Page 43 of Revenge & Ruin

I tut. “It would be inconvenient, I suppose. I imagine it won’t be long until someone notices you’re missing and ends your people after us. You’re my only ticket out of here.”

“So, we have an understanding.”

“Only if you give me what I rightfully won.”

She glares back at me defiantly. “Never.”

“What was that about honor among thieves?”

“You would have never given up either.”

“I guess you’ll never know now.” I brush a stray hair away from her eyes. I’m being gentle, considering the circumstances. “I might not be able to kill you here. But there are other places that are far less protected.”

She swallows hard. “You wouldn’t be able to touch me.”

“Is that so? Why don’t you tell that to your little boyfriend at the gym? I heard he took a nasty tumble.”

It’s not surprise on her face; it’s something far darker. Clever girl, she already figured it out.

“You don’t scare me,” she whispers.

“Oh, I think I do,” I say, leaning back. Dante is already yelling in my ear to get the hell out, a warning that has already more than expired.

There’s just never enough time.

“Do me a favor and stay right here,” I continue as I swing the door back open. “I’d hate to ruin those pretty little hands of yours.”

She looks as if she might retaliate, so I surge forward, slamming my knife into the wall behind her left ear, nicking the hanging flesh as it buries itself into the wood.

For one heartbeat, I watch as a bead of blood forms on her earlobe. Without thinking, I dip down to lick it up.

“Teo. NOW.”

I pull away and begin to run, leaving her frozen in shock.

I’m only half hoping that she might follow.

12

ISABELLA

The cavalry arrived only seconds after Teo left. By all accounts, he shouldn’t have made it out of the casino.

But as I staggered back into the foyer, head still spinning from his threat—and how close he’d come with that knife—I watched with my own eyes as he leaped into the back of a moving vehicle and sped off into the night.

I felt hollow as he left, something within me protesting his absence with childish recklessness. At the same time, the greater part of me remained absolutely disgusted with myself.

Whatever is happening between Teo Vitale and me feels like an open wound, one that festers more and more after every devastating encounter.

But none of it felt as bad as when my phone started ringing.

“Leon,” I say dully, already bracing myself.

“What the FUCK is going on?”

“We were negotiating.”

It wasn’t a lie,per se.Hadn’t we discussed things over poker?

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