Page 5 of Ride with the Devil

But as long as I only breaknine…

I got five when I decided to have a physical representation of my count. Those were easy, and long broken as my parents loved to remind me.

The first time I willingly refused to attend any kind of service on a Sunday? That was number six.

When I realized that I put Devil before any God? Number seven.

And coveting my neighbor’s goods… I couldn’t help myself last year when my upstairs neighbor parked his brand new, impeccably restored Corvette Stingray alongside my latest half-built passion project.

But coveting my neighbor’s wife? I broke that one when I was still under Donovan’s control—and knowing that he purposely chose my girl to be his bride was the last straw that kept me there.

“Nah. I’m still at eight,” I tell him. “Just thought I’d hang out here while waiting for the boss. You mind?”

He shakes his head. “Genevieve is rehearsing forRomeo and Juliet. They open in three weeks, right after the new year. Until then, it’s just me and my iPad out here, waiting for her to throw me a bone every now and then.”

“That’s right. She got the lead role, didn’t she?”

A look of pride flashes across his features. “She did. And I expect you to catch a performance before it closes, wheels.”

I’m not much of a ballet guy, but I’ll be there for these two. “Yeah. Of course.”

Cross’s dark eyes twinkle. “Maybe we can get Devil to go, too. Have Mona watch baby Claire so he can take Ava out for the night.”

I chuckle. “Have Genevieve pass the invite on to Mrs. Crewes. If Ava asks, you’ll get Devil’s butt in a seat. Promise.”

There isn’t anything the Devil of Springfield won’t do for his beloved wife.

“Good idea. I’ll make sure to do that. Maybe we can buy out the whole theatre for the night and have a Sinners-only showing for my butterfly.” Cross pauses for a moment. “And a couple ofDragonflies, too, I guess since Gen wants her brother and Vin to come.”

And, like the boss, there isn’t anythingCrosswon’t do for his butterfly.

I start to open my mouth, maybe make a comment about how far the rivalry between the Sinners and the Dragonflies’ have come in the past year-and-a-half when, my phone starts buzzing. One, two, three, four texts in rapid succession.

I know it has to be the boss. Not only does Devil send texts the way he speaks—short sentences, straight to the point, so terse you can almost hear the growl in his voice—but I don’t really get that many messages on my phone. I lost contact with any of the old crew in Hamilton, and while I’ve worked as a loyal Sinner in Springfield for three years now, if I’m not with Devil, I’m working on my latest project.

Rolls keeps offering to get in touch with his cousin, Jake. A trained mechanic, he actually went to school for the trade instead of picking it up as he goes along like I did. Jake lives in Merill Grove with his new wife, and he’d be willing to help me get parts and shit, but… I don’t know. I like Rolls. He’s a great guy. His cousin probably is, too.

But I’m used to being alone. Can’t say that Ilikeit, but I’m used to it.

Just like I’m used to Devil’s commands.

I reach the messages, stomach twisting when I get to the third one, my head nodding as I hit the fourth.

Boss

I’m leaving here in five, but I’m not heading home.

Need to have a meet with Collins. Blockbuster.

Fucker is bought by the Snowflakes.

Line the trunk.

Line the trunk… I know exactly what that means. And if wants me to take care of that before I pick him up at dinner, he’s not waiting around for Rolls to take care of clean-up duty like usual. Between the boss and me, we’re going to do it ourselves.

Then again, if the vice mayor betrayed the Sinners… he deserves everything he has coming to him.

Will do.

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