Page 69 of Cruel Devil

Vito not only stays where he is, he laughs when she bowls him over. And then stands and lets her paw at his chest as he ruffles her floppy ears. She’s trying to lick his face, but he’s got just enough height on her that all she can reach is his throat.

I snap my fingers, and she drops to her paws, sitting and staring up at Vito with adoring brown eyes.

Bella throws her head around to look at me, and then turns a little more to stare at Nyx as we come closer. My wife’s fingers tighten around mine, and I barely hold back a smile. She still seems convinced Bella is one second away from mauling her.

Vito cocks an eyebrow at our meshed hands.

“Get a room,” he says dryly.

“Thought you said it was urgent.” I stab my thumb back the way we came. “But if it can wait…” I halt, take a step back, and tug on Nyx’s hand.

Vito rolls his eyes, resting his back against the bronzed mirrors. He watches us with a sullen glower on his face as we step into the elevator, Bella’s claws tip-tapping on the tiles. “It is urgent. You two can fornicate later.”

“We’re married,” Nyx says bluntly. “Don’t think it’s considered fornication anymore. Where’s Andy?”

Vito shrugs. “Sleeping, I think. We had a late night.”

Nyx groans. “Please tell me you didn’t spike her drink.”

“Rude,” he mutters, but he doesn’t defend himself, which is only slightly more concerning than the fact that Andy is MIA to begin with.

The elevator door pings open. Vito leads us out, detouring toward the entertainment room. It’s one of the best places to have a clandestine conversation, what with all the soundproofing.

As soon as we’re inside, he pulls the door shut behind us and throws himself down in one of the closest chairs, pulling out his cigarettes. Nyx lets go of my hand, wandering over to the espresso machine, and Bella waits for me to nod before jumping up on the chair beside Vito’s. He gives her ears another affectionate ruffle, and she lets out a happy sigh as she sinks her head down on the oversized armchair’s armrests.

Recessed lighting casts everyone in a warm, red glow, but Bella has no trouble keeping Vito in her sights. And when Nyx knocks over something by the drinks station, Bella’s ears prick as she whips her head around to see what my wife’s up to.

“Out with it.” I take the other seat next to him, twisting to look at him instead of facing the projector screen.

Vito hesitates, widening his eyes at me as he cocks his head at Nyx. She presses something on the machine that makes it beep angrily at her, and she curses it.

“She’s family.”

Nyx’s head moves like she wants to look over at me, but she keeps her gaze trained on the machine instead. She might be pretending not to listen, but I know she’s straining for every word out of Vito’s mouth.

Vito leans forward, dropping his voice despite what I just said. “Me and Andy went to Doc’s house last night.”

My eyebrows shoot to my fucking hairline. “You did what?”

He shrugs at my stunned expression. “It’s fine, bro. She obviously didn’t off him.”

“Obviously?”

Nyx weighs in with a loud, “She’s not a killer,” thrown over her shoulder as she presses another button. The machine’s steam nozzle starts up with a loud whoosh, and she leaps back a step, stiffening like she’s ready to attack the machine with her bare hands. Even Bella sits up hurriedly, her tan eyebrows wrinkled as she stares over at Nyx with palpable concern.

“Christ,” I mutter, pushing up from my seat and striding over. “What do you want?” I ask in a low voice, trying to keep my frustration under wraps.

“Um…” She drums her fingers on the countertop. “What can it make?”

“Espresso, cappuccino, latte, mocha. Tea. Warm water with a fucking lemon in it.”

“That all?” There’s the faintest laugh in her voice, and it’s pathetic how my heart responds with a hard thump of happiness.

“This century, woman,” I say, grabbing the scruff of her neck and shaking her. “Papi’s busy.”

When I look down at her, she’s staring up at me with an indecipherable expression I’ve never seen on her face before.

“Latte?” she ventures.

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