Page 23 of The Devil's Secret

Dante strangles on a chuckle, trying, yet failing to hold it back.

“Hurry the hell up,” Dom barks. “The cleaners are on the way to the location, then they’ll come by my place.”

Dom hangs up, but Dante’s still there.

“I still can’t believe you chopped off some guy’s wiener,” he throws in.

“Yeah and made him eat it.”

“What?” His chuckle hits heavy, and he’s unable to control it now that Dom is off the phone.

“It’s a long story,” I point out. “Well, not really.”

“Bro, you’re my hero. Must’ve been fun.”

“Tell that to the guy in my trunk.”

CHAPTERSEVEN

JOELLE

I haven’t seenEnzo for a couple of days since the incident with Roman. Did he decide that was too much? Will I never see him again? The thought wedges through my heart with a sharp spasm. He’s the only good thing that’s come into my life recently. I can’t lose him now.

I walk into my dressing room at the club. Paulina and Sienna are already there, preparing for their dances, fixing up their hair beside each other.

Sitting on an unoccupied chair in front of a mirror, I stare at the girl staring back at me, not liking who I see. I know I shouldn’t allow these men to make me feel that way, but it’s not something I can control. I hate myself. I hate what they’ve done to me. What they’ve turned me into.

The girls begin to whisper with each other, causing me to wander their way, finding their hushed voices and wide eyes darting behind me.

What the hell are they looking at? Did I grow wings or something? Hell, that’d be nice. Maybe I could find my son and fly us out of here.

I’m sure Paulina is talking shit about me as always. It’s what she does best. I shake my head with exasperation, and as I do, a strong yet gentle hand lands on my arm, brushing up to my shoulder like a feather.

My breaths hitch, my mouth parting inadvertently, warmth spilling down my arms. I don’t have to look behind to know whose touch that is. The one I missed desperately, even though it took me feeling it again to realize just how much I actually did.

“Enzo?” I whisper his name with bated breath, like I’m afraid he’ll vanish if I say it any louder.

“It’s me, baby.” Those words cruise with a sultry husk, his palm on the back of my neck, fingers dipping into me as he tilts my head to him with a firm grasp.

“Miss me?” His lopsided smirk wraps me up in warm intoxication, lustful desire filling into every hollowed space.

“Like you have no idea.” The confession feels bitter on my tongue. I don’t deserve him or his kindness, yet I can’t seem to push him away either. If I do, it’ll only hurt me more, and I can’t handle another dagger to my heart. I can be careful. I won’t let Faro or his men know that Enzo is not simply a customer.

“Is that your boyfriend or something?” Paulina asks with too much curiosity.

Shit.

“Mind your damn business.” Sienna lightly swats her on the arm.

“I’m just asking. Geez.” She flips her shoulder-length brown hair back with her long fingernails, rolling her eyes a bit too dramatically.

Enzo releases his grip on me, and I can tell he senses my shift in demeanor from the thoughtful expression he wears as he looks at me. He knows what Paulina is trying to do. He’s not stupid.

I turn my attention to the girls. “He’s not my—”

Enzo bends his mouth to my ear. “Let me handle this.”

He’s moving toward the two women as they eye him like their favorite ice cream flavor. I bite on the inside of my cheek, the center of my chest heavy, my gut tossing. If Faro or Agnelo so much as think I have a man in my life, Robby and I are as good as dead. Or worse, they’ll sell him to the highest bidder or make him work the club.

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