Page 4 of Devil's Game

A shot peeled off ahead of us, and Kellan brought down a guard this time, helping to clear Merrick’s way as he gave a signal to the rest of their men. As one, the Demons fled to theircars, hopping into the front and back seats while Merrick and Kellan gave them cover.

I used the side of the house as a shield while they took cover behind the thick stone of a post. I took aim at one of the guards just as he turned our way. Before he could even lift his gun, my finger was pulling the trigger, sending a shot to his chest.

I was going to have to work on my aim, along with a refresh on my combat skills, but at least I brought him down.

“Nice.” Spade beamed at me before taking his own shot at the next guard. The bullet lodged itself into his head, and he fell backward, his body crumpled on the ground as blood pooled around him.

“Let’s move,” Merrick ordered, waving for us to follow. He and Kellan must have taken out the few remaining members of Tommaso’s security, since they lay lifeless on the ground. Blood and bodies covered the once pristine driveway, the sight bringing a smile to my face at the thought of the destruction Tommaso had brought on himself for thinking he could take me.

Not again. I would never let another person coerce me, capture me, or catch me off guard.

I was the Devil.

I was the taker of souls.

I was the villain.

And I’d never let myself be the victim again.

“See, I knew you’d love seeing the bodies.” Spade’s voice rang with excitement as we raced across the blood-coated stone. I couldn’t help but smile as I followed Kellan to the black armored van, making sure to stay vigilant for any guards we may have missed.

Merrick swung open the back door and swept the distance, giving us all cover as we got in. Kellan pushed me in first and guarded the other side, letting Spade get in next to cover Merrick and Kellan as they climbed in and shut the door behind them.

And like that, it was done. The tires screeched out of the driveway and onto the street, leaving the carnage of Tommaso’s manor in the rearview mirror.

Not long ago, I’d feared this place. I used to think of it as a prison. But my guys and their men had swept in and overtaken the guards, freeing me from the place that had nearly made me suffocate on my own.

Ready to slump back in my seat and shut my eyes, I hesitated as the flash of sunlight glinting off a black armored sedan through the window caught my attention. I straightened as they passed, straining my eyes to see as best as I could through the tinted glass. Tommaso’s father sat in the passenger seat, his eyes seemingly boring into the van, into me, as they passed.

My stomach churned at the thought of almost running into him. Had he come because of the attack, or was he already on his way? Did Tommaso tell him that I was there, tied up at the house, and he’d come to take his sick revenge on me himself?

I shook my head and leaned back in my seat, quickly buckling the seat belt as the van accelerated.

“Are you okay?” Kellan asked, drawing my gaze to him. He took the seat in front of me, his face creased with concern as he scrutinized me, searching for any sign of injury.

“I’m fine,” I breathed, giving him a soft smile. “That was Angelo Barone.”

“Let’s step on it and avoid any cops,” Merrick said, his commanding tone going through the car speaker above him. He released the button, and the driver sped up. His jaw tensed as he looked behind us for any sign that Angelo was following us. I knew he wouldn’t, though, not on his own, at least.

“We do have another problem.” I grimaced, anxiety thrumming through me as the adrenaline loosened its hold on me. “And it has to do with you leading Tommaso to New York.”

Tommaso had revealed that the guys laid a fake trail back to New York, and he had followed it to the city in the hopes of capturing me. It was a good idea, in theory, but I still had people I cared about, people who Tommaso would undoubtedly use to draw me out, especially when he learned it was all a trick.

His ego really wouldn’t suffer the humiliation gracefully.

A low, deep growl reverberated from Merrick’s chest at the mere mention of the second in line to the Barone empire and the ex-fiancé I’d escaped. Kellan gave me an assessing look before he winced, clearly already putting the pieces together.

“Well, of course, there’s a problem.” Spade chuckled, fingering a lock of my blood-speckled hair. “He knows that was a trap, and he’ll be on his way back here now.”

Kellan groaned, but I cut him off. “Yes, but now Tommaso will be out for revenge.”

Merrick stiffened. “We already knew he would be coming after us. It was a way to stall, to let us regroup.”

“I understand, but I’m not the only person at stake right now. My friend Sophia, who I was on the phone with before . . .” I trailed off, not needing to say the rest. Judging by their narrowed glares, none of us would be forgetting last night anytime soon. “He’s only kept his distance because her father is a senator. But with me escaping from his clutches a second time, and you bringing down his men in his own home, he might just be desperate enough to do something reckless.”

Merrick let loose a string of curses as he pulled his phone from his pocket and pressed it to his ear, a plan clearly already in place.

“He’s calling a friend of ours who helped lead Tommaso back to New York,” Kellan filled in for me, giving me a soft smile I couldn’t help but return, despite my stomach twisting at the thought of Sophia in Tommaso’s clutches.

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