Page 52 of The Devil You Don't Know

“They won’t find the body,” Logan said. “Have some faith in my honed talents.”

“I need you guys on my side on this one. I need you to promise me you will try,” Liam said, his voice falling to a whisper. It cracked as he added, “Just let me try to keep you all safe.”

I nodded, hating seeing Liam like this.

“Okay,” Logan said.

Even with a plan and the assurance from Logan about the body, I couldn’t help but feel the devil himself close in on us. Things were too neat, too…put together. And I still hadn’t heard from Audry. Until I did, until I saw her with my own eyes, I wouldn’t put much stock into any of this.

Chapter 23

Audry

So,maybethrowing my phone against the wall was a terrible idea. I tried to put everything back together, but the case was a goner. The phone itself was still usable, as long as the web-like cracks in the screen didn’t drive me insane—which they absolutely did.

I tossed the abused technology onto my bed, still not caring much about it.

I didn’t care much about anything right now. Except for the flavored vodka calling my name from the counter. I poured myself a shot, throwing it back. The sweet sting warmed my insides. This…this was what I called self-care.

A subtle knock on the door froze me mid-pour. My parents wouldn’t knock that softly. No, they would try to break the door down. They never believed in privacy. That was, unless they were in public. The charade I had been playing since childhood was finally catching up to itself.

Things were easier when Sofya was around. She knew how my family was, although she never mentioned it. My parents always liked her more than me, making sure she knew she had a place in the hotel if she needed one.

The knock sounded again, a bit louder this time. I sighed, throwing the second shot back, the burn crawling down my throat and into my chest.

“Audry? Come on,” Kai’s voice sounded from behind the door.

I rolled my eyes, placing the glass on the counter. I opened the door for him, continuing my melancholy party of one. Another shot poured and tossed back.

“Are you okay? Where have you been?” he asked. “Why haven’t you answered your phone?”

I pointed to the abandoned cellphone on the bed, the cracked screen, and the case dismembered.

“What happened?” He glanced at me, worried, before taking in the scent of the liquor. He stared at me with pity and misplaced concern. We weren’t dating.

“You aren’t my keeper,” I muttered, doing away with the small glass container and taking a swig directly from the spout. “Or my boyfriend.”

Kai’s lips turned downward. “That may be the case, but I care about you.”

I couldn’t deny his claim. He had done nothing but care about me. Maybe that was the problem. Maybe I needed someone more like Quinton, willing to use me and string me along. Things were easier when the most prominent life-altering experience was him telling me he was there with another woman, after fucking me in the bathroom, of course.

Maybe that is what I’m good for. The words haunted me as I analyzed my life and its decisions. I wasn’t known for my monogamy or my chastity. When Sofya got engaged, I was the one asking if she was sure she wanted to be part of the ‘one dick for life club.’

I glanced up at Kai, his fear still tattooed on his face. I rolled my eyes, abandoning the bottle, and picking up my phone from the couch. “I’m fine.”

“You don’t look fine,” he said. “You look like you just went three or four rounds with the devil and got your ass kicked.”

I snorted, the first sense of laughter I had felt since I was in the hotel room with him. I smiled at the memory. “Thanks for the compliment.”

“Audry, talk to me,” he said, kneeling before me as I sat on the bed.

“Things have been…" I paused, staring at this man who saved me just weeks prior. “Hard.” My bottom lip quivered.

He sighed and glanced at the wall before returning his gaze to me. “Let’s go for a ride,” he said, holding his hand out for me.

I tilted my head, confused. He didn’t ask me to talk about it; he didn’t prod for more information, just held out his hand for me.

“M’Lady.” He smiled. “I’m cashing in my date card, if you would do me the honor of accompanying me.”

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