Page 19 of Devil's Game

Francine looked almost the same as when I’d seen her last, the lines crinkling around her eyes betraying the years of laughs and happy memories she’d shared with her family and friends. Her rounded shoulders were a result of the ice cream store she put her blood, sweat, and tears into making a profitable business for her family and to create a place for kids like we’d been, who didn’t have a place until they carved one out for themselves.

The only difference was the joy that lit up her eyes as she watched Kellan and me, the cunning gleam behind them reminding me that she knew exactly what she’d been doing all those weeks ago.

Heat flamed in my cheeks as we entered the store. Kellan wrapped an arm around my shoulders and pulled me into his side, letting me soak in his comforting warmth. I swear this man’s touch was like a drug, one I was looking forward to exploring more thoroughly after all these years.

“I’d heard you found each other, but it’s good to see it with my own eyes,” Francine said with a sly grin. Before I could get a word out, she was already across the small shop floor, wrapping her arms around Kellan and me in a tight embrace.

“Thank you,” I breathed and squeezed her back, the words seeming too trivial for what she’d done.

“Hush.” She squeezed my side, and I jumped at the sharp pain, a high-pitched squeak escaping my lips. “There’s no need to thank me.”

“There is,” Kellan murmured, earning himself a poke in the side, too, judging by the way he flinched.

Francine glared in warning as she released us. “I just did what any decent person would do. It’s not my fault there aren’t many decent people left around here.”

She propped her hands on her hips, pinning us with a menacing look that, despite her size, would bring a grown man to a halt.

“I don’t want to hear another word of it, but what I do want to hear about is what the hell has happened since you walked out of my shop.”

We gathered into oneof the cushioned booths with cups of ice cream in front of us that Francine had insisted upon.

She wagged one of her curled fingers at Kellan as he returned from locking the front door and flipping the sign toClosed. “Now, don’t skip a single detail.”

So, we didn’t. I explained what had happened at every store that afternoon weeks ago until I turned up at Kellan’s shop and he heard my voice from the back room.

Francine’s eyes lit up as I told her how they tried to keep me from leaving, but she sighed in disappointment when I described running away.

“I sent you to them for a reason.”

“You did,” I agreed, taking a bite of my chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream. “But you didn’t tell me why you sent me thereor that you were even sending me to him in the first place—no offense, Kel. I didn’t know you two were badass gang leaders back then.” I paused, giving Kellan a contrite smile.

“None taken.” He chuckled and wrapped an arm around my waist while he scooped a spoonful of his strawberry cheesecake ice cream and held it out for me. I eagerly took the bite, loving the way his jaw tightened as my mouth wrapped around his spoon.

He remembered how much I always wanted a bite from his and Merrick’s cups.

I nearly jumped out of my seat when Sophia cleared her throat, guilt creeping around my chest as I looked back at the two women, but they were only smiling back at us.

I really couldn’t be blamed for getting lost in this perfect man’s gorgeous eyes.

The smiles vanished, though, as we continued, explaining the engagement party and then the night I was taken. We spared her the gory details, but I could tell by the understanding on her face that she knew they hadn’t just let us walk out of there.

“I never liked that man.” She scowled. “Even when he was a boy, I knew he was bad news.”

Swallowing the lump that had formed in my throat, I nodded. I’d gotten everything out by talking to my friends and writing my story down in the journals. Though I would carry the trauma of the last six years with me for the rest of my life, it wasn’t something I could dwell on right now, not if we all wanted to survive this.

“I wonder.” Francine tapped her chin, her eyes going distant. “Have you ever met his brother?”

“Lorenzo?” I frowned. “A few times, but he never stuck around.”

“I’ve heard some whispers from the other business owners that he’s been looking for a way to get out.”

“Out of what?” Kellan asked, disbelief sharpening his gaze. “We’ve been watching him, and he seems just as entrenched with the organization as his brother.”

“I just know that I’ve heard he’s trying to turn things around.” Francine shrugged. “It might be something to look into, is all.”

There was that calculating glint in her eyes again, and I had the feeling she knew more than she was letting on.

“Thanks, Francine. I’ll look into it.” Kellan nodded with a tight smile. I’d have to let him know there might be more to this than Francine was letting on.

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