Page 107 of The Devil Can Be Kind

“Then it was definitely rigged.” Marco smirked.

After about an houror so of casual conversation, Layton approached us and spoke to Marco quietly a moment. Marco nodded in acknowledgement at the man and after a second, politely excused us from the group. He led me quickly back through the throngs of people until I found myself once again seated at the same table as earlier.

Jesse and Enzo were still sitting with Carlos, but the newlyweds were now notably absent. Two younger women had taken their place and were chatting enthusiastically to the men instead.

The table promptly lapsed into silence at our sudden arrival.

The men muttered respectful greetings and nodded to the Don, while the women keenly observed him with lascivious eyes.

“Wait here. I have some business to take care of.” Marco declared as we came to a halt.

The unfamiliar women flicked their gaze to our still entwined hands and disappointment turned their pretty features into bitter scowls. Marco curtly said a few words in Italian before dropping my hand and stalking off with his security detail a step behind him.

Trying my hardest to not look disappointed, I re-took my seat at the table and resigned myself to people watching. With sipping on champagne my only source of entertainment for the evening, time passed even slower than before. What with the obvious attempts of flirtation and ridiculously childlike voices of the women before me. Even without understanding what they were saying, the tell-tale signs of desperation clung to them as they attempted to compete for the mens’ attentions.

Looks like Miss Italian Gold-digger one and Mafia Mrs.-Wannabe two have entered the chat…I rolled my eyes and downed the rest of my drink.

CHAPTER

TWENTY

ADALYN

One hour passed by. Then another with no end conceivably in sight.

I had even gone to the bathroom three times just to give myself something to do.Is it too childish to play a game on my phone?I was seriously contemplating pulling it out when the familiar head of disheveled raven hair and black suit caught my attention from across the room.

Marco had re-emerged off to the side of the dance floor.

However, my relief at seeing him didn’t last long. Quickly becoming tinged with irritation when I noticed a beautiful brunette at his side. She leaned forward to speak to him, a hand resting on his shoulder too close to his neck to be friendly. Her dress was the color of rain with a plunging neckline and slit up to the very top of her thigh. She all but screamed Jessica Rabbit,complete with hourglass hips and $10,000 boob job.

I hated how my irritation simmered into something more closely resembling insecurity.

I didn’t miss the way she seductively pressed her body against his as they continued talking. Or the way her other hand crept up to caress the other side of his neck.

The same side of his neck that I had moaned into last night.

“Jess.” I prodded the tipsy man next to me to get his attention. “Who is that woman talking to Marco?” I asked once I successfully got his attention.

His eyes followed my gaze across the room, landing on the woman as she smiled affectionately up at the Don, batting her eyelashes.

“That’s Sofia,” He answered with a shrug and tossed back some of his beer. “They used to have a thing.”

“Usedto have a thing orstillhave a thing?” I questioned, irritation making my voice dryer than intended.

“Uh… I can’t be sure to tell you the truth.” He scratched his chin awkwardly and coughed into his fist. “But you have nothing to worry about there, Bandit,” he said patting my arm condescendingly, as if he knew something I didn’t.

“And why is that?” I asked doubtfully.

“It’s worth more than my inheritance to tell youthatpiece of information.” He shrugged and laughed as my eyes narrowed at him.

Without permission, my attention drifted back over to the two figures across the hall. To my instant outrage, Sofia’s hand was now threaded between one of Marcos while the other toyed lightly with his hair.

Something that felt like crushing rejection sunk into my chest.

I can’t fucking watch this.

I got to my feet and immediately left the table, exiting out one of the nearby doors that lead onto a veranda. Alonso was hot on my heels, and I shot him a warning look that made him halt just inside the door. I didn’t stop until I reached the far endof the stone balustrade, overlooking the expansive gardens that surrounded the villa.

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