Page 89 of The Devil's Secret

“I know it is,” I breathe, leaning over and kissing him softly. His eyes fall to a close as our lips meet, then his mouth devours mine, the passion dripping from the endless vows of forever. His hand holds me captive by the back of my head, his tongue dipping inside, caressing mine with every waking beat of his heart.

Though the kiss had only just begun, it ends just as quickly, ripping us apart, like the Bianchis have done to everyone who’s had the misfortune to meet them.

“I’ll be back before you know it,” I say with a torn-up smile.

“Not soon enough.” He inhales sharply. With melancholy filling my every pore, I take his hand as we walk toward the corner where the monster waits in a large, unoccupied warehouse.

I wish there was another way to save my friends, but there isn’t. He must know Robby is gone, what other leverage does he have on me except Kayla and Elsie? I bet they’re there with him. He’ll want to kill them in front of me before shooting me. But what if I gave him another option? What if I offered something better in exchange? Something he’s always wanted desperately.

Me.

I’ll kill the mic I have strapped to me and offer up myself to do with what he wants, even if that means death. That’s been the plan all along. I’m ready for it. I hope one day, Robby can forgive me if I don’t make it out, but I can’t let my friends continue to live a life of torture while I selfishly enjoy mine. How could I let that happen while knowing I could’ve done something to help them? I couldn’t live with myself.

Enzo and I reach the end of the street, pausing on the corner before I have to make the rest of the way alone, only a few feet standing between me and the devil.

His hands ball into fists as his gaze cuts into mine, fear warring within those eyes, bleeding down his face. But he knows it’s a battle he’ll lose. I won’t let him stop me.

I fight the storm of tears pounding at the wall around my heart, knowing I have to hide them. I can’t tell him this moment may very well be the last one we have left.

“I’ll see you soon,” I say with a tendril of a smile. I kiss him slowly, those lips softly brushing over mine, reminding me of the moments of love and joy I felt every second we spent together.

Gradually, my fingers slip away from his, and with a last look into his eyes, I’m gone, marching away from him and a life we may never get.

CHAPTERTWENTY-NINE

JOELLE

As soon asmy hand hits the doorknob, my throat closes, tightening with every slam of my pulse, fear ramming in my throat so heavily, I almost run back into Enzo’s arms.

Shuddering with a long, strained breath, I pull the door open. The loud squealing as it parts crawls up my arms, dotting my skin with terror.

I tiptoe inside the cold, darkened room. Even through my hoodie and the shirt beneath, the hairs on my arms stand up, pinching at my skin.

My breathing is louder than the cautious footsteps I take as I continue inside, looking around against the speckle of light peeking from my left. There’s not a person here.

The bastard must’ve thought I wouldn’t come now that Robby is safe. My stomach drops with disappointment, but relief too.

I don’t want to die. I don’t want to leave Robby or the man I love. I only just got Elliot back. How could I abandon all that?

But as I start back to the door, a blaring creak pummels through the silence. Abruptly, the entire room erupts with glaring lights, as though the sun has risen from eternal sleep, burning at my eyes.

I shroud my gaze behind my arm, slowly adjusting to the brightness, my body waking with a shiver, knowing the man I despise is here after all.

“I didn’t think you’d show,” that voice that always managed to fill my blood with contempt says. “I underestimated how stupid you are.”

I lower my hand, my glare narrowed at the short man who’s spent years tormenting me, the top of his head now bald, the sides sprinkled with tiny, gray strands.

But he’s not alone. There are at least a dozen men here, including the one Enzo has been looking for. The Bianchi lawyer, Joey Russo is beside him, strapped in a navy suit as though he’s heading to the courtroom right after he’s done here. He’s nothing but a sick, perverted man. His hand glides through his thick black hair, the sides of his deep brown eyes crinkling as he smirks, probably picturing doing the things he’s done to me every chance he got.

Their appetites are as depraved as they are, but looking at Joey, one would never know it. He appears put together, attractive even, a lot better looking than his cousin Carlito. But that means little. He makes my skin crawl.

I never told Enzo what he did to me—the knife he used to prick my thighs while he raped me. The blood. He enjoys it. He especially loved to hear us scream. So I stopped screaming. I did what I could to keep fighting in the only way I had left.

Enzo will rip him limb by limb if he finds out, but I’ve tormented him enough with the details of what I’ve been through. Joey will die today. I know he will. And that’ll be enough.

“I’m here for Kayla and Elsie. I know they’re here. Get them.”

Agnelo snickers as his men form a semicircle behind Joey and him. “You think you’re making demands here, little girl?” His upper lip curls with a sadistic snarl, his feet prodding toward me, and I unconsciously move back a step. “Where’s your boyfriend and his pack of puppies? I can’t believe he’d let you come here all alone.”

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