Page 60 of Devil's Game

“Saved by the bell.” I stuck my tongue out at him and pulled in the phone back out, fully expecting a call from Sophia chewing me out for not being there soon enough. But that wasn’t the case.

“Stop teasing me,” he groaned, his light tone evaporating as he took in my hesitance. “Who is it?”

My lips pulled into a frown as I showed him the No Caller ID that had popped up in place of a contact’s name. “Your guess is as good as mine.”

Anxiety churned in my gut, but before Spade could stop me, I accepted the call and put it on speakerphone. Silence stretched between us as I waited for the caller to say something, to reveal themselves before I uttered a single word.

“Your plan won’t work, Giana.” A garbled voice came from the receiver that sent a chill up my spine as he stumbled over my name, like he wanted to say something else but was trying in vain to disguise himself.

I gritted my teeth, meeting Spade’s gaze as his darkened, a promise of death in his violet eyes. I held up a finger, begging him to keep the rage inside, to keep it pent up for the men we were about to track down, rather than giving in to Tommaso’s game.

Remaining silent, I waited for him to show his hand.

“We know it was you and your little friends that attacked our men last week. And for your sake, I hope you leave well enough alone,mi amore, because they’ll be ready this time.”

He apparently was giving up all pretense of trying to stay anonymous now. Heat washed over me, anger momentarily clouding my mind before I blinked it away, attempting to refocus.

“I don’t want you getting hurt, Giana. Please.” His real voice came over the line now, and just the sound had me swallowing back the bile rising in my throat. “Stop this, come home to me.”

I clasped Spade’s hand, sensing his brewing irritation vibrating just below the surface. His fingers closed around mine, holding on to me like a lifeline, keeping him afloat in the torrent of his mind, his raging emotions crashing like the waves in the violent sea.

“Fine. You forced my hand.” He sighed, his tone condescending. “I let you have your fun, but I’m done with the games. Just remember, you made me go to these lengths. You’re the only one to blame for what comes next.”

I shook my head, my finger hovering over theend callbutton, sure his rambling must be coming to an end when he added, “I’ll see you soon,mi amore. I even have a nice dress waiting for you—a welcome home present.”

He ended the call before I could, the screen flickering to black with his parting words. I clenched the brick of metal and plastic, wishing I could throw it out the window like I’d done to my last one.

How did he even get this number?

I shook my head and shoved the phone into my bag, not wanting to voice the question aloud, because I already knew the answer. The Barones always got what they wanted, no matter the cost—but that was about to end, and I would be the one to take that power from them.

“I’m so ready to kill someone,” I said, my hands shaking, needing to feel the cool metal of a blade in my palm just to take the edge off.

“Perfect timing because I think we caught our prey, sugar.” Spade’s grin grew as he pointed to the street before us, where three men in midnight-blue suits stalked toward the back of the local bookstore. Mr. Richards was running it for Kellan’s parentswhile they were in hiding, but it seemed like Tommaso’s words were true—they were going to attack every place that meant something to us in the attempt to break me.

But it wouldn’t work, just as none of their attempts had worked so far.

“Then, let’s do this.” I grinned, matching Spade’s bloodthirst as the men disappeared into the darkness.

Spade’s lips found mine, capturing them in a searing kiss that burned straight to my toes. It communicated so much more than any words could. Pride and longing lingered between us as he cradled my head to him like he never wanted to let go.

We both needed this, the connection and to get lost in the violence waiting outside these car doors.

“After you, sugar.” He grinned against my lips, his eyelashes fluttering as his gaze raked over my body, sending another wave of lust coursing through my veins.

If there wasn’t so much at stake, I would pull him into that back seat, just like he’d promised me earlier, but we’d have to save that for later.

My men and violence were definitely my two favorite things, and they were even better when combined.

Icrept along thebuilding, my sneakers barely making any sound against the pavement—so much better for murdering than heels. They should put that in an advertisement or something.

Spade was a few paces behind me, making sure we didn’t get trapped unaware as I took the lead, needing to scope out the small back entrance of the bookstore. There were only a few feet of pavement between the thick steel door and the cement wallfencing in the back of the bookstore, with a few small trash cans and recycling bins.

Anticipation flooded my veins, excitement and adrenaline spiking as two of the men stood just under the wall sconce, the light casting an ominous glow over them.

I lifted two fingers as a sign to Spade, warning him that the third was unaccounted for. Just as I was about to retreat to him, the metal door slammed against the brick and the third man stalked out, hauling a quivering Mr. Richards along with him. His grey hair was wild, sticking up in places, suggesting the man had already thrown him around inside.

“Tell them what you told me,” the henchman snapped, throwing the older man onto the ground. He landed with a sickening smack and clutched his arm to his chest, a whimper escaping his lips.

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