Page 71 of Devil's Game

My chest racked with a sob, tears prickling at the corners of my eyes. I let them hold me up as the stubborn strength rooting me to my spot seeped away. I could let them see past the facade, to the woman beneath who was barely holding on. “It’s all my fault.”

“It’s not,” Kellan murmured, pressing his lips to the top of my head.

“It’s Tommaso’s fault. He did this, not you or anyone else.” Merrick’s stern voice helped ease some of the guilt clawing at my chest, threatening to tear me apart.

I could play the blame game all night, run all the possibilities through my mind until I went mad, but at the end of the day, I couldn’t control anyone else’s actions. Tonight was the perfect storm of fucked-up events, but at the center of it all was Tommaso. He was the hurricane, relentlessly trying to tear our lives to shreds, and I couldn’t let him win.

“We have a plan, sugar, but we’ll need your expertise to make it work.” Spade’s soft fingers brushed over my cheek to tuck my hair behind my ear.

A plan?

A plan gave me hope, gave me direction, gave me somewhere to direct the anxious energy thrumming through my veins.

I pulled away from them, my gaze hardening to steel as I let the strength and determination they had helped me find wash over me.

“Let’s kill this asshole once and for all.”

Chapter Twenty-two

Giana

Igrimaced as myfingers hit the buttons. Hatred burned in my chest for this man. This was all a game to him, every single move a new attempt to manipulate me, to make me feel small and under his control. He knew what it would do to remind me of how ingrained the code to the penthouse elevator was in my mind, just like he knew the symbolism this place held.

This condo was the cage he’d kept me trapped within for years. He knew what he was doing, bringing me back here. I knew his games, though, so I hadn’t been surprised when I’d received a text last night, giving me the meeting place and time for tonight.

My back was ramrod straight as I reminded myself not to let any of my warring emotions show. I was alone, but I knew therewas a camera pointed at me, just as I knew Tommaso was glued to the screen, watching me for any signs of weakness.

I waited with bated breath as the private elevator shot up, knowing I’d be face-to-face with the man I hated soon enough.

My stomach twisted as the elevator slowed, the chime sending my pulse skittering as anticipation vibrated through me like an electric current.

The brass doors rolled open, revealing the dark interior of the penthouse. I blinked, attempting to get my vision to adjust before I stepped off, but it was no use, not while the bright light of the elevator still radiated overhead.

My chest tightened as I walked into the dark entryway, the elevator doors closing behind me, like the last lifeline I had to the outside world had been cut off.

The condo was the same as I remembered it, acting as a time capsule of our life here. The white marble floor shone in the city lights twinkling through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The entryway led to the living and dining rooms, with a full professional kitchen around the corner. Marble stairs led up to the second floor where the bedrooms were.

“Mi amore.” The name was like a knife to the chest, and despite myself, I couldn’t help but flinch at the familiar voice. “I knew you’d come.”

My gaze searched for him in the darkness, his figure shrouded in shadows as he strode through the living room. I blinked the familiar image away as memories from that night in East Haven flooded my thoughts. He’d waited for me in the dark then, too, pinned me against the door before he—

I walked into the living room, getting as far as I could from a corner or anything he could use to trap me with. Sure, I was closer to him now, but I would never let him do that to me again. I would never let him corner me, trap me, intimidate me.

Tommaso grinned as I strode toward him, like he thought I was about to jump into his arms. But his excitement was short lived as I put the couch between us, not letting him get too close to me.

“Of course, I came. You took Sophia.” I choked back my incredulous tone, not wanting to do anything to set him off, not until I knew she was safe.

“Don’t be like that.” He sighed in disappointment. “You have no idea how much I missed you. I’ve been going out of my mind every day that I haven’t been able to hold you.”

He moved to the side of the couch, and I mirrored him, keeping the same distance between us.

“Let Sophia go.” I kept my hands by my side, ready for whatever he might try next.

“Oh, Giana.” The way he said my name made ice skate over my veins, like I was just a naïve girl he had to explain the truths of the world to. “You thought I would just let her go right away?”

His mahogany eyes glinted with barely concealed malice before he cleared his throat and blinked it away, his caring facade slipping back into place. “I need to make sure we’re back on track, first.”

“There’s no track for us to get back on.” I scoffed, barely able to keep the snarl out of my tone.

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