Page 29 of Devil's Game

Giana

“This is a disaster.”I sighed, slumping back into the new black leather desk chair. “But at least your office looks better now.”

I’d had all new office furniture delivered to the bar last week, because, despite Merrick helping to wipe away the negative memories, I wasn’t sure I could sit in the room for hours without them floating back up to the surface. Besides, if I was going to sort through the monstrosity of papers piled in front of me, I could at least do it in comfort.

“I hadn’t realized how bad it was.” Merrick grimaced, pushing his matching rolling chair back from the desk. “I can just call the accountant again.”

He stabbed a hand into his pocket and pulled out his phone.

“You’re not going to change my mind, Merrick. So, you might as well quit while you’re ahead.” I reached for his hand, pulling his phone from his grip and laying it on the desk.

Some of my amusement faded as I remembered the other reason I’d made tackling Merrick’s disaster of an office a priority today.

“Besides, it will help keep my mind off other things . . .”

“Don’t worry.” Merrick’s voice was stern, practically demanding the worry gnawing at my insides to ebb away. “Spade does this, he’ll be back.”

When Kellan and I got back last night, I told Merrick about what happened while he took Sophia back to the house. I knew Spade was looking for the men that killed Ryan and trashed Kellan’s shop; I just hadn’t expected him to stay out all night, searching.

Merrick and Kellan had both told me not to worry, that Spade would be fine, but that did nothing to help. So, instead, I’d decided to direct my nervous energy toward something I could change, something productive, rather than treading a hole in the floor with my pacing. I’d already spent the morning on the phone with his accountant, and helped Merrick purchase the correct accounting software, while Eve gathered up the invoices and deposits for the last month. There was no way I was going to give up now.

I nodded, focusing back on my coping mechanism before I hopped into Merrick’s Chevy and canvased the whole damn town. “I can do this, Merrick. Besides, this way, you’ll have a better idea of your finances on a day-to-day basis.”

“That’s something we don’t have to worry about, little devil.” His lips quirked up into a teasing grin as he spun my chair to face him. “We have more than enough money to keep this place running. The guys like to drink, and with all the chop shops, and—”

“Okay, Mr. big-shot Ford.” I chuckled. “I get that you have money. What I meant was, it will give you a better idea of if your costs are going up, so you can either change prices or suppliers.”

“I think I like the sound of you calling me Mr. Ford.” His voice was a deep rumble as he bracketed my legs between his. “I also seem to remember us doing something a lot more fun the last time we were in my office.”

Heat bloomed in my cheeks as visions of our last time in his office, the need and desperation as our bodies came together, flashed through my mind. He slid his hands up my thighs, the rough, possessive glide of his palms sending a tendril of desire curling up my spine. I nearly climbed onto his lap, wanting to test out the new black desk, to see how it would hold up, yet I held myself back.

I’d realized something today. Like with the daunting task of sorting through these invoices, Merrick kept trying to shield me from his life, from the inner workings of the Devil’s Demons.

I probably wouldn’t have noticed that barrier still between us, if it wasn’t for yesterday. Kellan and I had destroyed that last wall between us, putting our pain behind us.

That revelation helped me see the barrier Merrick still had between us, like he was scared to fully let me in. I just wasn’t sure if he was trying to protect me or himself.

Either way, I knew what I had to do. Merrick and I had always communicated in the physical, even before we were more than friends. My touch would soothe him, and he would ground me in the same way without even needing words. But we needed those words if we were going to make it through this.

“I’m not sure the papers would survive.” I turned back to the desk, but his legs were still caging me in.

“Fuck the papers,” he growled, the sound vibrating straight to my core—tempting me, teasing me.

He gripped me tighter, thumbs running up the insides of my thighs, beckoning me to let him in. My legs trembled, the pleasure surging through my body begging me to give in.

I took a deep breath and placed my hands on his, stilling the teasing circles he was drawing on my skin as he drew closer and closer to the hem of my skirt.

“I want to do this, Merrick,” I breathed.

A knot formed between his brows. “Why?”

Here it was.

“I want to be a part of this—not just in bringing the Barones down, but I want to help in any way I can, with you, the business, the Devil’s Demons, all of it.”

The words hung in the air, his hazel eyes flitting between mine. “I want to give you your revenge, Gi. I want you to take that killing blow and see the life fade from his eyes, but I don’t want you getting too entrenched in this life.”

“Why not?” I gripped his hands tighter, needing the comforting warmth to keep me from sinking into myself. Did he not trust me?

---