Page 99 of The Devil's Deal

Lifting my foot for another kick, I pause when Chiara cries, and suddenly all I care about is taking care of her. I tuck my gun into my waistband, giving one of my men the knife.

Removing my suit jacket, I move slowly toward her, draping it over her shivering body before lifting her into my arms. I will finish with this piece of shit in a minute.

“Shh, baby. I’ve got you.”

She circles her arms around my neck, sniffling on my shoulder.

“I’m so sorry, Chiara. God, I’m sorry.” An ache lodges in my throat, and I grind my teeth, stilling the desire to burn that son of a bitch to the ground.

Miles comes for Cain next, a gun pointing toward his head. “If I didn’t think my boss would kill you himself, I would’ve done it already.”

Cain has only one good eye to see through. The other is completely shut. Blood drips like a fountain from his nose as he holds his hands up, covering his face from the bullet he fears.

The only bullet he’ll be getting is the one coming from me. He’s mine.

“Bring him into the guest bedroom. The one with no rugs.”

Miles drags him across the floor by his feet, purposely bumping him into the door as he moves him out of the bathroom.

I carry Chiara out, heading for my bedroom, wanting to leave her there while I take care of business.

“Where are you taking me?” she asks, her voice pierced with a cry.

“My room, baby. I’ll join you once I’m done with him.”

“No,” she says harshly. “I need to be with you.”

“Chiara, you don’t want to see what I’ll do to him.” I lean in and kiss the tip of her nose. “Believe me.”

“I don’t care.” She shakes her head. “I’m coming with you.”

“Okay, baby.” I won’t fight her, not when she’s in this state.

I fucking pray she doesn’t see me differently after tonight. I don’t want her to think I’m more of a monster than she already does. I already feel like absolute shit for fucking her while she thinks I’m someone else. Once she finds out, she’ll probably never forgive me.

I enter the room where four of my men stand around the floor with Cain in the middle. I place Chiara down on the bed and kiss her forehead, noting that the blood on her mouth has slowed.

“I’ll be done soon. Promise. Then we’ll get cleaned up together.” I kiss her forehead again, closing my eyes.

Before I can walk away, she grabs my forearm. There’s vulnerability in her gaze, but also so much strength. She lifts up on her knees, palming each side of my face.

“Thank you,” she whispers, her eyes streaked with red, tears still shining in her eyes.

My body fills with more rage than I can handle. I don’t want those gorgeous eyes to look as sad as they do right now.

“For what?” I ask.

“For hurting him. No one has ever protected me that way.”

I steel my jaw, remembering what she looked like when I found her. “You never have to thank me for slaying the ones who hurt you. I’ll always do that, no matter what.”

She doesn’t realize how true that is.

I lift each one of her hands and kiss her palms before heading for Cain.

My men part, allowing me to get close to the trash on the floor. One of them hands me the knife back.

Cain tries to pick himself up to a sitting position, but falls before trying again successfully.

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