Page 107 of Devil Mine

His gaze slides back to mine, his brow raising.

“Or at the very least, you’re hiding something.”

The ghost of a smile touches his lips. “You know my tells already,amor?”

Picking up his discarded bow tie, I slip it around his neck, leaving it hanging on his chest. I can’t bring myself to finish tying it. There’s something about him looking unruly, about him looking just a little undone, that I love. He’s black tattoos and a lethal gaze and bloody knuckles. He was never meant to be constrained by something as formal and restrictive as a tuxedo. My eyes flick up to meet his.

“This is about trust, remember? So trust me. Earlier, you said you’d show me something if I wanted. What was it?”

Those same knuckles come up to brush my cheek, the contrast between the knives etched on his skin and the tender touch ridiculous.

“You want to see?”

I nod.

“Why? he asks. “I thought you hated this world even more than she did.”

“Because she was innocent and whoever killed her should pay,” I explain. “Protecting the ones you love at all costs is not something I have any trouble understanding. So show me.”

He shakes his head. “I don’t want to scare you.”

I lift an unwavering look at him and set my jaw. He already knows how stubborn I can be.

“I can handle it.”

He hums thoughtfully and thumbs my lip, staring at my mouth contemplatively for long moments.

“What is it?” I ask.

“Nothing.” His eyes lift to mine. “I’m just wondering how your father could ever have willingly parted with you.”

His words are raw and honest. They hit me like a punch to the solar plexus. I have a hard time reconciling this man with the violent cartel boss I know him to be, and yet they’re one and the same.

“When he finally realizes his fuck up, it’ll be too late. I won’t give you back.”

“He’s unlikely to ever see it as a mistake.”

“Good,” he growls, kissing my forehead again. “I can show you what I know about Adriana now if that’s what you want.”

My heart picks up in anticipation. I nod.

“I want to know. Show me.”

Thiago gives me a pleased smile, then looks around one last time to make sure we’re not forgetting anything. His palm comes to the small of my back as he guides me out the door.

“We’ll take the car. It’s about a twenty minute drive from here so it won’t take long.”

He keeps talking, walking beside me as we head back towards the main entrance where we left our coats. On impulse, I reach for his hand and take it in mine.

He comes to a slow stop, eventually looking down at where our fingers are threaded together. His expression is somewhere between riveted and mystified.

I’m about to pull my hand out of his and mumble some kind of embarrassed apology when he lifts it to his mouth. He presses a soft kiss on the back of my hand, his eyes staring intently deep into my soul. Something indescribable passes between us in that small, unimportant moment, but I know I’ll keep a memory of it in my heart forever.

Without another word, he takes off again. Except this time, my hand is buried in his and he’s squeezing my fingers like he’s planning on never letting go.

???

Chapter Forty-Two

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