Page 82 of Her Devils

I’m about to swoop in and take Lenley away, consequences be damned. The press can write whatever they want, my dad can kick me out of the team, whatever. I just want to make that frightened expression disappear from her face.

I’m about to stalk over to the front of the room and grab her hand when I hear Penn’s girlfriend bitch about not being the one called on stage.

“I’m his girlfriend, I should be there with him being photographed—”

That’s when I see the fire that is threatening to turn our easy deal into something entirely different. Lenley’s good looks—and her status as Penn’s best friend—was what made me want to offer her that deal.

But the fire that lurks under the surface of her sweet smile is what’s turning Lenley into way more than a fuck buddy and a stepsister.

Her determination, her drive, and the unrelenting way she supports her loved ones is what makes me want to burn the entire world for her.

Lenley DeLaurent isn’t just beautiful, she’s also a force to be reckoned with now that she’s finding her confidence.

She doesn’t stoop to her trashy ex-friend’s level, she just smiles sweetly at Kiara, straightens her spine, and marches straight into the eye of the storm.

My focus is immediately back on wanting to use Penn as my personal punching bag when he isn’t just happy with dragging Lenley on stage and he forces her to give a speech.

How pathetic. He’s using her to make himself shine brighter, since he couldn’t win enough medals to be the absolute star of this national championship.

However, Lenley never ceases to surprise me. She starts her speech by talking about Patrick and how much she misses her father, and then she starts talking about us—the Cove Devils.

Fuck.

If Penn thought he’d get more attention by using Lenley, then that definitely exploded in his face.

My frown turns into a smile when I see that same realization dawn on Penn.

Holy shit.

My sweet, sexy Snow has the attention of the entire room as she talks about how the Angels and Devils are one big family.

“Well, fuck me.” J chuckles under his breath. “I wouldn’t say that we’re all going to start braiding each other’s hair and singing ‘Kumbaya,’ but that didn’t go the way Penn was expecting. And look at our management teams.”

I follow his nod toward Dad, Gina, Anna, and Kyle Penn, who are standing in a small cluster next to the mayor of Star Cove and his wife.

Lenley’s speech is being received in slightly different ways by the group. Dad and Gina have bright smiles on their faces, Anna looks vaguely confused, and Kyle has a stony expression on his face.

There’s a roaring round of applause as Lenley’s speech comes to an end, and then Penn grabs her elbow and drags her away.

I’m not the only one who stiffens at the way Darrius is practically manhandling Lenley toward the open bar on the opposite side of the room.

J’s and Chan’s gazes follow their trajectory, and they are ready to spring into action if our rival doesn’t take his hands off our girl.

“I’m going over there, and I’m going to break both his arms if he doesn’t let go of her,” Channing growls.

“I’m coming with you,” Jameson bites out. “But keep your hands to yourself, Chan. Every single big press outlet is in this room, as well as the USPA chiefs. You can’t hit him, or we can kiss Team USA goodbye. You have to use your words and keep your temper in check.”

Jameson is looking at both of us, and of course he’s absolutely right.

“Follow my lead,” he says as he strides toward the bar with a smile on his face, but his fists are clenched with white-knuckle force.

We’re a few feet away from them, not close enough to hear what they are saying in the busy room, but Lenley is no damsel, and she can definitely hold her own with the likes of Penn.

The way she shakes out of his hold would make me hard if I wasn’t too furious to focus on how beautiful she looks right now.

The guys and I are just a few steps away from her as she stops to smile in Sarah’s direction. She mouths something I can’t quite catch at her best friend, and they both smile.

“Did she just say pussy?” Channing whisper-yells in my ear.

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