Page 14 of Devil's Game

“I tried to call you, but that asshole broke my phone.” Sophia pulled away, still holding my biceps as she threw a glare over her shoulder. Sophia might not have the same skills I did with a blade, but if her cutting look could kill, the massive man behind her would be a goner.

“I told you that they were probably tracking you,” the man, who I assumed was Zane, grumbled, crossing his massive forearms over his chest. The warm glow from the lamp beside him cast light on his black hair, like sparkling obsidian, his chocolate brown eyes hard on my best friend’s back.

My hackles rising, I narrowed my eyes on him in return, all grateful thoughts vanishing now that he was a potential threat. His broad shoulders and thickly corded muscles might be on the same level as Merrick’s, but if I could take down Mountain Mike, this asshole would be a piece of cake . . . probably.

“Giana?” Sophia said, a crease forming between her eyebrows as she studied me.

“Don’t be rude to our guests,” a second man’s voice boomed through the small office as he stood from his worn oak desk, the green tufted velvet office chair spinning slightly from the abrupt movement. “Please come in.”

Sophia chewed at her bottom lip and inched to the side, pulling me along with her as she made room for my guys to come in too. As If she’d only just registered the three men guarding my back, her eyes widened, lips parting as she scanned them up and down.

I suppressed a giggle at her delayed reaction, unable to understand how her attention hadn’t immediately gone to them the moment they’d walked in the room.

“Gi,” she murmured under her breath, glancing from them to me. “I feel like you kind of undersold them to me last night.”

Spade’s chest puffed up with pure masculine pride, his eyes glittering as he winked at me and slid in on my other side. Kellan and Merrick stood beside Sophia, all of us angled toward the door, in case we needed to get out quickly.

“Sebastian.” Merrick greeted the second man and gave him a stiff nod.

“I’ve heard so much about you, Giana. It’s great to finally meet you.” Sebastian smiled, his toffee eyes glittering as he straightened his suit jacket. He was toned and lean, his brown hair styled back like he’d never had as much as a hair out of place.

“I’m not quite sure the feeling’s mutual yet.” I crossed my arms over my chest, cocking an eyebrow in an unimpressed look as I glanced from him to Zane.

I could feel Sophia’s attention on me, as if she didn’t recognize the woman in front of her. My stomach twisted and soured even further at the look of delight that flashed across Sebastian’s features.

“I can see why you had to get her back, and why Tommaso stole her away in the first place.”

“Watch it,” Merrick growled, taking a step forward. Zane was there, though, blocking his way before Merrick could even think to move another muscle.

The two hulking men glared at one another, and I almost wanted to see what they would be able to do in the ring against each other. It would be a hell of a fight, but I was sure Merrick would win. His raw fury wouldn’t allow for any other result.

I shook away the cloud of lust that had fogged over my mind. This wasn’t the time to imagine Merrick sweating, blood dripping from his knuckles—

“That’s no way to treat our guests, Zane, especially when we have business to discuss.” The amusement quickly ebbed from Sebastian’s tone, replaced with an edge of malice.

“We do,” Kellan agreed, stepping forward once Zane retreated to lean against the wall, his wary gaze never leaving Merrick.

“Let’s go grab some drinks, so we can discuss our next steps and how you’re going to fix the mess that’s bound to come pounding at my doorstep.” Violence flashed in Sebastian’s eyes, and I stiffened, finally seeing the lethal man beneath the suave business facade he wore.

We might’ve just traded one problem for another.

Chapter Five

Giana

“Can we talk fora second?” Sophia asked, tugging me to a stop once we got to the end of the hallway. Merrick, Kellan, and Spade all paused, but I waved them ahead.

“Of course.” I swallowed thickly and led her to the DJ booth, close enough that the guys could still see us and get to us if anything happened without being overheard.

“Are you okay?” we both blurted the question at the same time.

I shook my head in disbelief. “You’re the one who was just dragged into the middle of this chaos.”

“Yes,” she huffed in exasperation. “But you weren’t acting like yourself back there. Is everything okay? Are you safe?”

My stomach sank, and I nodded, unsure what I to say. The Giana she’d known in New York was only a piece of me, the one I’d shown to the world while locked in Tommaso’s gilded cage. But that was the only side she knew.

“Remember when I told you about the guys and Tommaso last night?”

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