Page 94 of Devilish

I put my hands up to placate the guard and started back toward the dining room, but as soon as I was out of grabbing distance, I ran through the foyer toward the back of the house.

My heart hammered as they both shouted behind me, but I was small and I was quick, and those were the only two things going for me right now. I could hear the guard getting closer behind me, and I chose the narrow path between Rupert’s deskand chair to slip through easily, giving me a few precious extra seconds to slam the door shut after me. Every obstacle counted, and I heard the guard curse and kick the chair out of the way.

But every muscle in my body seized when I saw two more guards blocking the back door. My mind froze up before I could think of another route, and that was all the time Rupert and the first guard needed to block me in from behind.

I was trapped.

“You thought it would be that easy, did you?” Rupert spat, breathing heavier than he should be from the chase. “You’ve forgotten where you belong.”

“I don’t belong here,” I said quietly, my eyes on the floor.

“What was that?”

I lifted my head. “Isaid, I don’t belong here.”

“No, you belong out on the streets, remember? You’d rather be back out there than here? I can make that happen.”

Empty threats. There was no way he’d lose his “pretty pennies” by throwing me out. He wanted to torture me. But he wanted to torture Lucien more.

“He’ll come for me, you know,” I said. The thought hadn’t even entered my mind, yet the words came out with a conviction I felt to my bones. Lucienwouldknow I wouldn’t leave him. He was already on Rupert’s trail, already knew the secrets I’d given him. It was only a matter of time before he found me. And from what I’d learned about his brothers, they were all more powerful than Rupert could dream of.

Rupert scoffed and exchanged glances with the three guards. “We’recountingon your lover boy to make an appearance.”

I lifted my chin. “You’re underestimating him.”

Rupert’s nostrils flared. “And you’re pissing me off. What did you think, that you were going to stay with him? Live some happily ever after? You don’t think a man like that is fuckingevery person in that club of his?” He put his face in close to mine and fingered the necklace at my throat. “This from him?”

He didn’t wait for an answer, tearing it from my neck so that the thin gold chain broke in two. I gasped and grabbed at my throat, my skin stinging.

Rupert grabbed hold of my arm, his fingers biting into my bicep hard enough to leave bruises as he hauled me in and sniffed at my neck.

“You smell like him,” he growled, and then shoved me away so hard I almost stumbled. “Go and take a fucking shower. The only person you’re going to smell like from now on is me.”

35

LUCIEN

EVERYONE HAD THEIR own ideas on just how to accomplish my new plan, and they weren’t quiet about sharing them.

Their voices echoed off the stone walls, joining the chaos in my mind, all of it so loud I couldn’t think.

“We do have a jet and a private island,” Theo mused, arching a brow King’s way. “No one would miss him there.”

“My private sanctuary isn’t about to become a dumping ground for our problems,” King said.

“Speaking of dumping, why not just throw himoutof the jet?” When everyone turned to stare at Benoit, he shrugged. “How is that any worse?”

As they all began to talk over each other again, I closed my eyes, but all I saw was red.

Rupert had taken Kai. I’d underestimated the fucker. I assumed he’d already taken his revenge—and in the process, I’d risked the one person I’d sworn to protect.

“Shut. The fuck. Up.”

The words exploded out of me without warning, and the room went dead silent as they all stopped and stared.

I swallowed and lowered my balled fists to the table. “Just give me a damn minute.”

My entire body vibrated with fury as flames licked along my veins, fueling the fire raging inside me. Kai’s angelic face frozen in fear was all I could see as the video played over and over. Until finally I raised my eyes, sweeping them over each and every one of my brothers.

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