Page 1 of Devil's Game

Prologue

Spade

Four hours ago

“Last call,” Eve shouted. “Get your drinks now, or keep your whiny mouths shut. Bar closes in thirty minutes, and I don’t care where you go, but you need to get the fuck out of here.” Eve’s long, black hair fanned out as she turned to the beer fridge, already pulling out bottles in anticipation of the swarm of orders she was about to get.

“She’s always so pleasant.” I chuckled, shaking my head as I glanced behind the bar for the millionth time—no exaggeration necessary.

“You know Eve,” Kellan murmured distractedly, his words barely audible over the shuffling of boots on the worn hardwoodfloor as patrons headed to the bar for their final drinks of the night.

“It’s been—” I glanced down at my watch and turned back to face Kellan. “Twenty minutes. Just how long do you think this girl talk is supposed to last?”

“For the thousandth time, I don’t know.” Kellan sighed and scrubbed a hand over his face, weary exhaustion creasing the edges of his sable eyes as they met mine. “I haven’t pulled a crystal ball out of my ass since the last time you asked.”

“That’s something I’d like to see.” I lifted my glass to my lips, letting the last sip of the cool amber liquid sweep over my tongue. “I don’t like not being able to see her . . . or touch her,” I said idly, imagining just how incredible this whiskey would taste with my sugar’s delectable pussy as a chaser.

A satisfied hum vibrated from my chest, and I leaned back in my seat, letting the edges of my leather jacket fall open to reveal the pistol strapped to my waist. Oh, how I’d wanted to put a bullet through Jeff’s head the second that high-pitched whistle slipped from his lips, but I’d known my sugar could take care of him, either with her words or her fists.

I would’ve loved watching her lay into him. I would’ve held his arms just for fun as her punches reverberated through him, licking my skin.

If only Merrick hadn’t ruined our fun with his temper. He was currently taking out his frustration on the waste of space I’d never liked. I could always get started on digging him a grave . . .

My thoughts trailed off as my eyes landed on Giana’s drink that had been sitting there for twenty whole minutes—more, if you counted how long she’d been talking before that. I’d gotten lost in her tales, wishing I could’ve been the one there with her, instead of that asshole Tommaso. We would’ve taken that city by storm.

“I’m going to get her a new drink.” I launched out of my chair, a plan already in place. There was no way she’d turn me away with a drink in my hand.

“Spade,” Kellan warned, his tone laced with suspicion.

“What? I’m sure her throat is probably bone dry with all the talking she’s been doing. Besides, I want to see if I can overhear what she’s saying about us.” I grinned conspiratorially, almost sure he would be on my side. Kellan seemed to consider it for a moment, and I didn’t wait for him to talk me out of it.

I sauntered up to the bar, just as the last of the guys were paying their tabs, and leaned against the worn bar top, ignoring Kellan’s huff of annoyance. “Can I get another sex on the beach for the love of my life, Evie?”

“That’s not my name,” she grumbled, eyeing me warily. “Are you sure she wants another one?”

“I know what my girlfriend needs.” I sighed. “She forgot her drink, and I’m going to bring her a new one, like the amazing boyfriend I am.” My chest puffed out with pride, and I ignored the fact that I hadn’t actually asked if she wanted to be my girlfriend because, obviously, that was a given.

Eve looked between the table and me in confusion. “You didn’t ask Mike to bring her another one?”

“Mike?” I frowned, not liking where this was going. “Of course, I didn’t ask that oaf to bring my woman a drink. What are you talking about?”

The blood seemed to drain from her cheeks, a stricken look frozen on her face.

“Eve?” I demanded, my fists clenching on the bar.

Kellan strode over to us, obviously overhearing the conversation.

“I, uh, he came to me about twenty minutes ago—”

Neither of us even waited for her to finish the sentence.

We rushed to the other side of the bar, barreling past the door into the back. My pulse pounded in my veins, my adrenaline spiking, ready to tear the world apart if anyone had laid a hand on Giana.

“I didn’t know,” Eve shouted, her words desperate, but I didn’t care. Not when the only thing my brain could focus on was the door to Merrick’s office. It should have been closed, with the faint murmur of my sugar’s voice echoing inside the small room. She should have been there, safe and secure. Instead, the space was empty, the door flung open, as though someone had hastily barged in, too preoccupied to close it on their way out.

This can’t be happening.

“We have to check the back,” Kellan rasped, panic tingeing his voice as he raced down the hallway.

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