Page 62 of The Devil's Deal

I nod, pointing toward the bar with my head.

Go, I mouth.

He nods back in understanding, and as another of our men takes over holding Dante steady, Enzo makes his way toward the sound.

He takes a few slow steps, and then he leaps over the bar. That idiot is reckless. If I didn’t have Dante, I’d kill him. She could have a fucking gun back there.

“Get away from me!” the woman yells, tears evident in her tone.

He holds out his palms as he peers down. I can’t see her from my view.

“We’re not going to hurt you,” he promises. “Come on out.” He reaches a hand for hers. “I’ve got my brothers out there, plus a bunch of the men who work for us. We swear we won’t do anything to you.”

“I don’t care! You need to leave now before I blow your fucking brains out.”

So she does have a weapon. He’s lucky she hasn’t used it yet. Or, she’s lucky, I should say. I’d shoot her dead if she killed my brother.

“As much as I love a hot woman with a weapon, especially when that woman is you, you need to stop pointing that thing at me, Joelle.” He smirks.

He knows her?

“Fuck you, Enzo.”

Well, that cleared up any confusion.

He casually leans against the bar, his arms now crossed over his chest like they’re having a friendly chat. “You should know by now the main reason I come here is for you. The way you own that pole…” He grunts like he’s picturing it. “Damn, girl. You’re like a snake on that thing.”

I knew he came here with Dante, but I didn’t know he was making friends with strippers. Not that I’m surprised.

I’d pay to see that kid settle down. I’m not even talking marriage. I mean like a girlfriend. But with the life we’ve been dealt, none of us can have that. Not yet. Not until all the blood of our enemies spills across our feet. Not until we can leave the past and live in the present.

“How about you put that gun down and come out with us?” Enzo tells her. “I’ll drive you home.”

“I’m good here,” she counters. “You can go.”

“Okay, sure, babe, you stay.” He backs off the bar. “But it’d be a real goddamn shame to see all that beautiful skin turn to a crisp when we burn the place down. Wouldn’t want all that talent to go to waste.”

“Fuck you!” she yells.

He shakes his head in mock disappointment. “Such a pretty mouth saying such dirty things.”

And before she can say another word, the sound of what I think is the gun landing on the floor splits the air.

He quickly leans down and out of view.

“Don’t fucking touch me, you asshole!” she screams.

Enzo groans, and there’s the sound of shuffling and movement. Finally standing back up, he clutches the arm of a woman, about our age, with wavy blonde hair and light blue eyes.

“Asshole?” he asks accusatorily, with his other hand flat against his chest as he faces her. “That was me being a gentleman. If I were an asshole…” He fists her hair, pulling her face close to his. “I’d drag you out by your throat.”

She narrows her eyes with venom, steeling her chin as they both glare at one another.

“Come on, man. Dante needs help!” I shout.

He finally looks at me. “Yeah, shit. My bad.”

He yanks her by the arm and brings her around from the bar, finally joining us. When he’s next to me, he bends over to my ear.

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