Page 80 of The Devil's Secret

He draws his face close to mine, his lips skimming across my mouth, my eyes watering, my heart hammering. The affection, it kills me.

I’ve been without it for so long, it may as well be foreign. But with him, it feels like home. But it’s incomplete, like the roof has been ripped off.

My son, my mom, my brother, they’re a part of me too, and without them, nothing will be the same.

A soft exhale rises out of me, gently caressing his lips with my shaky ones.

“I love you, Enzo. Thanks for loving me,” I say, barely grasping to keep all the tears locked away.

“Loving you, Jade, is the easiest thing I’ve ever done.” His mouth finds mine, reminding me just how much he does.

CHAPTERTWENTY-SIX

JOELLE

I’m backat Enzo’s. He had just left with Dante and Raquel to go see Chiara at the hospital. My renewed anger at not being allowed to join them has me in a frenzy, pacing around the acres of greenery, Agnelo’s note still crunched in my palm. I need to figure out how I can get out of here without one of the guards stopping me.

I spot a few men at the other end of the yard, standing at attention beside the tall gate, leading outside. Maybe if I can cause some kind of disturbance in the house, it’ll make them run inside, giving me the chance to escape.

I have nothing to lose. Deciding to try, I head for the kitchen. What the hell could I do to make them all come to my rescue, and how could I dodge them before they get to me?

Think, damn it! It’s now or never.

Once Enzo returns, I’ll be stuck here. He won’t let me out of his sight. As I face the stove, a dangerous idea comes to mind, but one that may work. Taking out a pan, I place it on the stove. I grab olive oil and sprinkle some onto the surface, before turning on the gas. A minute later, the pan sizzles.

There are two exits that lead out from the kitchen—the one through the large glass door closer to the men outside, which is the one I hope they use—and another off to the right, which will be my exit.

I’ll rush out of the kitchen once the fire starts, then run like hell. It’s a gamble, but escaping from the front door isn’t an option. Enzo has way more men posted there.

With no one looking, I move the pan away and spill a few drops of oil onto the stove top, the fire starting to come alive.

Before the alarm rings, I back up, slowly creeping away. As soon as I do, the alarm blares, the men all rushing toward the sound, calling for me.

My heart knocks in my rib cage as I tiptoe out the door, not a soul noticing me as I find the will to run like hell. My dress and high heels long abandoned for leggings, a large black hoodie, and the most comfortable sneakers I’ve ever owned.

I gently open the fence, my feet hitting the pavement, not seeing anyone as I dash toward the street, with only the main gate and a single man at the booth to stop me. I don’t wait. I continue running, even as the guy stands from inside the partition. I barely look at him as I hurriedly near the end, but when I get to the gate, it suddenly starts to shut right before me.

“No!” I scream, grabbing it. “Let me out!”

“Ma’am,” the man calls from behind, my hand locked around the bars, fingertips pressing into the cold, hard metal as my breathing ravages from within.

“Get the hell away from me and open this damn thing!” I shriek, shaking the bars, the note caught between my palm, my back to the man keeping me away from my son.

“Please, calm down. Let me call one of my bosses and we can sort this out.”

I turn, gritting my teeth, my eyes narrowed as he reaches into his pants, retrieving a cell. But suddenly he stills, confusion branded on his features, his eyes bulging as though he’s seen a ghost. The phone falls from his grasp, tumbling onto the grass. He backs away from me. “It’s not possible,” he barely whispers.

I whirl my head around, wondering if someone is behind me, but there’s no one here but us. “What’s wrong?” I ask. But he shakes his head like he’s in a daze, completely ignoring the question.

“It can’t be.” He takes a step forward. “I’ve been looking all this time and—”

“What the hell are you talking about?” My pulse races, a cold rush swarming up my entire body.

“You don’t recognize me, do you?” The softness in his voice breaks with emotion. This tall guy towering over me looks as though he’s about to collapse.

He must be a customer. That has to be it.

“Look.” I swallow harshly, trying to bury this eerie feeling wafting over me. He’s seriously creeping me out. “I think I know where we met, and I don’t do that anymore. If Enzo finds out, he’ll basically kill you, so why don’t you shut the fuck up and let me out. I’ll keep this between us. Sound good to you?”

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