Page 24 of Devil's Claim

“God. You’re so fucking nosy. Why do you care?”

His silence was even worse than all the rough and tough attitude he’d doled out before.

I moved toward Maverick’s bed, adjusting the two decorative pillows like I’d done countless times before. “His father has him.”

“His father.”

“Yep,” I said in a strangled voice, popping the P. “Malcolm Worthington of the Worthingtons of Miami Beach and beyond. A family who has more money than God. They also have the attitude to match it. You know the type. Their shit doesn’t stink.”

As I’d experienced the night before, he was allowing me to talk, encouraging me to do so with his silence.

I slowly sat down on the edge of the bed, rubbing my hand across the comforter. When had my beautiful little boy slept in his bedthe last time? When was the last time I’d read him a story? Or had heard his little giggle, the sweet sound always putting a smile on my face?

“Anyway, Malcolm has temporary custody. I’m expecting another notification of a final court date any day. I’m supposed to have visitation once a month. However, Malcolm in his infinite wisdom and the fact his attorney is from the best firm in all of Miami has determined I’m not fit to spend even two days with my own son.”

Breaking down in front of this man wasn’t my intention and it sickened me even more than I’d been before. The sobs racked my chest, the ache presenting itself like a sharp knife cutting through my insides.

The goddamn silence was worse than the tears. I snuffled and lifted my head, staring Kruz in the eyes. He was such a cold fish one minute, a wild beast of passion and anger the next that I couldn’t figure him out.

The only real indication he was troubled by what I’d told him was the way his chest was heaving. What did that matter? He certainly couldn’t do anything to help me.

“In case you’re wondering, I spent all the savings I had on an attorney to try and fight Malcolm, but it was no use. So, if you don’t mind, please just get out. Leave me alone for a little while. This is all I have left of the best thing that’s ever happened in my life.” I grabbed Maverick’s favorite teddy bear that Malcolm had refused to take and cinched my eyes shut, rocking the stuffed animal as if I was holding my little boy.

When the tears stopped and I finally opened my eyes, Kruz was gone.

CHAPTER 7

Christine

Shopping with a killer.

Maybe I was overblowing Kruz’s credentials as I’d yet to see him kill anyone. However, I sensed the man was itching to do so.

There had to be some irony in there as well as everything else that had occurred in twenty hours.

Nothing seemed to fit, or maybe my mind was unable to process I’d chauffeured a truly bad man to some of my favorite Miami stores.

None of which had suited him.

Kruz had remained mostly silent, adopting the brooding bad guy persona during the ride. Meanwhile, I’d chattered away about the city, pointing out my favorite bistros and bars. Not that I’d been to many of them. Saving money prevented me from spending frivolously. I’d done so out of nervousness. One reasonwas that the weapon he carried, while hidden under his shirt behind his back, was forever present when he walked.

At least to me.

But for a city where permits to carry a weapon were prevalent, no one seemed to pay any attention. Nor had they even looked twice as we’d walked the sidewalks in front of trendy shops at his dark clothing and penetrating stare. In their minds, he was just another resident making a fashion statement.

It didn’t matter the heat was oppressive.

In contrast I was wearing a summer dress, light, airy, and brightly colored. I had no clue why I’d selected the outfit, but the moment I’d walked from my bedroom, his eyes had shifted from zero emotion to raging desire.

At least he hadn’t said anything.

“This is where you want to go?” In desperation after he’d grunted his disapproval at my selection of stores several times, I’d driven to the most fashionable and expensive shopping mecca in Miami.

Bal Harbour.

The open-air mall housed everything luxurious. Even the recent trend of shopping online hadn’t destroyed the ambiance or the shops’ sales.

He took a few seconds, scanning the two floors, tilting his head toward the bright blue sky peeking in. I couldn’t tell whether he was worried about whether he could find a decent store or if he was concerned about masked men attempting to assassinate him.

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