Page 21 of The Devil In Disguise

“Oh, I can just take it. I don’t have any, um, clothes at the moment.” My face heats up as I mumble the words.

She wiggles the bag she’s holding in her hand. “I have something for that as well. It may not be a perfect fit, but it should get you through a day or two.” My confusion must be written all over my face because she grins and it’s more genuine. “The boss mentioned something about you not having any clothes.”

As she holds the bag out, I open the door wider and grab it, allowing her to come inside. After watching her move around the kitchen mechanically, setting up the plate for dinner, I go into the bathroom and change into an oversized shirt. It fits like a dress and my clothing options are limited, so I opt out of wearing any pants.

Who likes wearing pants, anyway?

By the time I come back out to the main area, it’s just me again. Just me and my lover—a hefty plate of pork, rice, bread, and roasted asparagus. Double-checking the lock on the door, I melt into my seat and savor every last bite.

Chapter 10

“What are we even doing with her? I don’t get why I can’t just kill her now.”

Renato stops pouring his vodka and backhands me before I’m able to dodge him. “Don’t question me.” He turns to finish his pour before taking a seat behind his desk. “All you need to do is make her trust you. You will gain her trust so that she stays here until it’s time. We’ll let her think everything is sweet, then rip the rug out from under her. She will break and bend to us.” That ominous glint he gets when he describes his attack or torture plans is prominent, but he doesn’t elaborate further.

During my encounter with Amaris this morning, I truly didn’t know how to answer her question, not even with a lie. Not that I planned on talking to her—I assumed she would be asleep still when I went over there.

Renato has something planned; it’s written all over his face. The fact that I’m being kept in the dark doesn’t sit right with me. Pushing him more won’t get me anywhere, I learned that early on.

“So I’m supposed to play nice with that brat now?”

“I have everything under control, Kylo. One way or another, we will have our revenge and you will watch her suffer far worse than what they did to your mother.”

I hate it when he talks about Mama. He knows exactly what to say to hit a nerve every time.

“Never forget that because of her and her family, you have no mother. They left her there. You remember that morning, the dried blood surrounding her lifeless body.”

Just like that, the scene plays out before me and I’m a helpless, lonely, fourteen-year-old boy again. The anger fills me anew, darker than it did that morning. I leave the room without another word, attempting to walk off some of this energy.

On my way out, one of the handmaids was in the process of dusting the living room that had never been used before. Before I talk myself out of it, I’m walking into the living room.

“Myra, make sure to send an extra dinner plate to the guesthouse today.” She knows there’s someone staying there and nods in acknowledgment. I’m sure she’s dying to get a look at our unexpected guest. Turning to leave, I grumble over my shoulder, “And if you have any spare clothes the girl can borrow, take that over, too.”

Ace isn’t in his usual spot when I approach my house, so I slow my steps and scan the woods for him. He knows these woods better than anyone else here, I know a few of his hiding spots. The tallest tree in sight is his favorite. I narrow my eyes at the tree just in time to see Ace pop out from behind it.

Only, he isn’t alone. Am I seeing things?

Ace has never reacted calmly around females. With men, his hackles are always raised, with the exception of myself and Luci. But the few encounters he has had with women have resulted in at least one minor injury.

Is this girl a witch?

“What did you do to Ace?”

She has the nerve to look offended. “I didn’t do anything, he was keeping me company. He might be the only one around here who isn’t a surly asshole.”

Everything about today, down to this very moment, has my head spinning. I don’t know what to do with Amaris, but I don’t like the feeling I get when I’m around her. A feeling that I can’t name, but takes my breath away all the same. The few yards separating our houses isn’t enough, I need to get away from her. Tomorrow I’ll start gaining her trust. Tonight, I’ll go out with Dario and Luci.

Turning my full attention on Ace, I speak harsher than I intend to. “You’re staying inside while I’m out.” Walking away expecting just Ace to follow, her words follow us, too.

“Where are you going?”

“Somewhere you’re not,” I call from the doorway.

The only bright side I can find to this weird situation is that I have unlimited access to do my favorite thing; piss off Amaris. She won’t go a day without her ears turning that dark shade of red I love to see. Shooting out texts to both of the guys, I don’t wait for their response before I start getting changed, talking to Ace—or myself, at this point—as I go.

“You should have ripped her finger off.”

“Did she cast some sort of spell on you?”

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