Page 53 of The Devil Can Be Kind

“Not bad, hey?” He said with obvious pride.

“That’s how you knew I had left the first night,” I realized, and he laughed.

“Oh yes, the night of the great robbery,” he mocked.

“Shut up.”

He flicked the remote again and suddenly the TV was back to displaying various feeds from the house. Movement in the top right of one caught my attention and I watched as two cars pulled into the portico out front.

I saw Layton quickly get out of the first car and hold open the rear door, allowing a tall blonde woman to step out. She was dressed in high waist blue jeans and a white bandeau top that did little to hide her fake tits. Marco emerged behind her and as soon as his feet met the pavement, the woman wrapped her arms around his neck and all but threw herself at him.

I scowled at the scene, my teeth snapping together with a click.

“That’s Lexi.” Jesse said noting my gaze.

I had taken an instant dislike to the woman when I had first heard her name, but my dislike was now growing rapidly into contempt.

“Marco’s girlfriend.” I guessed, trying to hide the irritation from my voice.

“Oh god no. Don’t let him hear you say that.” He laughed. “I think it is more similar to yourJasonsituation.”

I turned to him in shock. My cheeks heated in embarrassment.

Marco must have shown him the messages on my phone.

“Smokinnn.” He mocked, and it was all the confirmation I needed.

“Shut up. You’re both perverts.” I scowled and he grinned mischievously.

“So, that’s where he’s been all week?” I tried my best to hide my interest.

“No. I think she just turned up at the airport to greet him.” He eyed the screen where they had moved to sucking face in the foyer.

“Sounds like a girlfriend thing to do to me.”

I turned away from the screen, resuming my seat, not wanting to see the display. Being bothered about it meant I cared, and I wasnotgoing to allow myself to do that.

I popped my laptop on the desk opposite Jesse and with his help, managed to get printed all the things I needed for my mood board. After digging around in a supply cupboard nearby, he also managed to find me an old corkboard that I could use to piece together my ideas. I didn’t go back to the house to work, preferring the floor of Jesse’s office instead. I immersed myself completely in my task, trying my best to keep my mind from wandering back to the house and what Marco was doing.

I refused to allow my disappointment to settle as it sunk beneath my skin.

The next evening,I sat at a bar on my second drink and completely bored out of my mind. Déjà vu was kicking in, and I didn’t fucking care for it.

Isn’t there more to being a gangster than going to clubs?I sat, speculating bitterly.

As one hour morphed into two, I decided the only way I wasn’t going to kill myself out of disinterest was to get fabulously drunk. I ordered a couple of shots of tequila and sunk them back until I felt the warm buzz of alcohol.

“Alonsooo!”

I moved closer to the mountain of a man who was situated at one end of the bar monitoring the room, stoic as usual.

“Yes, Ma’am?” He asked, a small smile contorting his rugged features.

“You are doing some shots with me!” I commanded.

“I’m sorry Ma’am, I can’t join in with you tonight.” He said apologetically.

“Oh come on, Alonsooooo,” I whined, refusing to allow him out of it. “I’m so bored, pretty please? I need a drinking buddy.”

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