Page 16 of Devlin

“This complicates matters,” he muttered. “Cancel that meeting with Enzo tomorrow.”

“I can’t just cancel it. Enzo would be suspicious,” she argued, her voice tense.

“Krista,” Devlin said, gripping her shoulders and searching her eyes. “Phantom could’ve already told Enzo in some way that you’re compromised.”

“Then isn’t this our best shot to get them both?” she countered, her gaze steady.

Devlin paused, considering her words. The intensity in his eyes softened slightly, replaced by a grudging respect.

“You’re right,” he admitted. “But we’ll have to be extremely careful.”

Krista nodded, feeling a mix of fear and determination. “What’s the plan?” she asked.

“We’ll set a trap,” Devlin said, his mind already working on the details. “You’ll go to the meeting as planned, but we’ll be ready for any moves Enzo or Phantom might make.”

He pulled her closer, his grip firm but reassuring. “I need you to trust me,” he said softly. “Whatever happens, I’ll protect you.”

Krista felt a shiver run down her spine, a mix of anticipation and dread. She had always been able to rely on herself, but now she was taking a leap of faith. Could she truly rely on Devlin?

“I trust you,” she whispered, surprising herself with the truth of her words. Krista decided to take on a gamble, but she didn’t think she’d regret her decision.

Devlin nodded, releasing her but keeping his gaze locked on hers. “Good. Now let’s make sure we’re ready for tomorrow,” he said.

Chapter Seven

Krista gripped the steering wheel as she drove up to O’Malley’s Sports Bar, a local watering hole known for its neutrality in the city’s underworld. It was a place where members of various crime families could meet without the threat of immediate violence, but that didn’t mean it was safe.

Her pulse quickened as she parked her car and took a few moments to contain her anxiety and fear. She knew Mark and Tony, Devlin’s men, were following her discreetly at a distance. She wasn’t alone.

Taking a deep breath, she grabbed her bag of documents and stepped out of the car. The air was cool, the night still. As she approached the bar, the first indication that something was wrong hit her—there was no one by the entrance. She would have expected some of Enzo’s people to be there, standing guard.

This could be a trap. Krista had been doing this for most of her life, and she knew when to trust her instincts. Her gut screamed at her to turn around and get back in the car, but the thought of missing this opportunity gnawed at her. They might not get another chance. Steeling herself, she pushed open the door, noting the glowing OPEN sign.

Silence greeted her. The bar was eerily empty, save for a middle-aged, balding bartender who glanced up at her entrance before returning to polishing a glass.

The room was dimly lit, the smell of stale beer lingering in the air. Krista’s footsteps echoed as she walked in, her eyes scanning for any sign of Enzo or his men.

The place felt abandoned, the usual lively atmosphere replaced by an unsettling stillness. Was she early? Or maybe Phantom had told Enzo about her involvement with Devlin after all?

Krista’s mind raced. She moved cautiously toward the bar, her senses on high alert. The bartender watched her with a disinterested expression, but she could feel his eyes on her every move.

She reached the counter and set her bag down, trying to appear calm and collected despite the storm of emotions inside her.

“Evening,” she said, forcing a smile.

The bartender nodded. “Evening. What can I get you?”

“Just waiting for someone,” she replied, her voice steady. “Enzo Rosso.”

The bartender’s eyes flickered with recognition, but he said nothing. Instead, he continued cleaning his glass, his movements slow and deliberate.

Krista’s nerves were on edge, every fiber of her being screaming that something was off.

Minutes felt like hours as she waited, the tension in the air palpable. Krista’s mind whirled with possibilities, each more dire than the last. If Phantom had tipped Enzo off, she could be walking into an ambush. Devlin’s men were outside, but she was on her own in here.

Finally, the door at the back of the bar creaked open. Krista’s heart leapt into her throat as Enzo Rosso stepped out, flanked by two of his men. He was a tall, imposing figure with a sharp gaze that seemed to pierce through her.

“Krista,” Enzo greeted, his voice smooth but laced with an underlying threat. “Right on time.”

---