Page 57 of Devil's Game

“I learned from the best.” Spade winked, placing a kiss on the top of my hand, uncaring of the dried blood that still coated it. “You got to have all the fun today, though.” He glanced down at the tongueless man and kicked at the lifeless corpse.

“Don’t worry.” I squeezed his hand, drawing his gaze back to me. “We’re just getting started.”

Chapter Seventeen

Merrick

“Alpha team,” I grumbled,my boots smacking against the worn, varnished hardwood planks. Wrapping my arm around Giana’s shoulders, I pulled her into my side, grateful she’d already disposed of the blood-soaked wig and looked like herself again.

She’d changed when we got back to the van, pulling on a thick sweater and yoga pants instead of the scrap of fabric she was wearing before. I wasn’t sure if I’d have been able to hold myself back if one of these guys had stared at her. And, honestly, I wasn’t sure if she’d have been able to hold herself back from making good on cutting off the other piece of anatomy she’d wanted to if anyone leered at her right now.

“We followed them out as soon as they got the call, and all six targets were taken care of.”

I nodded. “Beta team.”

We already knew all the teams had been successful, but if there was anything we could glean from their encounters, I’d take it if it helped keep Giana safe.

“Our group wasn’t in the bar—they were out back—but we were able to stake out their position before the call came in and took out all four of them successfully.”

It went on like that until we reached the last team, the leader grimacing as my gaze landed on him.

“We—uh, we had to move in early.”

“Explain.”

“The three we were tasked with left the bar early.” He frowned, his gaze flicking to Giana tucked under my arm before locking eyes with me. “They were about to follow one of the girls home from the bar.”

Giana stiffened, her body language shifting so subtly, only the three of us would have noticed, as she didn’t reveal any other sign of her anger.

Kellan was about to reach for her hand, but I jerked my head, stopping him. He was so tuned in to her that he knew exactly what she needed, but this time, she needed to feel it, to let the others see that fire within her and how brightly it burned.

My arm fell to my side as she stepped forward, commanding the room’s attention with one simple stride.

“You did the right thing.” She nodded to the final team, and my lips twitched as she stole the words from my lips. “Tonight was a success, not only because we took out some crucial members of the Barones organization.” She strode into the middle of the room, making sure every eye was on her. “Whether you witnessed it or not, we helped countless people today. Shewasn’t the only one they’ve tried to prey upon or tried to break for fun.”

My hands clenched at my side, my jaw tensing as anger seared through my veins. I wished I could be her shadow, silently following her and decimating everyone who tried to take a piece of her light.

“Tonight was a huge win, one that will send Angelo and Tommaso spiraling, but it isn’t the end. They will retaliate. We just have to keep hitting them before they do, slowly chipping away at their exterior until they start to fold, and then we can take them out once and for all.”

Cheers sounded from around the bar, everyone’s spirits lifting with the acknowledgement. She was exactly what they needed—what we all needed. She was born to lead, born to put us on this path. My anger ratcheted up at the reminder that Tommaso had kept her hidden away for so long, clipping her wings so she couldn’t fly away from him.

Giana was meant for so much, and there was no way I could ever hold her back from that, despite how terrified I was to lose her. I’d worried that fear was turning me into Tommaso, but after tonight, I knew that would never happen.

But I loved her more than words could ever convey. I could let go. I would loosen my reins on my control for her because she was more than capable on her own. Hell, she’d only been with us for a few weeks now, and she was already falling into a leadership role. And after tonight, after seeing the coordination and carnage she was able to bring, I could see that every single person in this bar respected her.

I would never take away her light. I would never be like Tommaso and try to lock her in a cage.

My gaze was glued to her as she went to Nicolas and sat down at his table, the rest of the bar launching into excited discussions on what would happen on the next strike. I couldn’t help butbe drawn toward her, my feet moving on their own accord with each step I took, pulled in by her magnetism.

“We made sure she got home okay,” Nicolas confirmed, regret softening his features as he undoubtedly remembered the night when Mike had drugged Giana. “We weren’t sure if they had slipped her anything in the bar.”

“You did the right thing,” Giana assured him again, clasping his shoulder. Despite the warmth in her tone, her eyes had gone distant, as though she, too, had been transported back to that night.

I swallowed thickly against the bile rising in my throat, the only sign of emotion I’d show until I could get her away from the prying eyes of these men. “Can I speak with you, little devil?”

I gave Nicolas a nod of respect as I wrapped my arm around my girl, instantly feeling her relax into my touch. “Of course.”

She spared the group a quick goodbye before I led her back to my office.

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