Page 15 of Devil's Tulip

Christ, this girl. She’s magnificent.

My heart warms at her spirit, and I smile down at her, running the pad of my fingers down her cool, wet cheek. “I know you have no reason to trust me, but I promise you’re safe. I just killed that man to saveyou, Gianna. It would be fucking stupid to just turn around and off you myself, wouldn’t it?”

A spark of wary suspicion flares in the glossy depths of her gorgeous eyes. “How–how do you know my name?”

I push a thick, wet strand of hair behind her ear, letting my fingers linger. “Get in the car and maybe I’ll tell you. I also have your tips from the bar waiting for you.”

She frowns, her fuckable lips pouting so adorably. My thumb trails down the shell of her ear to trace their shape, and she shivers, goosebumps erupting all over her skin. “Fuck,” I curse under my breath. “You’re going to catch a fucking cold.”

With my fingers wrapped around her arm, I help her up and lead her to the passenger’s side of my car. I open the door for her, and she goes in without a fight. My wet clothes squish as I circle to the driver’s side.

When I get inside, she has her tip jar sitting on her lap, her fingers gripping it like a lifeline. “How did you get the tips from Vince? He can be a big asshole, so I doubt he willingly gave this to you.” She glances over at me as I start the car. “Did you—kill him too?”

I flash her a grin. “Nah, I can be charming when I want to be,” I say, blasting on the heater and picking up my suit jacket from the backseat. I toss it at her, ignoring her look of disbelief as I continue, “Is that really what you’re curious about right now?”

She meets my gaze briefly, then her eyes skitter to the side as I pull away from the curb. “No. I have a million questions buzzing in my head, which I doubt you’ll answer. And to be honest, I don’t really give a shit. What I’d like to know is how you know my name. Do you know who I am?” Fear edges into her voice on that last question—she’s probably wondering if I was sent by her uncle as well.

I don’t want to lie to her, so I just shrug, hoping she’ll drop that line of questioning.

She doesn’t.

She bites her lip and persists. “How do you know my name?” She waits for a few seconds, then sighs when it’s clear I have no intention of answering her. At least, not right now.

“I was going to the bus station before that—before that guy showed up. Can you take me there?”

No, I won’t be fucking taking her to some bus station so she can run away again. But that’s not the answer she wants to hear, so I just offer another noncommittal shrug that she takes as agreement.

The next few minutes pass in silence as I navigate the streets, driving past the rundown area she lived in. Once we finally make it to downtown Seattle, I take the stretch of road that leads towards Puget Sound, pressing down on my accelerator.

The rain begins to ease, and the sky lightens with the first hints of dawn. I need to get her safely to my home before daybreak. Beside me, Gianna sits up, glancing outside. “This is not the way to the bus station.”

“I’m taking a shortcut,” I reply smoothly, but it’s clear she doesn’t buy it.

She starts fidgeting, passing her tip jar from one palm to the other, her toes tapping the floor restlessly. I can practically see the calculations running behind those golden eyes, and I find myself almost excited to see what she’ll do.

I ease off the accelerator, just in case she decides to do something stupid like grabbing the wheel. But surely, she wouldn’t—she’s notthatcrazy.

Or so I think.

Because fuck me if she doesn’t suddenly lunge towards me, her small hands clamping over mine as she yanks the wheel, trying to veer the car straight into oncoming traffic.

Jesus. She might actually be as crazy as I am.

5

GIANNA

My so-called rescuer swears up a blue streak as he fights to keep control of the car, but I keep my death grip on the wheel, wrenching us off the road and straight towards the tree lined up at the side of the road.

If this asshole thinks he’s dragging me back to Uncle Aldo, he’s got another thing coming. I’ll take my chances with the oak over that hell any day.

“Stop it, Gianna! I’m on your side, dammit!” he yells, slamming the brakes. The car jerks to a violent stop, tires skidding against the wet road, before lurching just inches from the massive oak trunk. The sudden stop throws me forward, but his arm shoots out instinctively to catch me.

“Then tell me how the fucking hell you know my name!” I yell back, but I don’t wait. I’m already scrambling over him, trying to reach his door controls. I need to get out, need to run, need to?—

He stops me easily, holding me back with just one hand. “There’s a bounty on your head.”

That freezes me in place. My breath catches as I look up, suddenly hyper-aware of how close we are—we’re practically nose to nose, his warm breath fanning my face. The intimacy ofour position hits like electricity, sending shivers down my spine. He misreads my reaction, grunting as he guides me back to my seat and tucks his jacket more securely around me.

---