Page 102 of The Devil's Deal

“What?” I pause, finding her eyes full of worry. “I didn’t. I’m sorry.”

“I was asking if you could help me with the zipper. I think it broke when he tried to…” She doesn’t finish the sentence, swallowing away the words.

I cage the fury racing through me. I need to control it. She needs me to take care of her right now, even when she isn’t asking for it.

Years may have passed, but I still know who she is at the core. Chiara has always been strong, but if you know her well enough, you’ll see little glimpses of the scared little girl she’s always been good at hiding.

But I’m not blind. I saw her then, and I’ll see her always.

She turns, giving me her back. My fingers move to her hair, swiping it past her shoulder before shifting back to her dress. I yank the zipper with a little force as it resists, but finally it moves down slowly. When it’s free, I reach down and pull the dress up. She lifts her arms, giving me the permission I need to take it off.

My dick instantly hardens at the sight of her in a black lace thong and thigh-high stockings held up by a garter belt. I wouldn’t be able control my reaction even if I tried.

She faces me, and I suck in a breath, the muscles of my neck tightening from the protectiveness and want surging through me.

“Promise you’ll stay in the room?”

I caress her chin in between two fingers. “I’d never leave you.”

A small smile crosses her face before she slips out of her beige heels and heads inside the bathroom, shutting the door.

I release a long exhale, finding a seat on one of the armchairs. Slipping my cell out of my pocket, I text my brothers about what happened.

Dante: Why the fuck didn’t you call us? I would’ve at least cut off some of his important parts before you shot him.

Enzo: I would’ve enjoyed getting my suit bloody. I never liked his ass.

Dante:No one did.

Dominic: It happened fast.

Dante: Is she okay?

Dominic: She will be.

Dante: Tell us what you need.

Dominic: I need you both to look into finding a new gun supplier out of state. Our current stash is still good, but we’ll need more soon.

Enzo: On it.

Dominic: I have to go.

I end the conversation, sliding my phone back when I hear a bang, like something fell. I jump to my feet. The sudden throb of my pulse in my neck knocks through me.

“Ow, shit!” she yelps.

“Chiara?”

I rush into the bathroom, steam greeting me.

“What’s wrong?” I ask through the glass door of the stand-up shower. I can’t see much inside.

“Can you help? I think I twisted my ankle.”

I immediately open the door, finding her palms flat against the white tile to my right, her long black hair soaked, draping down to her ass. Her right foot is slightly raised as she eyes me, pain etched in her gaze.

“I was getting the shampoo,” she explains. “And somehow, I managed to turn my foot the wrong way.”

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