Page 162 of The Sweetest Devotion

“Then why steal?” I challenged.

She shrugged. “It was just a stupid game.”

“Playin’ stupid games can get you stupid prizes,” I warned.

“I won’t do it again,” Eden said earnestly.

“Don’t,” I told her. “And while you’re at it, you should be making better friends.”

Eden looked off, noting we were alone in 7 Corners’s parking lot. Shit could’ve gone left and her friend had abandoned her.

It was late. Eden was only wearing a small tube top and shorts with a cardigan that was hanging off her. It was only sixty-something out, not quite chilly, but still.

“Need a ride?” I offered.

Eden smiled and shook her head. “No, there’s a bus running nearby.”

“A ride would be quicker,” I pointed out.

“I like the bus,” Eden countered.

I didn’t push, unsure if she trusted me enough to be alone with me or not. “Okay.”

“I’ll, uh, make you some cookies with these Reese’s Pieces and bring them by the shop since you saved my ass in there,” Eden said.

“Oh, you cook?”

Eden lifted her chin, appearing proud. “I love to cook.”

There was something wholesome about that, making me smile.

“All right then, I can get with that. You should add some chocolate chips, too,” I suggested.

Eden grinned, catching a little attitude. “I didn’t say I was taking requests, but I’ll think about it.”

“Stay safe,” I said as I let her go. “And watch your back.”

Eden didn’t fight me on that last remark and bobbed her head in agreement. She took off down the parking lot and rounded the building, disappearing into the night.

Turning around, I prepared to get back into my truck.

At least, that’s what I’d been about to do. Parked directly behind my Tahoe to where I couldn’t back out of my space, was an all-black Rolls-Royce Phantom with tinted windows. It was a luxury vehicle and a sight to see, but whoever was behind the wheel needed to back up.

I raised my arms, in a what-are-you-doing gesture, trying to get the driver to read the room.

On the other side of the car, the driver’s door opened. Stepping out of the Phantom was a large man in a suit. When he turned around, recollection hit me, leaving me to angle my head and squint.

“Beans?” I said it more as a question than a statement.

The large man driving the vehicle was a familiar face I recognized from back in the day. When shit was kinda wild for me. I was a few years older, but I was good with faces.Beanswasn’t his real name, but a nickname he’d gotten from some kids around the way. He’d been called “Beans” so much, I’d forgotten what hisrealname was.

Beans said nothing as he propped an arm against the hood of the Phantom and merely stared at me.

And then the back door opened on my side and a shiny loafer stepped out. A suit clad leg was attached and I followed the leg until the person inside the Phantom came out.

“Dice.”

It was like staring at a ghost, as another blast from my past was standing right in front of me.

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