Page 113 of The Devil's Deal

It can’t be.

“Who let her out?” I ask, my voice a calm before the storm.

“She found a gun in your office, sir, and threatened Miles with it. She told him something about knowing everything and took off. Miles said you wouldn’t want us putting our hands on her and told us to let her go.”

“Fuck!” I scream as all eyes turn to me. “Where is Miles now?”

“He went after her a few minutes after she left.”

“If he calls you, tell him to call me. You got it?”

“What’s going on?”

I can’t tell him I suspect a mole, or that I think the mole is the man I trusted most.

“Keep your eyes open. And call me if you hear anything about Chiara or Miles.”

“Of co—”

I kill the line before he finishes.

Miles was right. I probably would’ve told them to let her go so there was no risk to her well-being from an accidental bullet.

But now that I know her father means to kill her for snitching, I would’ve told them to fucking pepper-spray her if that was what I needed to do to keep her alive.

But if Miles is the mole, if he went after her, what the hell does that mean?

Dread poisons my thoughts. Maybe he couldn’t reach me. Maybe he wanted to get her back. I can’t assume the worst. He’s never done shit to lose my trust until now.

Then another realization hits.

She knows who I am now. That has to be what she meant. If she was in my office, she must’ve found the tape I kept hidden.

I never wanted her to find out who I am this way. Does she realize that the only reason I took her was to protect her from her father? I had to take her so he couldn’t kill her, and I know he would’ve.

I was going to set her free once they were all dead, but all that went to shit the moment we spoke at the club. I know that now. The attraction, the pull…it was all there taunting me, and I took the bait.

Now, I might lose her for good before I can tell her how much she means to me. How much I love her. How much I never stopped.

Chapter Thirty

Chiara

My pulse is trappedin my throat, anger and fear fighting for first place inside my heart.

I don’t know how long I’ve walked down the dimly lit two-way road, but it’s been at least a mile and I’ve yet to see a single car. Not surprising, since it’s probably past one a.m. already.

I need someone to show up before Dom comes after me. I can’t stand the thought of being anywhere near him.

He’s worse than my father. At least I knew where my father stood with me. Sure, maybe I didn’t know he was planning on offing me, but I did know he never loved me.

But Dom was different, or at least he used to be. I guess things have changed. I guess some things aren’t meant to last. He managed to ruin every good memory I had of him, and instead of finding me and making new ones, he ripped our future from the ground and watched it shrivel up and die.

Holding on to the strap of my duffle, I continue on my path, about to give up hope of ever finding a ride, when a pair of bright headlights appears behind me, illuminating the entire street.

I stop, frantically waving my hands and jumping up and down from the side of the road.

The car slows while it’s still yards away, the lights blinding me.

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