Page 36 of Devil's Game

I couldn’t help but laugh at just how ridiculous he was as he led me back into the trees and away from the shackles of my past.

“I really hope they bulldoze this place to the ground.”

Chapter Eleven

Spade

Islammed the cardoor closed, adrenaline still pumping through my veins as I jammed the key into the ignition. A mix of excitement and nerves collided in my gut, my need for blood and vengeance warring with my need to keep Giana safe.

Thethwackof the trunk closing launched me into action, and I dug my phone from my pocket to send Merrick a quick text. Giana was my number one priority. I had to keep her safe. Everything else could wait.

Spade: We need a cleanup at Greg’s Diner.

Giana slid into the passenger seat, distracting me as the faint glow cast from the headlights illuminated the blood splatteracross her already stunning face. Memories of my sugar with the bat in her hands flashed through my mind, sending a jolt through my veins. I’d been barely holding on to rational thoughts then, but now . . .

I was about to throw caution to the wind and pull her into the back seat when Merrick’s text broke through my lust-filled thoughts.

Merrick: The diner? Tell me you didn’t do what I think you did.

I sighed, Merrick’s reminder like a bucket of ice water, sending a chill over my once-heated skin.

Spade: Of course not. But they may need an incentive to pack their bags if they aren’t out of there by the time the team arrives.

I gritted my teeth, wishing I could be there, but we both knew that was a bad idea.

Merrick: That, I can do.

A small smile curved my lips as I shoved my phone back into my pocket and threw the car into reverse, the tires squealing beneath us as I quickly braked and pulled out from behind the ice cream shop where we’d left the car.

Giana sighed wistfully, a wide grin on her lips as she rolled the window down, letting the wind whip through her blood-stained hair.

It was a struggle to keep my eyes off her as we sped down the road, my focus continually pulled to the goddess on my right. I could always just pull over for a few minutes—

I immediately put that thought to rest. There wasn’t a world where I could only spend a few minutes worshipping her incredible body.

“We’re not going to make it very far if you keep looking like that.” I slung an arm over her seat as I gripped the steering wheel with the other, needing to be as close to her as possible.

Looping a finger through her hair, I played with the soft strands, loving the moan that slipped from her lips as she relaxed back into her seat.

“Some might question your sanity if you admitted you like girls covered in blood.”

“Love,” I corrected, my heart warming at her answering grin. “Would you, though? Question my sanity?”

“No.” She giggled, the sound a beautiful symphony as it struck a chord in my heart. “I might be questioning my own right now, but never yours.”

She might be the only person who hadn’t, then—myself, included.

We pulled up to the red light in front of her parents’ diner, the mess we’d left thankfully shadowed by the overgrown trees and brush.

“Why?” I knew the answer, of course, but I needed to hear it from her lips. I needed her to admit it to herself.

“Because I liked it—loved it,” she corrected with a smile that didn’t meet her eyes. I could tell that she was trying to distract me from the turmoil running through her mind.

“Did you like seeing the trainer?”

“Of course not.” She frowned, a crease forming between her eyebrows that I wished I could run my thumb over to soothe the anxiety away.

“You might enjoy the violence, but not when it’s senseless.” I grinned when understanding lit her eyes.

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