Page 24 of Lourdes & the Mafia
This shuts my brothers up. Simultaneously, they both look in my direction, shock in their features. I don’t mirror it.
There is a reason for their surprise. Sinful, and every club and joint we own, is protected with magic of our own creation. A place that cannot be found by anyone or any means unless we will it so—and we do will it so. But only at night, and only to the creatures of the dark and dangerous. A blind spot on the island, immune to charms, magic, and any supernatural power.
Even the power of visions.
Had they really thought that her falling into our club was mere chance?
There’s a word for it.
Destiny.
And it’s existed for longer than even I’ve been alive.
I thread my fingers together and rest my chin on the tops of them. “There’s only one solution, then,” I tell my brothers while staring directly at her. “We find who did this to you.” Darkness closes in along the room at my will. “And we kill them.”
Lourdes
Mypalmsslapagainstthe surface of the sleek table. It slams so loudly against it that the approaching darkness—curling like smoke from the corners—scatters with a screech. Like it’s a living thing, frightened of the noise. I try not to let that thought bother me as I push myself to a stand, nostrils flaring, taking in each of the men currently surrounding me.
The newcomer—Ramiel—said the words so casually. “We will kill them.” Like he isn’t talking about committing a crime in front of me. Granted, the bitch that stabbed me committed several crimes, but she deserves jail time, not death. If she isn’t dead already.
Besides, who are they to dish that out?
Besidesthat, how did they even get roped into this mess, and why would they want to be involved?
From the looks of it, Kane is furious at the statement, but he lowers his head in a strange sign of subservience, while Lorenzo smiles in my direction.
And Ramiel simply… stares. Both of his dark, thick eyebrows raised.
“Wait a minute,” I say breathlessly. “This—that—this isn’t any business of yours.”
“Amore, it is now.” Lorenzo flashes a deathly attractive smile in my direction, and the simple action makes my thighs clench together from beneath the silk number. It’s arousal, plain and simple, and I hate how he brings it out of me by merely speaking.
I promised myself no more men. That also means no more dick.
Even if I really want to ride his right now.
“Look.” I squeeze my eyes closed before opening them once more. “I’m really sorry I came into your club. I promise, I won’t do it again. You guys don’t need to get involved in my mess. In fact, I’ll go back up top, or to the human world or whatever, and leave you and your demons be. I’ll call the police, they’ll take my statement, and everything will be fine.”
I swear, it’s not going to be fine. As it is, I can already feel a panic attack coming on, threatening to drag me under. Fuck, I hate those things. They’re too overwhelming, and I don’t want to have one in front of the three of them.
They’ve already seen me bloody and screeching like a pendeja; how much more humiliation can a girl take?
“We want to help you,” Lorenzo says, his voice breathing with reassurance that doesn’t come. “Whoever did this to you cannot be allowed to live.”
“Well, I stabbed Yessi,” I remind them. “She might be dead as we speak.”
Ramiel’s eyes stray to Lorenzo. They seem to speak without words, and when he does, I know he only does it for my benefit. “Was there blood on her when she came here?”
Lorenzo nods solemnly. Then, a gust of shadows, and a moment after they settle, a pile of clothes land gently on the table in front of Ramiel.
“Are those—”
“Your clothes? Yes.” Ramiel reaches for them and I feel my face heat up with mortification. What the fuck, is he going to sniff the crotch in front of me? That’s some freaky shit he should keep to himself in his basement. But no. He just takes the shirt I was wearing when Yessi had a go at me. His fingers wrap around the fabric and he stares down at it hard.
So hard, his eyes consume with darkness.
I suck in a breath, transfixed at the way they gloss over like dark marbles. Magic fills the air around us. It’s a heavy press, like it can’t help but exit his body in grand increments.
