Page 139 of The Devil We Know

“Great show, Dec.” I extend my hand, which he grasps firmly, immediately yanking me in for a hug, and I laugh, going willingly and slapping him on the back.

“It was a little touch-and-go there for a moment. I wasn’t sure I’d get through it.”

“I’d say you more than got through it.”

“It was Issa,” he answers seriously. “She got me through it.”

I smile, knowing exactly what he means. “She really freestyles her parts on the spot?”

“Oh, yeah. She does it all the time, though it’s not as impressive when she does it during an argument.”

I laugh, finding this tidbit entirely entertaining while also being relieved Jessica doesn’t have a penchant for freestyle rap.

Declan steps close to me, his arm coming around my shoulder as he leans down. I attempt to inch away from him, but his mischievous smile stops me. “What are you doing?”

“Did you get it?” Declan asks eagerly.

I frown, quirking a brow at him as I reply, “Get what?”

He frowns at me, an impatient noise brewing in his throat as he leans in even closer. “Don’t play with me, Mathias.”

I return his frown, straightening my spine as I bristle. “Honestly, Declan. I have no fucking idea what you’re talking about.”

He squints at me, then drops his arm and motions for Tony to come over. Tony gives me a questioning look as he strolls across the room, stopping beside Declan, who gets right in his face as he asks, “How about you?”

Tony raises a brow at him and snorts. “What about me?”

“Did you get it?”

“Did I fucking get what?”

Declan scowls, his fingertips tapping on his thigh nervously. He looks from me to Tony and back again.

“What is Declan muttering about now?” Jessica asks from behind me, having just walked over with Carolina.

“I have no idea. He asked me if I got something and then went all weirdo when I said I had no idea what he was talking about.”

Jessica frowns, her eyes immediately going to Carolina’s, whose eyebrows raise into her hairline, her eyes widening almost comically.

I turn back to Jessica, who’s now looking at me with that same wide-eyed expression, and I groan, my eyes going to the ceiling as I say, “What? What did you do?”

She smiles at me humorlessly, her hands coming up as she responds, “Well, I didn’t do anything, per se.”

“They fucking around again, Matt?” Tony asks from my other side, and I turn to face him, nodding. “Apparently.”

Tony steps closer to Carolina, only stopping when his front is pressed right against hers. She doesn’t flinch or pull back, but her eyes are wary as she watches him.

He leans in, his eyes on her lips as he says, “Somethin’ you wanna tell me, sweetheart?”

She swallows, then shrugs and feigns innocence. Tony’s eyes narrow even further. He tsks her, then shakes his head before looking at me. “They’re definitely hiding something.”

Jessica fidgets, her hands twisting together, and sigh. “You may as well just confess. There’s no getting out of it now.”

“Yes,” Declan chirps. “Fucking confess so I won’t look like a complete fucking lunatic for once in my goddamn life.”

“We may as well just give it to them,” Jessica mutters, nudging Carolina with her elbow. Carolina sighs, then digs into her inside jacket pocket, and pulls out a small piece of card stock.

Jessica slaps her hand on my chest, startling me, and my hand comes up automatically, gripping her wrist firmly. I pull her hand back, a similar piece of card held between her thumb and index finger. I take it from her gingerly, realizing immediately that it’s a postcard.

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