Page 126 of The Devil Can Be Kind

He didn’t run for the hills.

I smiled at the thought and settled in for the ride back home.

I glanced out the window as we stopped at an intersection, my eyes drifting over to homeless people that loitered on the corner. They were always there but…today there was a new face among them.Jimmy.

A pang of sadness hit me in the chest.

Jimmy was a regular at Diamond City. He was always playing the slot machine in the corner of the main floor with a small smile on his face. I’d spoken to him just yesterday on my way out of the staff room.

It’s an addiction for him, I realized.

The traffic light ahead of us blinked green and the car started moving again, pulling us away from the misfortune of those on the sidewalk.

“Excellent,then that’s it for today. Thank you all.” I dismissed, flipping my leather folder shut.

The monthly interdepartmental meeting always took up the better half of my morning, but I didn’t mind it. I had considered it a great honor when Jon had entrusted me to start running them without his oversight. It felt like I had finally found myplace in the world of business, and I was sure as shit not going to blow it now. Marco was the first person to have ever given me a role within the family business and I was determined he wasn’t going to regret it.

Regretme.

I collected my mug and the few other items I had brought into the meeting room with me, smiling at each person as they steadily filtered out of the conference room doors.

“Miss Rossi, here are the numbers you requested.” Derrek, the Culinary Director, said as he approached. He wore a nervous smile as he extended a manilla folder in my direction.

“Great work, thank you.” I nodded, retrieving it as he continued out the door.

I flicked through the paperwork a moment, scanning my eyes over the casino’s food waste output and reviewing all the numbers over the last quarter.

Perfect.

I didn’t linger in the deserted conference room any longer, keen to start pulling apart the documents in my hand in the privacy of my own office. I tucked the folder under my arm and collected my mug and other items too as I headed out.

The elevator bank was quiet now, the last of the staff having drifted through the closing doors. I was grateful for it; talking for the better part of three whole hours had proven exhausting and another coffee was fast becoming necessary.

After another minute or so, the elevator doors slid open again and I stepped inside. Pulling out my phone, I fired off a quick message as I slowly started ascending the levels to my floor.

Me: When will you b back today?

Marco had called last night after I’d got back from work, and we’d spent an hour or so talking on the phone. He’d been in New York all week lining up deals and attending meetings, but he’dpromised to be home today in time for the weekend…and I was more than a little impatient to see him.

The elevator dinged as the doors opened on my floor and I stepped out into the foyer, noting the familiar smell of sandalwood and wild Lilies that greeted me. Our in-house florist never ceased to amaze me with her ornate, decedent displays. I’d made a good choice in hiring her for the place.

Keeley’s desk was empty as I rounded the corner, though that wasn’t unusual given the time. She always popped out about midday to get us some lunch from the kitchen or a coffee. She was good like that…when shewasn’tfucking my security guys.

Fresh out of hands, I used my butt to push open the door to my office…and all but screamed when I realized that I wasn’t alone in the room.

“Ada.”

He was as handsome as ever, sitting at my desk as if he owned the space…which I suppose hetechnicallydid.

Marco’s coal dress shirt was rolled to the elbows, exaggerating the intricate black artwork that decorated each arm. His midnight hair was perfect, precisely shaven at the sides and worn in his customary way.

God he really is beautiful.

As if he could guess what I was thinking, his sensuous lips stretched into that boyish smile I loved so much.

Fighting a smile of my own, I languidly crossed the room to the desk, depositing my items. Marco’s dark eyes tracked the movement and continued watching as I rounded the polished glass to stand beside him. He turned the chair around to face me, leaning back against the leather as if I was the most interesting show on earth.

We were close enough now that his spicy sent hit my nose and white-hot arousal dripped into my blood.

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