Page 96 of The Devil We Know

Declan: Well, that was clear.

Tony: Just get here, you fucking asshole.

Declan: Already on my way.

“Has that chat changedat all since the last time you looked at it?”

I turn my gaze to Issa, smiling slightly as I shake my head. “I keep thinking if I stare at it long enough that maybe he’ll pop up.”

Her smile is tinged with sadness as she nods and replies, “Given the circumstances, the likelihood of that happening is beyond nil.”

“Obviously, this was fueled by wishful thinking and incredible delusion.”

She sighs, leaning in close to me and resting her head against my arm. “Wishful thinking and incredible delusion are two things I can get behind.”

I lean close to her, placing a kiss on the top of her head as I once again turn back to the phone and stare at it.

After a few minutes of silence, I ask, “I would know, right?”

Issa straightens in her chair, giving me a speculative look. “You’d know what?”

“If he was really gone.”

She raises her brows at me, her lips pursing briefly, and then she says, “Well, you’re not twins, right?”

I frown at her and sputter, “Do I look old enough to be Darius’ twin?”

She smirks at me and then shrugs. My frown turns into a glare. “Take it back.” She laughs and shakes her head, and after another glare, her lips twitch, a sparkle in her eye making me narrow my eyes even more. “I see what you’re doing here.” Her look turns innocent, increasing my suspicions, and when she says nothing, I add, “Trying to distract me with misplaced humor.”

She smiles rather smugly. “Is it working?”

I sigh deeply, giving her a disapproving look. “Maybe.”

She smiles and pets me on the arm. “Obviously, I can’t predict the future, but you know that I’m a cup-half-full kind of girl.”

“So, you’re saying you think he’s fine?”

She raises her brows at me and then laughs a bit hollowly. “I’m not sure I’d go that far, but you know I’ll believe that until proven otherwise.”

“I’m inclined to feel the same way.” I nod.

“How’s Antoinette holding up?”

“As only Antoinette could,” I reply. “She isn’t really the glass-half-full kind of girl, but she’s definitely the not-going-to-believe-anything-until-she-sees-concrete-evidence kind of girl.”

My phone pings as a new message comes through the group chat.

Antoinette: Dec, what’s your ETA?

Declan: Should be in the building within a couple of hours.

Antoinette: Okay, we’ll be ready.

Declan: Just out of curiosity, what are the odds for him?

Antoinette: 80/20 against

Tony: 20/80 for

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