Page 21 of Ride with the Devil

And there it is. I just put it out there—and he doesn’t deny it.

Instead, he says, “I got the boss to let me watch over you. To explain why it’s in your best interest to keep quiet. That’s all he’s asking. That’s all Devil wants.”

And what about Luca? He wants to be a tough guy, I’m thinking. Maybe he is. Rolling around with the Devil ofSpringfield… only a real Sinner would be that close to the head of the syndicate. Driving him around? Waiting in the car while he meets with shady vice mayors… he’s gotta be trusted.

Yet, here he is. Here I am.

And I’m pretty sure he’s my baby-sitter.

My mistake. I took him for the help. A hired chauffeur and nothing else. Whatever role he plays in his gang, I guess watching over loose-lipped witnesses is one of them.

I know one thing: Devil wouldn’t have left me alive. For all those rumors that he’s lost his edge after his kid was born, I doubt it. He didn’t hesitate to off Collins tonight, and I can only imagine what the vice mayor did to sign his death warrant.

Did Devil find out that Johnny Winter had every intention of taking over Springfield in the new year, no matter what it took? That the Snowflakes hadn’t given up on expanding their territory at all?

Maybe, but that’s the least of my problems. Because of the contract I took on, signed by Winter himself, I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

But I’m alive because of Luca—and I can use that.

I have to bite the corner of my lip to keep my smile from widening.

Holy shit. This is going to be so much fun!

“Want to play checkers?” I ask.

“Excuse me?”

“Checkers,” I repeat. “You know the game. Black and red pieces. You jump them, then say ‘king me’? I love checkers. Or,” I add, drawing his attention to the television opposite of the couch, “we can see what’s on. I don’t know if there’s cable up here in the boonies, but if there’s a TV, there’s gotta be something to watch.”

Luca lifts his hand, swiping the back of it over his mouth. “You want to watch TV with me? You’re not going to beg me to bring me ”

“I could if you want me, too. Do you?”

“Not really.”

“That’s what I thought. I mean, you obviously went to a lot of trouble to get me here. I can’t imagine you’re going to let me go. Not when you’re sure I’m going to run to the first police station I can find and tell the whole world that the head of the Sinners Syndicate is a merciless murderer.”

Can he tell I’m being a smart-ass? I’m not so sure, but to really lay it on thick, I shrug my shoulders. “What would happen then? I’m supposed to stay. So if I try to leave and you try to stop me, I get a bullet in my skull courtesy of the gun in your pants?”

“I’d rather not have to do that.”

Somehow, I figured.

Soft touch. Are they kidding? They kidnapped me and stuck me with a soft touch for a babysitter. If it was me, if I’d chained Luca up in the basement, but he broke free, then scared the shit out of me by throwing open the door? I would’ve shot first, asked questions later.

Of course, I’m a fucking amazing shot. I’d be asking a dead man those questions so I wouldn’t be getting any answers, but still. I would’ve reacted way differently than Luca did.

He’s insistent that I’m staying with him. Luca. A good-looking guy. A secluded mountain hideaway that could easily get snowed-in at any moment.

A pair of cuffs and an empty cot in the basement where no one would hear me scream…

Hmm.

“So… checkers? Yes? No?”

His mouth works, but nothing comes out for a moment. He recovers again, quicker this time, though all he can do is remindme that, “This isn’t my cabin. I don’t know if they have checkers here.”

Pity.

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