Page 63 of The Devil We Know

He pulls away from me, his hands gripping my head, forcing me to look at him. In a commanding voice I’ve never heard before, he says, “You will. You will promise me, and you will do it. Do you hear me?”

I close my mouth, pressing my lips together tightly, shaking my head in his hands. He gives me a little shake as he whisper-shouts, “Yes. Promise me.”

The sob breaks free, and I gasp, “And leave you behind?”

“Yes,” he replies more calmly. “I can take care of myself.”

“And how is it you suggest I escape?”

“I don’t know for sure, but you’ll know when the time is upon us and youwillturn and youwillleave without even looking back.”

Tears stream from my eyes now, running along my nose into my hairline, onto his arm, and I know that the fuss I’m putting up is all for naught because there really isn’t any other choice. But I don’t want to. I don’t want to take the chance that I leave him behind only for him to die when I’d sooner stay behind and die with him.

He’s quiet now, and I take a shuddering breath in, nodding and swallowing the lump in my throat as I meet his eyes again.

“You have to say the words, sugar. I need to hear them.”

I let loose one final sob and a shaky inhalation through my nose, and then I exhale. “I promise.”

27

Seek Forgiveness, Not Permission

Matt

We manage to havethe shortest, most basic honeymoon in the history of honeymoons. Food is delivered to our door, courtesy of Kaian, and fresh clothes for Jessica are delivered to the door, courtesy of Marieka.

But just as suspected, not even twenty-four hours later, there’s a louder knock on the door, this one much more authoritative and foreboding.

I open the door to find Seamus on the other side, and though I’m a bit relieved to have it be him instead of any number of the other assholes who it could have been, I’m still annoyed he showed up so soon.

He steps inside the room, closing the door behind him. He makes no move to sit or get comfortable. He just looks at me, then at Jessica, and then back at me and says, “Time’s up.”

Jessica interjects from across the room, “Surely, there’s another way.”

He raises his brows at her and says, “Come now, daughter. I know you’re smarter than that.”

She rolls her eyes and snorts as she says a touch belligerently, “Like you fucking know anything about me.”

His lips twitch, and for a moment, I wonder if he’s going to smile. But then his lips turn down, and he frowns at her as he says, “Regardless, you know certain restitutions will need to be made.”

She glares back at him but says nothing, so I cross the room, grab onto her biceps and pull her close as I say, “It’ll be fine, Jess. You’ll see.”

She raises her chin at me obstinately, and I sigh. Knowing there’s nothing I can say to make her feel better about the situation, I release her, turning back to Seamus and asking, “How many?”

“I haven’t the foggiest.”

“Not even a guesstimate?”

He shakes his head, his hands coming out and waving around as he replies, “I attempted to count at first, but then there were just too many people, and I couldn’t figure out who was regular pissed at you and who was pissed at you enough to kill you. So, I gave up.”

“That’s fair,” I reply seriously. After a couple of decades working with the likes of Darius and Tony, I’m sure the list of people out for my blood is rather extensive.

“Is everything in place?” I ask.

“Yes,” he answers, his arms crossing over his chest as he adds, “Good luck recognizing anyone.”

I walk toward the dresser, rummaging through the drawers and pulling out clothes to dress appropriately as I ask, “What do you mean?”

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