Page 18 of Devil's Game

“How long do you have before your next client?”

“Another hour,” Kellan answered, reluctantly pulling his gaze from mine to check the time. “But I have to call—”

“But nothing,” I declared and pushed up from my seat.

“Oh, this should be good,” Sophia said, excitedly hopping up beside me.

“We need to get lunch, and I can help schedule the appointments when we get back.”

“Yes, lunch, please,” Sophia chimed in.

“Are you sure?” Kellan frowned down at the cluster of sticky notes covering his books. “It’s a bit of a mess.”

“I can handle it.” I chuckled, crooking a finger in invitation. His eyes lit up at the silent command, but he hesitated.

Fine. I patted my jacket pocket, where I’d safely zipped the money Francine had given me. “I also want to go see Francine.”

It had been my safety net, my reassurance that I could make it out. The kind act of an older woman having to care for a child when she should be retired, giving what she could to help another woman in need—or the child who had often visited her shop, doing my homework with my friends while I put off having to sit around the decrepit diner for a few more hours.

His features slackened at that, and he nodded. “Let’s go.”

Sophia placed a hand on my shoulder and gave me a tight smile. I’d told her everything, of course, and she knew how much I needed to both thank my savior and return the cash to her.

I still wanted to make my own money and not be reliant on the guys. I knew they weren’t like Tommaso—they wouldn’t financially abuse me like he had—but I still couldn’t shake the need to be independent. It had been hardwired into me from a young age, when I first knew I had to get away from Pam and Greg.

I zipped up the leather jacket to just below my breasts, checking to make sure nothing was visible before we went out into public. It wasn’t my skin I was worried about, though—it was the gun holstered beneath that I’d become accustomed to carrying with me. There was no way I was walking around without a weapon again.

Kellan grabbed his own from behind the counter and strapped on his holster before concealing it beneath his jacket draped on the stool behind him.

“Sophia,” I started, but she cut me off.

“I know.” She smiled weakly, concern clouding her eyes. “If anything happens, get down and stay close.”

“And don’t let anyone take you—you scream ‘fire’ at the top of your lungs and do anything you can to get away.” A shiver of unease skittered up my spine, but I squared my shoulders, not letting the memory of waking up at Tommaso’s house replay through my mind.

I shifted my arm, letting the bulge hidden beneath reassure me as Kellan took the lead.

There still weren’t manyplaces to eat, other than my parent’s diner, so we chose to get a few sandwiches from the local bakery and eat them while giving Sophia a tour of the town. Memories flashed through my mind of the last time I walked down the main street, desperation clinging to my skin like a cold sweat. Before, I’d been met with fear and polite dismissal at many of these places, but now it was like the town had been reborn. The same people who’d cowered now greeted us with warm, wide grins, obviously knowing what the Devil’s Demons were trying to do for them.

We stayed far away from the few stores still loyal to the Barones, not wanting to tempt fate. It wasn’t likely that they’d do something in broad daylight for everyone to see or record to use against them, but if they got us inside, I had no doubt they’d think the Barones would offer them a steep reward.

My pulse skittered as we neared the ice cream shop.

Pausing, I used the excuse of eating the rest of my sandwich to cover up the nerves vibrating through me like electricity. The last time I’d seen Francine, she’d not only helped me by giving me what she could, but she set me on the path to find Kellan, which was probably the only reason I was alive right now.

Guilt twisted my stomach as I willed myself to keep walking, each step feeling like a leaden weight was dragging at my back. She’d helped me, but she’d also seen me at my lowest, at my most vulnerable. I knew, deep down, that she wouldn’t care, wouldn’t judge me, but I’d hid behind a mask for so long that letting her see those broken pieces was something I hadn’t allowed anyone, other than the guys, to see.

Kellan grasped the handle and pulled the door open, gesturing Sophia in first before his eyes met mine. “It’s okay,” he murmured, a soft, reassuring smile pulling at his lips, like he had read every thought that had just crossed my mind.

He knew. These men knew me better than I knew myself. Merrick and Kellan knew my need for independence, and Spade was like another facet of my soul, the same color, just a different shade. And Kellan had seen me that day, knew what the bruise had looked like free of makeup.

I paused in the doorway, my gaze still locked on his as I swept a hand over my cheek, where that now healed mark had lain. My skin was smooth, and the brush of my fingertips tickled the skin beneath, rather than sending a throbbing pang through it.

Kellan wrapped his fingers around mine, his touch light, delicate, as though he were handling fine china while he drewmy hand away. I was so transfixed by the reverence and concern in his eyes that I couldn’t bite back my startled gasp when he leaned forward, brushing his lips over the spot in a light caress that sent a shiver of desire curling up my spine.

“This is what I’ve had to deal with all day,” Sophia said on a groan, and I stepped back, the sudden spark of her teasing tone reminding me that we weren’t alone.

Apparently, we’d gathered an audience in the few moments we’d stood in the doorway. Sophia was leaning against the counter, a conspiratorial grin curling her lips as she glanced at the older woman beside her.

---