Page 79 of The Devil's Secret

I’m helpless, trapped here, my body jolting every time someone’s gun goes off.

I back up further, curling my body in the hopes of not getting shot, but instead, I hit something hard behind me. I try to turn, but a hand buckles around my shoulder, warm exhales creeping against the side of my neck.

All the hairs on my body stand up and my pulse thrashes.

“Don’t turn around. Pretend I’m not even here,” a voice I’ve never heard before says. “If you do, I’ll fucking shoot you. Understand?”

I nod, but barely.

“Agnelo has a message for you.” He drops a piece of paper onto my lap, and as I try to look down at it, he tightens his grasp.

“You don’t want to disappoint the boss, Joelle.” He says my name with crass. “He’ll be waiting.” His hand is gone faster than it came, leaving my body ice cold, the shock of it lacing through me.

Finally, I look down onto the paper, finding a message from the man whose soul left him a long time ago, assuming he ever had one.

I knew I’d find you, eventually. You can’t escape me. You better find a way to meet me at this address: 1010 Main Street. Come alone. Robby and I will be waiting. He’s counting on you. Ticktock.

I read the words over and over, knowing I have to go. There’s no other choice. But how will I ever get out of here without being stopped?

The fighting continues for a while, and my panic, it only intensifies. My poor, sweet Robby.

I love you so much, baby.

New tears spring up, my bottom lip quaking.

“Raquel?” Dante calls to her, though I can’t see either of them from my position. “Give me the gun, baby.”

Why does she have a gun and why is she not hiding?

It’s then that I realize, the gunfire has ceased.

“Come on, I’m taking you inside,” he continues, and as I slowly sneak a peek around the tree before me, I find Benvolio dead on the ground, and other men lying all around.

Enzo jogs, drawing near, kneeling once he’s before me. “Are you okay?” He palms my cheek as his eyes wander over every inch of me, while I attempt to hide the paper now discreetly crumbled in my hand.

“I think so. Is it over? Is everyone okay? How’s Chiara?”

“No one else got hurt, but fucking Agnelo ran. The pussy.”

He must be heading to this address.

“I don’t know anything about Chiara’s status yet,” he explains. “Dom took her to the hospital.”

“Can I go see her?” And then it hits me, that would be the perfect way to escape and find Agnelo. I realize it’s probably a trap, but I can’t ignore when he comes calling. He doesn’t threaten lightly. If I don’t go, I know he’ll kill my son.

“It’s not safe for you to leave right now. I need you where our men can keep an eye on you.”

Irritation settles in my gut. “This is bullshit, Enzo. You can’t keep me prisoner forever.”

He watches me sympathetically. “I’m not, I swear. But I can’t risk your safety. We’ll talk about it later, when I’m done with those assholes, all right? I love you.”

My gaze narrows, locking him with a brutal stare.

His chest widens with a hard inhale. “I’ve got some loose ends to clean up.” He gestures behind us with a tilt of his head to two men being dragged away, their mouths gagged. He gives me a hand as I get to my feet. “I gotta bring you inside. Then I’ll take you back home.”

“Fine,” I practically snarl, already starting toward the house, him jogging after me.

“Don’t fucking do that.” He grips my wrist, halting me, pulling me right against his body. “It’s for your own safety.” He throws my arm over his shoulder, his hand now braced around the back of my neck. “Agnelo won’t stop until he has you.” The way he looks at me—God, those intense green eyes spilling into my very soul, his fingers dipping into my skin. “I’ddiebefore I let him have you. You hear me?”

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