Page 115 of The Devil We Know

Antoinette confirms a front entrance, with Jessica and Carolina confirming alternate doors on either side of the building. Kaian, Tony, and Declan report that they’re a few steps behind.

Cautiously, I make my way over to the door the man disappeared through. It appears to be secure; however, it has an old, rudimentary lock. I pull out my lock-picking kit, making short work of it, and then I ease the door open, torn between shoving it open and attempting to slide inside inconspicuously.

I stop with the door opened a few inches, listening intently, but I can't make out anything of interest with the general street noise at my back.

Cursing softly, I push the door open and step inside with all the swagger The Beast would muster. Then I deflate a bit when I find an empty room, slightly annoyed that I wasted time being cautious.

I shut the door behind me, making sure to check that it's unlocked, and then I proceed further into the room until I stop atthe far doorway. I lean out, glancing in both directions, listening for any type of ruckus.

Thinking of the general blueprints of these buildings, I take a right, doing my best not to be deterred by the fact the light becomes dimmer with every subsequent room I walk through.

I stop beside what appears to be an exterior door. I open it and peek outside, confirming that it's the street, which means it’s likely one of the doors the girls came in, so I’m not far behind them.

I continue forward, moving more swiftly now, less concerned about remaining quiet, knowing my people are also in the building.

I stop at the top of a stairwell, glancing down suspiciously. A loud clang followed by a shout sounds from below, and I throw what little caution I had left to the wind, carefully walking down the stairs.

I exit the stairwell into a large room that reeks of damp and stale beer. I’m surrounded by old brewery machinery that blocks the light, leaving this side of the room dim, so I hurry over to hide behind one of the large metal drums. Sliding around the cool metal, I peer across the room, noting a small group of men standing there, and I can just make out the low murmur of another voice on the far side outside my view.

Then, a ginger-looking man in the middle of the group steps forward and says, “Don't try to bullshit me, Jessica.”

My heart stops in my chest at the same time fury erupts inside me. I clench my jaw, forcing myself to remain in this spot, ignoring my innate urge to charge and destroy.

And then I see her.

The group of men disperses some, leaving the ginger-looking man and Jessica standing in plain view.

She walks up and stops a couple of feet in front of him, her expression furious as she says, “Let's not pretend that you have a proclivity for discretion.”

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

She steps in closer, pointing her finger in his face as she says, “You gave that disgusting fucking video to Bobby. And in doing so, you managed to hurt a lot of people.”

His hand shoots out and grabs onto her wrist. “I didn't give Bobby shit.”

“So, he was bluffing?” she asks incredulously.

“No,” he answers. “He managed to steal it, and before I could get it back from him, he was dead.”

Jessica glares at him, shaking her head as she retorts, “I don't buy it. He had that video for a long fucking time before he was dead.”

He shoves her away and scowls. “What good would it be to me if that thing got out?”

“Oh, I don't know. Maybe you could just rub it in a lot of people's faces. Get me permanently erased from the world.”

He raises his brows at her. “And incriminate myself.”

Now, she frowns, shaking her head at him and saying, “What are you talking about?”

He smirks at her, puffing at his chest a little bit as he says, “Oh, you never figured that out?”

“Figured what out?”

He laughs, the malicious undertones sending a chill down my spine, “The fact that you didn'tgiveme anything.”

Shock falls over her features, and she slowly shakes her head in denial. “What do you mean?”

“Quit fucking around,” one of the other men says hurriedly.

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