Page 15 of Devil Mine

He groans when he hears my tone. He knows me well enough to realize he’s unintentionally issued a challenge. One I’m unlikely to pass up.

“No, I didn’t say that as some sort of dare,” he says, exasperated. “You’re not listening to me. Not her. You know her father.”

Surprise twists my features. “Do I?”

Arturo sighs. “You dislocated his shoulder and shattered his elbow a couple weeks ago.” He turns around, leaning back against the railing. “That,” he says, “is Alexander Noble’s daughter.”

I throw my head back and laugh.

Now,thatis fucking hysterical. Truly.

Somehow, it only strengthens my interest in her. He’s a problem I intend onpermanentlysolving two weeks from today and she’s his daughter.

A pretty English rose I intend to pluck with dirty, bloodied fingers.

Now it makes sense why she was there that day, why I continued to smell her in his office long after she was gone.

Looking back into the crowd, I’m unprepared for my gaze to immediately collide with hers.

I feel tectonic plates shift beneath my feet, powered by the impact of our eyes meeting for the first time. I’m hyper aware of the zap of electricity that travels uninterrupted through my body like an opiate through my veins. I lean forward, my gaze riveted on hers.

She startles, like the contact physically pushes her back a step. She’s not dancing anymore; she stands still amidst the crowd, staring brazenly back at me.

Even from this distance, her gaze traps me as mine seems to do with her. She appears as affected by whatever this connection is as I am.

“He took something of mine, Turo. What better justice is there than taking something of his in return,” I tell Arturo. Arousal makes my voice hoarse, so I clear my throat. “Has he made any payments yet?”

“No, but I’m serious Thiago. If you fuck her and throw her away, if you break her heart, she’ll run to daddy and all his buddies and there’ll be hell to pay. They won’t get involved in his gambling debts, but that changes if you start interfering with their women.”

“Maybe I won’t take her then,” I say with a ruthless smile as an idea forms. “I’ll play by their rules.” Reluctantly, I look away and turn towards him. “Byyourrules.”

He frowns before comprehension smooths his features. He drops his head in his hands and starts rubbing his temples.

“Joder, that’s an even worse idea.”

I don’t think so, especially not when I see her looking up at me like a believer worshiping at the altar of her God.

She looks away, severing the connection and sending my blood pressure rising. She doesn’t get to look away from me before I’m done with her.

I watch her tap her friend on the shoulder, trying to get her attention.

“Jefe!” Marco calls. I turn to find him back in the VIP area, a black look on his face. “Dadurian is gone. Apparently he slipped out the back when he heard you were here.”

Fury wraps around me and squeezes. It’s a band around my brain that blinds me with a rage beyond my control. My hands grip the railing, my knuckles going white with the effort. I shake it so hard, I feel the hinges go loose.

“Where did he go?”

Marco has the good sense to not meet my eyes when he answers. “We don’t have eyes on him,” he admits.

I push away from the balcony and punch the wall. My fist explodes through the cheap plaster and drives into the stud layer.

Shitty fucking club.

I roar in frustration as I extricate my fist from the wall.

“We’re leaving,” I announce. “Marco, find out where that piece of shit disappeared off to. I want him dead by the end of the week.”

I’m rattled. This is unlike me. I don’t let people get away, I don’t let them get the best of me.

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