Page 72 of The Devil's Dilemma

“It’s been a couple of days. Don’t tell me you’ve missed me.”

“Don’t flatter yourself.”

As much as I’d regretted asking her, it had been the right decision.

“I need to slip out for an hour, but I need to get rid of the big guy. Can you help me out?” I whispered.

“Sure. Let me see what I can do.”

She winked and walked into the kitchen.

“Let’s go sit, Grandpa.” I led him back into the lounge to sit and tucked his blanket around his legs.

A crash, then a squeal came from the kitchen, and as I knew he would, Conrad dashed to help.

That was my chance to leave.

“I’ll be back soon.” I kissed Grandpa quickly on the forehead and left through the front as quietly as I could, needing as much space between me and Conrad before he realised I was missing.

No one was waiting for me outside the door, and I jogged the half a mile to the playground. I slowed and glanced around me. I didn’t see anything amiss, nor could I spot Freddie.

Where the hell was he?

The playground was where we’d spent much of our youth, secluded as it was behind a patch of trees. Many days and nights drinking, having sex, getting high. It brought back memories, not all of them pleasant.

I checked my watch. I wasn’t late, but that eerie feeling I’d had when we’d entered Temptation hit me again. Something felt off.

I waited at the treeline, not wishing to step out into the open yet.

I didn’t have to wait long. Freddie shuffled towards the swings, his hands deep in his pockets, his hood up, and stood with his back to me.

Slowly I approached him. He turned. My stomach churned, and bile rose in my throat. A split lip and a black eye. Who would do such a thing to him?

“What the fuck happened?” I hurried to him and dabbed the tender skin around his eye.

“I happened.” Joel’s Uncle Nick stepped into view. Where the fuck had he come from? I’d not heard him draw near.

“You fucking bastard. Why?”

“He said you killed Joel.”

“Whoa, now wait a minute.” I held up my hands and backed away. Fuck, four men blocked my way. When had they arrived?

He had it all wrong, but what had Freddie said? He’d seen me shoot him. No fucking way. Dante had killed him.

“Joel was my friend. I’ve known him for years. Why would I fucking shoot him?”

“You tell me, but you’ve fallen on your feet. Staying in the swanky casino with the fake they call the devil.”

Little did he know Dante was the real fucking deal. No pretending there.

“I swear to you I didn’t fucking kill Joel. I loved him.”

“I’d love to believe you, but here’s the thing, Austin. Joel was working for me. So, by definition, you work for me too. Here’s the deal. You get the money you stole, and you bring it to me. It’s as simple as that.”

“Not gonna happen. They took all the money back. I don’t have it.” And now it became clear. Nick was interested in the money and nothing else.

“I thought you might say that, so I brought some friends along to persuade you to do the right thing.”

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