Page 108 of The Devil We Know

Lilith turns to her, placing her hands on her hips as she sputters, “You’re seriously going to fucking knock it now? After all of your dramatics?”

Antoinette opens her mouth to speak, but all that comes out is a choked-up sob of excitement. She bends at the waist, resting her hands on the tops of her thighs as she expels several days’ worth of frustration and fear. Jessica pats her on the back, andCarolina does the same; both sets of eyes are a bit glassy at the news.

Then Tony steps up, clapping his hands together as he bellows, “Enough with this crybaby bullshit. We got fucking work to do.”

I nod in agreement, finding myself giving a clap of my own before I can stop myself. Then I frown and turn to Camilla. “So, who would you like to be this time?”

Her smile broadens, a mischievous glint in her eyes, and she replies, “I'm so glad you asked.”

44

Not a Moment Too Soon

Darius

A few days ago.

Well, that sucked.

I mean, sitting here trapped in this metal cage, knowing that at any moment, I will literally be blown to kingdom come isn't ideal.

But having to force Carolina to abandon me here was not on my list of last shitty deeds I needed to cross off.

I sigh, leaning my back against the metal bars as I listen to the fading footfalls and shouts mixed with intermittent groaning, coughing, grunting, and generally people dying.

I chuckle, somewhat relieved to learn that moments before your imminent demise, your life does not flash before your eyes.

“What the fuck are you laughing at?”

I start, then crawl to the cage door to see Ivan has come around. He's lying on his back, rubbing his temples, and I say, “If you want to live, I suggest you get the fuck out of here.”

He groans and mutters, “Not so loud, man.”

I laugh humorlessly. “Seriously. This place is going to literally explode at any moment. I suggest you run.”

He peeks an eye open at me, slowly sitting up and rolling onto all fours. He shakes his head slightly, likely attempting to clear his thoughts through the ringing in his ears from Tony punching him in the face.

He heaves himself to his feet and stands there momentarily, weaving back and forth. Bracing his hands on the top of the cage, he takes a deep breath in and expels it quickly as he forces himself to straighten. He stands there, looking around rather aimlessly, so I add, “I'm not kidding. Don't just fucking stand there like a moron.”

He waves a hand at me as he replies, “I'm just looking for the dickhead who has the fucking key.”

He glances around again, and then his eyes light up, and he rushes over to one of the bodies near where we all had been strung up at one point or another.

He rolls the body over, quickly digging through pockets and pulling out a key ring that he holds up in victory, and I reply dryly, “That's great. But use it or lose it.”

He rushes over to me, falling to his knees in front of the cage door, grabbing onto the lock as he fumbles with a key ring. “Which one is it? What the fuck?”

“I still think you should just get the fuck out.”

He gives me an incredulous look and shakes his head. “I can't just fucking leave you here.”

“Yes, you fucking can. Who the fuck would know?”

“I would fucking know.”

He attempts one key after another in quick succession, cursing to himself when none of them fit. Once again, I find myself peering through the bars as I say, “You're going to have to leave me here.”

Ivan makes a face, but he makes no move to run out of the room. The door slams behind me, and Ivan looks up, his eyes widening as he says, “What the fuck are you doing here?”

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