Page 236 of The Devil's Fire

It also took everything in me not to turn around and make a run for it, not ready for what I was about to face.

I didn’t notice when he reached for the gun I was hiding behind my back before he ripped it out of my hands. Damiano looked at the gun, turning it over as he examined it.

“How did you get this?” His voice was laced with so much anger, making me gulp a little.

“I, uh, bought it?”

He placed the tip of the gun under my chin to tilt my head up higher.

“Don’t lie to me. This belongs to me, so tell me who the hell gave it to you?” He sneered. I stayed quiet.

“Fine. I will find out in a second. Go sit your ass down and take that shit off.” His eyes were cold as he looked at me. I swallowed hard.

Damiano’s eyes followed me as I sat down on the couch. At the same time, the door opened and Antonio, Giovanni, Luca, and Raffaele walked in with Ava and Cecilia, who were still half-asleep and had to be carried by Luca and Raffaele. They all gave me disapproving looks, and I looked away, taking off my wig and contacts to hide my nervousness.

“What happened to them?” Damiano asked, looking at Ava’s and Cecilia’s drowsy state.

“We found them asleep.” Antonio reported.

“Didn’t I say to keep an eye on her at all times, and you fell asleep?” Damiano snapped at them. Cecilia looked at him and blinked a couple of times as she tried to focus.

“It just happened. We suddenly got tired after she left. It must have been the wine.” She mumbled and leaned into Luca.

“Did you drug us?” Ava asked, making all of them look at me.

“You drugged my girlfriend?” Luca hissed at me. My eyes widened at his words. Cecilia was his girlfriend? That meant she was Damiano’s cousin.

Fuck. Me.

“I wouldn’t call it drugged, per se... I just crushed some sleeping pills and put them in the wine…” I awkwardly trailed off and squirmed in my seat. If Luca wasn’t pissed at me before for staying in the safe house, he definitely was now for, well, drugging his girlfriend with sleeping pills.

“Badass.” Ava half chuckled and rubbed her eyes.

“Take them away.” Damiano ordered, and Luca and Raffaele carried them out. Even Raffaele, who was usually playful, was quiet and looked at me with a pissed-off expression.

Damiano held up the gun, making Antonio look at it.

“I gave her the gun.”

“And why the fuck would you do that?”

“In case she needed it for extra protection.” He said calmly while Damiano glared at him with a murderous look.

“She barely knows how to use it. What if she hurt herself with it?”

“I’m not that stupid.” The words came out before I could stop them, making him whip his head at me so fast.

“Didn’t I tell you to stay quiet?” He growled out, and I frowned.

“This is getting ridiculous.” I mumbled under my breath and crossed my arms, but he heard it.

“Do you think this is a joke? What the fuck were you doing at the LuxePalace?!”

I was startled when he raised his voice at me. He stepped closer and stared me down.

“I’m not going to talk to you if you’re just going to yell at me.” I stood up to get away from him, but he grabbed my arm firmly to face him again.

“You’re going to tell me before I really lose my fucking shit.” His expression made my heart drop.