Page 122 of The Devil's Deal

She doesn’t know anything about Chiara. As far as she’s concerned, Chiara is still working at the club, safe in her home every night.

“Yeah. Have some business to take care of, and I need to do it now.”

“All right. Well, you definitely need stitches, so I’m going to shoot you up with some lidocaine. The pain shouldn’t be bad at all after that.”

She removes a long, thin syringe and sticks me with it. Once it’s all in, she gives it a few minutes to take effect, then flicks my palm.

“Do you feel that?”

“No.”

“Great.” She removes a curved needle-looking thing, but I glance away, staring at the wall, my mind on Chiara.

She could be lying somewhere half-dead, crying for help, and I’m over here getting a cut closed like a pussy.

“How long will this take?” I tap my foot against the black stool.

“One more stitch, and…there.”

“Can I go now?” I yank my hand away.

“Geez, you’re really impatient.” She slides her brows up, lines etching her forehead. “I need to wrap the wound first, or you may find yourself bleeding again.”

I begrudgingly lay the top of my hand on the cold granite.

She sneers, her lips tight. “You’re not doing me a favor here. You know that, right?”

Raquel begins wrapping my hand with gauze.

“Yeah, yeah. Thanks and all that shit.” My lips turn up into a sort-of smile.

“I see your language is just as bad as your brother’s.” She grins.

Dante laughs. “Isn’t she the best?”

He comes around to her side and kisses her temple.

“Stop distracting me, you idiot.” She continues to cover my gash, adding medical tape once she’s done.

“I especially love when she calls me names. Payback is always that much sweeter, isn’t it, wifey?”

“You’re done,” she says, ignoring him. “You can go now.”

I practically jump out of the seat. “I’m out of here.”

“Obviously, I’m coming with you,” Dante says.

“So let’s go.”

“I will, just have one thing to do before we leave.”

“What’s that?” I give him a death stare, growing impatient.

“This.” He grabs her face, a palm landing on the back of her neck before his mouth falls over hers.

I shake my head at the display. He’s really making a show of this.

“I’m leaving,” I tell him, turning away and heading out the kitchen.

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