Page 30 of The Devil Can Be Kind

“My bet is that you do… Maybe eventoomuch.” I brushed the words over his skin, teasing him.

“Let me remind you, Ada. This little game you’re playing only has one winner—me. I can do anything I want with you, and no one would dare to stop me. Remember that.” A shrill of excitement shot through my system at the brutal edge in his words.

“In your dreams.” I smirked and the muscle ticked in his jaw again.

He released me then and swiftly made a motion with his hand.

Jesse cut through the crowd with a goofy smile playing on his lips not a moment after.

“Stay with her.” Marco’s glare didn’t waver from my face as he continued speaking, switching over to Italian.

Jesse nodded a few moments later, agreeing to something somberly with all traces of his earlier playfulness eroded. WithJesse’s confirmation, Marco stalked back through the packed dance floor toward the general direction of the meeting.

When I turned to face Jesse, his good mood had once again recovered, and he bobbed his head to the beat.

I decided not to push my luck any further as I danced with him, only imitating grinding as opposed toactuallygrinding against him.

After a couple more songs I was beginning to overheat and in desperate need of another spritzer. When we approached the bar, my drink and a beer for Jesse were placed before us without even the need to ask.

“So, what the fuck is his problem?” I asked after a few glugs of my delicious cocktail.

“Oh, nothing really.” He shrugged dismissively, tipping back his beer.

“It didn’t seem like nothing. I was just dancing with some guy and then suddenly he’s getting dragged away.” I argued.

“Dancing!” Jesse scoffed.

“And? I can’t have a sexuality too?” I demanded. “You guys sit up there groping whatever girl you like and call it ‘business’. Yet when I do the same, I’m a slut. That’s double fucking standards.”

“Good point well made.” He laughed and clinked his beer against my glass. “But this is the Cosa Nostra and most of the men in it wouldn’t agree with you, Bandit.”

“You don’t say.” I rolled my eyes at him but knew better than to argue. He was right and whether I liked it or not, it didn’t matter.

With another few drinks in my system, I pulled Jesse back onto the dance floor.

The alcohol was making my head spin, and I latched onto him as we danced a second time. Unlike my previous partner, Jesse’s hands never strayed from my waist…no matterhowmuchI rolled my hips. I was starting to think he never took a day off.

A few songs later, the buzz I was on started to morph into exhaustion and Jesse led the way through the mass of people to a pin-protected door off to the side. Alonso and the others were not far behind us, and when we emerged on the other side, I was surprised to find myself inside a sophisticated hotel lobby.

“Let me guess, Marco owns this building too.” I rolled my eyes as we stood in the elevator, going up.

“Yes, Ma’am,” Alonso answered.

When the bell pinged, announcing our floor, we exited into a short hallway housing a single double door. Once inside, an expansive and expensive penthouse suite greeted us. It was decorated in the same deep grey hues, abstract art, and masculine furniture as my room at the mansion and it didn’t take a genius to work out who had commissioned it.

A sunken seating area faced floor-to-ceiling windows on the far side of the room, revealing the dazzling city lights and darkness of Lake Michigan beyond. To my right was a sleek white counter that appeared to double as a bar and a black marble dining table sat off to the left.

“Your room.” Jesse gestured to the door beyond the table. “Your bags are already in there and you have your own bathroom.” He gestured to the various doors.

“Okay. Goodnight, Jess.” I yawned and waved as I disappeared behind the door he’d indicated.

I flicked on the light, and as promised, my duffle bag and all its contents had been neatly laid out on the bed. I snatched up my makeup remover and went into the bathroom to scrub the makeup from my face. I brushed my teeth and stripped down to my panties, throwing my camisole nightdress on and flicked out the lamp before crawling into bed.

I let out a sigh as I settled for the night.

I’d beenasleep for less than an hour when noises tore me from sleep.

I pulled the covers away from my head and sat up in confusion, unsure of the sound.

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