Page 77 of The Devil Can Be Kind

I didn’t exactly know what to expect but it certainly wasn’t that.

“Deal,” I said without a second’s hesitation.

He reached for his drink again, tipping it back with his dark eyes studying me. “I know that must have been hard for you earlier, telling us that information. I want you to know that I appreciate it.”

“It’s nothing.”

The emotions I had been so desperately trying to stifle over the last couple of weeks threatened to resurface and I looked away, staring at anything other than the man that made me believe he cared.

He sighed, clearly irritated with my flippancy and placed his glass on the wood with a loud thud, “Care to explain why you’ve been avoiding me all weekend?”

“Not really,” I dead panned.

I still wasn’t ready forthatconversation. Especially not after everything else that had been going on.

“It’s because of the other night.” He observed flatly, crossing his arms across his chest.

His gaze brushed my skin like a physical touch and the pull to look at him was fast becoming overwhelming. “It was a mistake. It should never have happened.”

“A mistake? I told you Iwantedyou.” His flat voice morphed into frustration.

“You don’t want me, Marco. You want tofuckme. They are two very different things.” I glared, giving into the urge to look up at him. “I am not another Lexi who you can just fuck and toss away whenever you feel like it. I’m not some game.”

“I never said that you were.”

“I’m not stupid Marco, I know how this works. It shouldn’t have happened, and I’m done talking about it.”

He didn’t stop me as I half ran out the study door.

I tried to keep my face impassive as I passed the crowds of men still lingering amongst the walls as I went straight to my room.

I felt guilty.

Telling Marco about Pretty Penny Loans and Paradise Place meant choosing to betray my family. Something they would soon learn of the moment Pretty Penny Loans was attacked. They were going to hate me for it, and despite everything that had happened, that still bothered me.

Even though I knew I would never go back to my family, the idea of being completely alone in the world was troubling.

On the other hand, allowing them to continue to massacre innocent people without retribution or restitution was down-right disgusting, and I couldn’t just sit by and allow that to happen either.

Marco was out for blood, and for the first time in my life, I understood why.

CHAPTER

FIFTEEN

ADALYN

“Oh, for the love of all that’s Holy!” I screeched, clutching my towel closer to my chest.

It had been just over a week since the discussion in Marco’s office and I had yet to return to work. The mansion still hadn’t got back some semblance of normality with papers, plans, and meatheads scattered across the marble in every direction.

I had once again found myself languishing my time and distracting myself with trivialities to get through the day. House arrest was not just annoying but downright depressing.

Nevertheless, it still didn’t explain Marco’s sudden presence in my bathroom.

He looked about the room as if he had never even seen this part of the mansion before and part of me wondered if he ever had.

I spun away from the mirror, narrowing my gaze on him. I didn’t miss how his irises darkened or how his eyes trailed down to my black painted toenails before bouncing back up. Just likehow I didn’t miss that his suit trousers clung perfectly below his waist or how his white shirt did little to hide the extensive tattoo’s that laid underneath.

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