Page 105 of The Devil's Deal

“How long are you going to keep me here?” I ask, needing answers.

The smile vanishes. “Until your father and uncles are dead.”

“You’re killing all of them?”

He nods once. “Every one of them had a hand in the death of people I care about. So yes. The Palermo name will be no more, if I have anything to do with it.”

I feel a twinge of pain for my uncles. I know they’re awful people, but a part of me is sad at the thought of them all dying. Even my father, as awful as he is…the finality of his death is deafening. We could’ve had a good relationship. He could’ve been the father I needed. But instead, he was nothing more than my warden.

“I’m sorry about what they did.” I peer down at my plate, memories of my mom pulling me in. “No one should lose someone they love at the hands of another human being.”

He takes a deep sigh, running a hand down his face as I look back at him. “I hate that you’re in the middle.”

“I’ve always been put in the middle. Nothing is new. Why do you think he has me working at his club?”

He stares, waiting for me to continue.

“I’m a pawn in his wild kingdom.” I laugh bitterly. “That’s all I’ve ever been. He wanted me to run the club to help keep the heat from the feds away from him. He thought I could run the place better, which would make the feds less likely to pull the trigger, so to speak.”

“He doesn’t deserve you,” he says, his tone clipped. “He deserves nothing.”

“I know. He’s not a good person. Never has been.” I pull an exasperated inhale. “I’ve wanted nothing more than to disappear from his life, but he won’t let me go.”

“You have an out now, Chiara. I promise. Once this shit with him is done, you’re free to go, or…”

“Or, what?” My pulse jumps to my throat, my knee bouncing under the table.

“Stay. I want you to stay here with me.” His brows draw closer, his face tightening. “I’d never hold you against your will, but if you want me, then I’m yours.”

“I—”

“You don’t have to tell me now,” he cuts me off. “Take your time.”

But I know what I want already. He was never part of my plans, but we never know what we’ll find when we accept our life the way it was meant to be lived.

He grins, that dimple deepening with the glint in his eyes. “You’re not so bad for the devil’s daughter.”

“Funny,” I laugh. “That’s what I call him too.”

Then we’re laughing together. The kind of laugh that rocks your heart, leaving it fuller than before.

Once we’ve composed our emotions, I take a sip of my ginger ale. “Can I ask for a favor?”

He lifts a brow. “Depends on what it is.”

“I want my phone back.”

He shakes his head immediately.

I raise a palm, stopping him before he says something. “I only want to check up on my cousin and my aunt.”

“Your cousin is fine.”

I jerk my head back. “What do you mean? Do you know her?”

“Chiara, don’t—”

I instantly get to my feet, coming around and standing over him. “You’d better tell me what the fuck you know!” I cross my arms over my chest. “And donotlie to me.”

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