Page 21 of The Devil Can Be Kind

Jesse’s eagerness told me that the meeting had been about my ransom, which meant there was a good chance my family could be coming for me, and I would be free soon.

The thought made me both excited and nervous at the same time.

I walked somewhat slowly to the study door, stopping and waiting patiently outside the familiar room for the guards to let me in. It was the same two as before… Layton and Wyatt I think Lucia said their names were. I kept my eyes surreptitiously away from the one I thought was Layton, recalling his snarky remark in the study a few days previous. The other, Wyatt, held open the door and gestured inside.

Just like the first time I came into the room, Don La Torre was sitting behind his desk as I entered. The room smelled of him—like sandalwood and spices.

It was pleasant and masculine…so I breathed through my mouth instead.

A small smile graced the Don’s face as I took a seat opposite him, sending a tingle along my skin and my earlier confidence dithering. That smile made him look boyish and charming…and was infinitely more dangerous than his usual indifference.

“What?” I asked, suddenly nervous.

“Nice hot pants. They are better than a bikini though, I suppose.” He said sardonically.

Crap.

I hadn’t even considered what I was wearing—a pair of gray shorts that more closely resembled underwear and a black crop top. Once again, I was completely underdressed and mentally kicked myself for not realizing it sooner.

I scowled and muttered an insincere “Thanks”.

A moment of uncomfortable silence bubbled between us before I couldn’t stand it any longer. “Is there any news from my family?”

His face soured and his eyes grew tight. “We are still in discussions.”

“Discussions? It’s been days,” I scoffed bitterly.

“These things take time.”

I shook my head in disappointment. I knew my family had enough money or property to pay whatever price the man before me could demand. It meant that there were other factors at play besides that…didn’t it?

I eyed the man before me suspiciously, “You are dragging your heels then. My father would have paid anything to have me back by now. You must want more than money,” I accused.

He let out a cold, humorless laugh. “I wouldn’t be so sure about that. There seems to be some resistance between your family members.”

I wasn’t entirely surprised by the news. My family weren’t exactly a harmonious bunch at the best of times. But this…this was undoubtedly the fault of my cousin Leon.

My cousin was an asshole that had infuriated me since the day I was born. To be frank, he was an idiot who used our family’s money to get away with whatever he wanted. Despite that, he had a reputation for being reckless that no amount of money could bury. He was forever bragging about ‘holding the keys to the kingdom’, what with him being the closest male heir and my chances of inheriting being as possible as aliens landing on the pentagon. After all, I was‘just a woman’as he so eloquently put it.

In essence—I hated his ass.

But unfortunately for me, my father didn’t. He doted on my moron cousin as if he were the son he never had. Of course,Leonwould be the one to question paying. I had no doubt any resistance was coming squarely from him. He probably got my uncles to weigh in on it, too. It was no secret he’d been trying to push me out of the family or marry me off since I was eighteen.

I guess he saw now as his opportunity.

“Fucking Leon,” I muttered.

“There should be more progress in the next few days,” The Don offered. His rough voice sounded softer somehow, but then a scowl marred his features, and I thought maybe I’d imagined it.

He collected his phone from the desk and started texting away on it.

I pursed my lips. “Is that it? Is that all you called me in here for?”

“Yes,” Came his terse response as he continued on his phone.

How would someone who was valuable to them respond to that?

I swallowed back my anxiety and levelled my gaze, determined to maintain my ruse.

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