Page 23 of Devil's Game

Asshole. I should’ve thought of that first.

But at least I’d have her almost to myself as we worked on Kellan’s shop.

“See you soon.” Merrick released her, his eyes hungrily devouring her form before striding to the SUV still parked in the middle of the street.

Sophia’s mouth hung open momentarily before Merrick’s shout snapped her into motion. “Let’s go.”

“See you soon.” Sophia’s words came out on a squeak as she turned on her heel and sprinted to the car, wisely not wanting to piss Merrick off.

“I’ll head inside to get some brooms.” Kellan pressed a kiss to Giana’s temple before he strode for the shop, his footsteps crunching as the glass cracked under his feet.

My body moved on instinct, and I enveloped her in a tight embrace, the violent beat of my heart easing with the press of hers right next to it. “How are you doing, sugar?” I murmured as I pressed my lips against the top of her head and inhaled the citrus and lavender scent of her shampoo, letting it release the built-up tension from my mind, body, and soul.

“I’m fine, Spade.” She sighed, embracing me with just as much fervor. “There’s guilt, of course, but I know that I can’t control Tommaso’s actions.”

My hands slid to grip her shoulders, my gaze searching for some hint of a lie hidden in their depths.

“I want to help, Spade. You’re all doing something to work against them, but I haven’t done anything.” There was a steely note to her voice.

“You’ve been—”

“I know, I’ve been with Sophia, which was important, but I want to help—no, I need to help.” Her mouth was set into a firm line, determination sharpening her tone.

“Did something else happen today?”

“Yes.” I expected a frown to pull at her lips, but instead, they curved into a smile, helping to keep the darkening shadows from the edges of my vision. “The three of you have helped me find myself again, but I’ve been pulling back with Sophia being here, with the threat Tommaso poses to her. But Francine helped me realize something, made me remember that I’m so much more, that I’m worthy of love, of friendship, of fighting back and getting my own revenge.”

A hint of mischief sparked in my chest, my grin widening. This was my Giana, our little devil, ready to level the world for what they’d done.

“I want to find these guys and make them pay.” Violence flickered in her eyes, singing a siren song to the growing blaze in my chest, threatening to consume me whole. “Will you help me track them down?”

“Anything for you, sugar.”

Giana shuddered, as if the words slipping from my lips were a sweet caress. Cupping her jaw with one hand, I tilted her head up, my lips meeting hers in a soft, teasing brush. “I’d burn the world down around us if you asked me to.”

I wasn’t sure who made the first move as our mouths crashed together, the kiss searing the woman deep into my soul. She parted for me, and I wasted no time delving in, my tongue consuming hers like she was the air my lungs desperately needed to breathe. I was calm with her, my mind at ease when her wicked tongue tangled with mine.

Giana was perfect, and she was mine. I could share her with my best friends, as long as I still got to have her like this, feel her lithe form writhing beneath me, taking and giving what we both needed.

These streets would fucking run with blood when the two of us were done, and I couldn’t wait to see the Barones’ world crumble beneath them at the hands of this woman.

Chapter Eight

Giana

“There,” Kellan murmured ashe paused the video. He’d rewound the security footage back to when we’d left, searching for any clues the police were willing to ignore.

We’d spent the last hour cleaning up the sidewalk and the shop floor before a few of the Devil’s Demons showed up with plywood to cover the once-beautiful, wide windows.

He was able to get an installer scheduled for next week, but he had to push back the remaining appointments he’d had for this week. His clients weren’t happy, but there wasn’t much he could do, not with his second studio on lockdown because of what happened at the bar.

Spade and I drew closer, the three of us huddled around Kellan’s monitor as he pressed play again. A man walked by the shop and peeked through one of the slits in the blinds to gaze inside. As he pulled away, he pressed a phone to his ear, glancing up and down the street before jogging out of view.

“That must’ve been the lookout.” There was a lethal calm to Spade’s voice that sent a shiver of desire up my spine.

Sure enough, a blacked-out sedan pulled up a few minutes later, the car idling out front as two men jumped out from the back seat. Their movements were quick and precise as they opened the trunk and hauled Ryan’s lifeless form from the trunk.

“Wait, there.” I pointed to the screen as one of the men turned to the camera. There were a few good shots of the other guy, but this was the first time I could make out the second one’s face completely.

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