Page 140 of The Devil We Know

I turn it over and over in my hand, unsure which side I want to focus on first, but finally settle on the front, where typically a picture would be. In this case, it’s not a picture at all. Instead, the front is pitch-black with a foiling that’s such a deep red it almost blends in.

I move it up and down, allowing the foiling to catch the light, revealing a rose, dripping blood, with two revolvers crossed over beneath it.

I glance at Tony, who’s doing the same with his postcard, his brows pinched together in concentration. I close the distance between us, holding my postcard next to his, confirming they’re the same exact thing, and then I turn mine over, and he does the same.

The text is different on each card and makes no sense.

ATL AV

2 AM

Suddenly, my postcard is yanked out of my hand, and I yelp in protest as Declan also makes a grab for Tony’s, who spits out, “What the fuck, Dec?”

Declan flips both around, eagerly scanning each side before holding them both in one hand. He uses his free hand to dig inside his own jacket pocket, walking across the room to a table where he sets the two postcards down, text side up.

We crowd around him, leaning close as he sets a third card down, which shows tomorrow’s date.

Declan is grinning like a fucking lunatic, and I frown in confusion, my heart pounding in my chest at the many implications of what this could mean. “What the fuck does it mean?”

Declan stops grinning, giving me an impatiently grumpy look as he sputters, “Atlantic Aviation, 2 am, tonight.”

Tony laughs hollowly and then retorts, “Absolutely not.”

“No fucking way, man,” I spit out angrily. “There’s no fucking way I’m going to a private airstrip at 2 am with no information on why, how, or for whom.”

“Come on. It’ll be fun.”

“No, it’s not gonna happen.”

Declan turns to Tony, his lips pursed, and I already know he’s gonna say something shitty. “Looks like the boy scout is back.”

I grit my teeth, annoyed that he knows how to push my fucking buttons so easily. “Nice try, Declan. I don’t give a shit what you call me. I’m not stupid enough to get on that plane.”

“Tony, help me, man.”

Rolling my eyes, I turn my focus to Tony and then immediately groan at the expression on his face. “Oh my god, please don’t do this.”

Tony shrugs, his trademark smug smile on his face as he crosses his arms over his chest. “I mean, he’s not wrong. It could be fun.”

“It also could be a death trap.”

“If we die, we die,” Tony drawls. “It’ll be like a final adventure.”

“Yeah,” Declan adds. “Just think ‘what would Darius do’.”

“Not a great example, considering the circumstances,” I mutter.

They both give me closed-mouth smiles, eagerness shining in their eyes like a pair of puppies. I look to Jessica, hoping she’ll throw down some form of defense and insist I not go on this stupid adventure.

But she doesn’t, the fucking traitor.

“Fine,” I sputter. “But don’t go blaming me when we end up blown to kingdom come over the fucking Pacific. Or worse.”

Declan shouts excitedly, swooping in and wrapping his arms around me. He lifts me right off the ground, bouncing me up and down excitedly, then sets me on my feet, turning and walking briskly toward the door. “The car’s waiting. We better hurry.”

I groan, looking up at the ceiling as I curse my entire life up to this point. Tony scoots in close to Carolina, pressing a kiss on her lips. She giggles, kissing him back enthusiastically.

Jessica steps in front of me, placing her hands on my shoulders and rising up on her toes in an attempt to kiss me. I glare down at her, wanting to give her a good spanking for keeping that postcard from me.

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