Page 61 of The Devil's Secret

“You say that now,” she breathes. “But when you hear what I’m finally ready to tell you, you may change your mind.”

I draw back. “I promise. Nothing you say will change how I feel.”

“You don’t know that.” She lowers her eyes, a bout of sadness behind them.

I grab her wrist and pull her palm over my beating heart. “I do. And when I say something, I mean it.”

“I just don’t want you to feel you have to be with me after everything you’ll hear today.”

“Joelle, baby. Give me some credit.”

Her shoulders sag, and with a long pull of a breath, she starts to speak. “It all started with a road trip.”

I stand there listening as she recounts the day she was taken, and all the women and children who fell victim to the Bianchis. Balling my hands at my thighs, I try my fucking hardest not to react, but inside me, their blood’s already spilling. The Bianchis are not only killers but they’re sex traffickers too. They hurtmygirl, and no one hurts my girl without answering for it.

“They made me do a lot of dirty things, Enzo. There were men, a lot of them. They did whatever they wanted for the right price.” She lowers her eyes to the ground. “I get it if I’m not the woman you thought I was.” Her attention darts back to me. “Because I’m not. I’m a whore, Enzo. And you can’t love a whore.” Moisture builds in her eyes as they drift to a close.

I tip up her chin with the back of my hand and she tentatively looks at me. “Nothing has changed. You hear me?” I kiss her hard and fast, so she can feel the truth of my words. “Iloveyou.” I brush away her tears with my thumbs. “I love you more now than I did a moment ago.”

“N-no. You can’t. Why?” Her expression saddens, ripping right into my soul. “Doesn’t it bother you to know the woman you’re…”

“Sure it fucking bothers me.” I clasp the side of her neck, leaning my forehead over hers. “It bothers me that every man who’s touched you without your permission is still breathing.”

I lift my gaze back to her, wanting her to see in my eyes what I feel in my heart. “That’s the only thing that bothers me, Joelle. All that other shit, it makes no difference. You’re mine. That’s all that matters.”

“You shouldn’t love me,” she whispers in a shaky breath. “You’re the one who deserves better.”

“Well, I’m sorry.” I force a grin. “You’re kinda lovable.”

She lets out a tearful laugh.

“Baby, they don’t get to define you. Don’t let them have that kind of power.”

Her tears come like a heavy storm, crashing down her cheeks in waves as her panting grows heavier. “Who are you?” She gapes at me, ragged and breathless.

“Just a man who loves you.” I tighten my hand around her neck, lips grazing hers, and I can’t handle another second. I take her hungrily, raw passion dripping from my mouth, needing her to feel it, to remember how good we felt together.

My lips fall to her neck as she moans. “There’ll never be a day that you don’t know how much you matter,” I say in between hungry kisses. “Not when I’m alive to show it.”

Her hands grasp the back of my head, tugging me closer, my mouth sucking her lower lip now as she groans.

I bring her roughly against me, arms clasped under her thighs as I carry us to the bed, lowering on top of her as my mouth drags savagely down her neck. She claws my back, my cock hard and heavy between her thighs.

“Wait,” she gasps as I suck her earlobe into my mouth. “Wait, there’s more.”

I growl, propping up on my forearms, but not before I leave a quick kiss on her lips.

Her face lights up with a slow grin, but just as quickly, she turns serious.

“Whatever it is, I can handle it.” I move off her and lie on my side and she does too. “Nothing will make me leave you. Not even some fucking boyfriend I now know you made up. Why did you anyway?” It’s been weighing on me, especially when I picture his smug face.

“Oh God.” She huffs. “I forgot I have to tell you that too.”

I roll a reassuring palm over her arm.

“I’m just gonna say it.” She grimaces. “I’m a murderer.”

I don’t even stop. No reaction. My fingers still brushing up her skin.

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