Page 94 of The Devil's Secret

“I’m—I’m sorry.” Dom breaks down.

The look of a tormented man is what I find in Matteo’s eyes as he stares at us with a cloud of emotion. For a moment, I think he’ll actually stay. That he’ll choose us.

Instead, he runs out the door, and we lose him for a second time.

CHAPTERTHIRTY

JOELLE

The chaosof the two days before is behind us as I sit beside Kayla, luckily fine, the flesh wound now wrapped by a doctor we took her to after we left the warehouse.

I couldn’t believe that Enzo’s dead brother has been alive all those years in Agnelo’s clutches. I kept staring at him, wondering if I ever saw him at that filthy private club, but I don’t think we’ve ever crossed paths.

Raquel is seated next to Chiara, home recovering after checking herself out of the hospital. She wouldn’t hear a word of it and told Dom she’d go back if there was a need. And when Chiara makes up her mind, the devil himself couldn’t stop her. The fight in her eyes, it’s back now. That’s how I know she’ll be okay after all that she’s endured. They can knock her down, but she’ll always rise to the top. It’s how she’s been the entire time I’ve known her since we met at the strip club seven years ago.

Robby is home too. His doctor was impressed with how well the meds were working, and Enzo assured her we’d take care of him. She didn’t object, and even said being with us may be best for him. And here, in Enzo’s place, we’re finally home. Robby’s upstairs, sleeping in his own room that Enzo promises to turn into whatever he desires. The look in that man’s eyes when he talks about my son and me, it’s overwhelming. I could practically feel his love for me, for a boy he doesn’t even know. It’s more than I ever thought I deserved.

“We have to find Elsie.” Kayla’s voice splits through my thoughts. I haven’t pushed her to talk about what happened when she saw our friend last, wanting to give her some time to process it all before any of us begin questioning her.

Her hand jitters as she lifts a water bottle to her mouth, taking small sips before placing it on the coffee table before us.

“We will,” I tell her, raising my leg onto the sofa, pivoting toward her. “You wanna tell me what happened? Why she left and you didn’t?”

She nods as she peers down onto her lap. Elliot, Enzo, and his brothers stand beside each other, their front against the back of the sofa where Chiara and Raquel are seated.

“We were looking out the window,” she starts, her brows angled with a frown, “when a dark blue SUV pulled up. We’d never seen that vehicle before, and we made a habit of remembering every person and every car that came.” Her gaze sweeps past me, staring straight, her eyes lost to the memories.

“The guards who watched us and the other six girls who lived at the house were stationed on the first floor by the entrance. Elsie and I were on the opposite side of the floor at the time.” She strains with a quick exhale before continuing. “A man in a long black wool coat stepped out of the car, his black hair slicked back. I don’t know his name, only what he looks like. The man went inside, speaking to one of the guards, asking for Faro, saying something about talking business.” She blinks back tears, some caught in her long lashes as she stares at her fidgety hands.

“Something told Elsie that this was our chance to run. She begged me to come with her. She said we could escape out the window while the guards were distracted and hitch a ride in the back of the SUV. But I chickened out.” She flashes her tear-filled eyes to me. “I couldn’t. I was too scared. I was never as brave as you two were. So, I stayed.” She shrugs, lips bending with a scowl. “I have no idea where she is, or whether that man ever found her. It eats at me every day, not knowing what happened, that I never joined her.”

The hopeless anguish inside her has my own tears springing. “You did what you felt you had to. It’s okay.” I take her hand, slipping it into mine. “If I were in your place, I don’t know what I would’ve done.”

“Oh, please.” She cracks a smile, swiping under her eyes. “You know you’d be in that truck already.”

A brittle sigh falls from my lips. Would I go or would I stay? I don’t really know. But she’s here with us. Finally. And we’ll find Elsie too. I can’t give up hope.

“Please find her.” Her eyes plead with Enzo and the others.

“We’re going to,” Enzo swears. “We have something to go on, thanks to you.”

She nods wistfully.

“We may need you to look at some pictures,” Dom adds. “To see if you can spot the guy you mentioned. If he was at that place where they kept you, then he has to know the Bianchis well.”

Her eyes suddenly grow huge. “Oh my God! I just remembered.”

I scoot in closer. “What is it?”

“His scar.” Her voice drowns into a whisper, mouth parting for a beat. “There was a scar on his cheek. It was long, like he’d been slashed across it with a knife.”

“Shit.” Chiara’s brows shoot up and everyone’s attention flies to her. “Was it on his right side?” she asks, edging toward the end of the sofa with a hiss, clearly fighting through the pain.

“Yeah.” Kayla’s gaze narrows as she meets her stare. “How did you know that?”

“Because I know who it is.”

My heartbeat quickens.

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