or it will be. First fucking chance I get, I’m making this woman mine legally. Even Link knew that a wedding license and a ring was enough to make his lover think twice about trying to get away. He even had a second wedding, showing her off in front of half of Springfield down at St. Pat’s. She’ll be my wife, and I’ll spend the rest of my life making sure one can ever hurt her again.

Damien hesitates. I see his eyes slide to the side, and I realize that he’s checking to see if that woman is still watching us. I follow the direction of his gaze only to see that she’s gone.

He sighs. “I know what you must think of my Family,” he begins, frowning when I scoff. Clearing his throat, he tries again. “Our women only get involved with the business when they choose to. Otherwise, they’re protected?—”

“And called ‘property’.”

“We need to know who is being protected,” he responds with a tight smile. “If you’re not a Dragonfly, then you need to belong to one. But, I assure you, it’s consensual. Or it’s supposed to be.” He purses his lips. “I assume I’m down one enforcer.”

I tilt my head toward him. “You assume right.”

“I told him to leave the Williams girl alone. That she traded her loyalties from our Family to Link’s syndicate. That’s not a crime, is it? But he didn’t listen.” Damien tsks. “If you hadn’t handled him, I would have. He should be glad about that.”

Considering the rumors I heard about what Damien does to Dragonflies who betray him or disobey, I’m sure he’s right.

“I thought I made myself clear years ago. Even when we didn’t have our truce, civilians should never get mixed up with the syndicates.”

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