Page 54 of The Final Deal

“Because it has nothing to do with this!”

The devil stares at me, his total silence eerie and disturbing as I can barely make out his black eyes. “I’m afraid I need some reassurances.”

“Like what?” I question incredulously.

He holds out his hand. “Contract.”

Ty takes his phone from his pocket, taps a few times on the screen, and places it in the devil’s open palm. He glances at the screen briefly before holding it out toward me. “Sign.”

Reluctantly, I take Ty’s phone.

The goddamn partnership agreement glares at me below my nose.

“Why are you adding this as part of my dealafterthe fact?” I demand in annoyance. “Ty’s got nothing to do with NYB. I’m upholding what I agreed to—you’ve got no reason to make an addendum like this.”

“Perhaps it’s nothing to do with NYB and everything to do with you,” he replies ominously, turning slightly to face Ty.

Even though they’re the same height, my nemesis can hardly regard the devil, never mind look at me.

I guess all of this really is revenge for him.

Dark eyes glitter in the sunlight as they meet mine. “Like I said: sign it, or your deal goes away.”

Frustration pricks my eyes. The last thing I want is to further tangle myself in Ty’s web, but if it means keeping everyone safe and well…

Hot tears drip onto my cheeks as I hold the phone up and scribble my signature and initials in the marked spots.

Hands clasp together with a muffled clap. “Excellent,” he exclaims and turns to walk away.

“Why now?” I question loudly. I dash the tears from my cheeks and sniffle. “Why didn’t you ever come for me between now and when I first saw you when I was little?”

He studies me thoughtfully—or like he’s toying with me a little more. “I like to play the long game.”

I don’t pry my eyes from him until he disappears into the trees.

Ty rises from the bench. “So I’ve got real estate under contract?—”

I chuck his phone hard at his chest. “Shut the fuck up! Who the hell do you think you are barging intomylife?Myfestival?”

“I’m the guy who loved you from a distance for so long only for you to kick me in the balls left and right,” he says incredulously.

I jab a finger in his chest. “You have no idea what love is.”

He seethes. “Guess I’ll never know ’cause of you.”

“So your best idea is to butt your way so far into my life that we’ll be forced to be around each other constantly?”

The smile he gives is disconcerting, menacing—promising with a threat. “I’m gonna be your worst nightmare, babe.”

I make a run for my car. He’s still there in the prayer garden watching as I peel out of the church’s parking lot and speed off.

My thoughts race faster than my car speeds down the road, running away from Ty and the devil and toward the twins’ house.Myhouse.

I come to a screeching halt at the front door and park behind the Hellcat and the Tacoma. The keys drop from my shaking fingers twice before I manage to stick a key in and unlock the door. My breath is fast and heavy, and all I can think about is grabbing a knife from the kitchen, finding Ty, and cutting his fucking heart out.

“Hey, babe.”

I jump and glare at Zak. He emerges from his side of the house with damp hair in a knot on top of his head and blue gym shorts precariously hanging from hips blanketed in tattoos.

---