Page 62 of The Devil We Know

He moves closer so mere inches separate us, and then he reaches down, pulling my leg back up over him and yanking me so there’s no space between us. He wedges his bottom arm under my head so I’m pillowed on his bicep, but he’s still able to look me in the eyes. I pull my hands in, tucking myself into the cocoon as his free hand gently pushes the hair back from my face. His eyes search mine, the silence dragging out until finally, I whisper, “What are you looking for?”

“The answers.”

I snort, rolling my eyes a bit as I respond, “Good fucking luck finding any answers there.”

He smiles, his eyes warming as he says, “You are the answer.” I swat at his chest, rolling my eyes a bit more forcefully as I snort a little more loudly. He chuckles but remains unflinching as he says, “You’remyanswer.”

Suddenly, my eyes burn, and I squeeze them shut, a sudden well of emotion burning in my chest and rising up my throat. I cough as I attempt to keep it down. I’ve never considered myself to be much of a crybaby, but the events of the last six months have proven I tend to leak under long periods of stress and anxiety.

“Look at me.”

I shake my head, squeezing my eyes tighter. I push at his chest in an attempt to escape, but he uses both arms to pull me tighter, his forehead pressed against mine. I open my eyes, and he’s so close that his two eyes blend into one, the pale green burning with every emotion I could ever fathom.

Finally, I ask, “How much time do we have?”

He eases his grip on me, putting a bit more distance between us, and his one eye becomes two as he replies, “If I had to guess, probably tomorrow evening.”

“And there’s no chance they won’t come for you?”

He shakes his head. “Given the circumstances, the odds of them just walking away are pretty much nil. So, the real question is whether or not other people will show up.”

“Who else has a stake in it?”

He laughs bitterly and then answers, “That list is long. Matteo was a pretty big shit in the game. He was also the eldest heir in that family, and his younger brother is more of a party animal than murderous animal, so they really have no choice. There were some other lower-level players who were fodder in the slaughter, but that doesn’t mean they’re just going to go quietly, either.”

“Are you saying you’re going to die?”

He stiffens, frowning as he says firmly, “No. At least, I fucking hope not.”

“But it’s a possibility.”

“Dying is a possibility regardless of multiple people wanting me dead.”

“That doesn’t make me feel any better,” I say sullenly.

He sighs, shrugging and then shaking his head. “I don’t think there’s anything I can say to make you feel better. I’m not going to lie to you, and I’m not going to sugarcoat anything.”

“I know.”

“Do you?”

I glare at him and then spit out, “Yes, I fucking know.”

“We have help coming,” he whispers. “I won’t be in there entirely alone, but I need you to promise me something.”

“Anything,” I say easily. “You know I’ll do anything you ask.”

“You’re not going to like it.”

Now I laugh as I say, “Nothing new there, but I promise, nonetheless.”

“When the time comes where you’re able to escape,” he says. “I need you to promise me that you’ll go.”

I frown, all laughter leaving me as I shake my head and whisper, “I can’t.”

“You must. You must get out of there so I’ll know you’re safe.”

I shake my head almost violently, that low sob once again stuck in my throat as I whimper, unable to just do what he wants.

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