Page 104 of Cruel Devotion

“Ghosts. . .stalking. . .” I took another gulp of wine.

“Never forget, Monique. We're wolves.” Duck winked. “Sharp fangs. Bloodied claws.”

I continued to hold the wine, knowing I would be finishing that glass and getting more. “Okay. . .let's just get back to one of these. . .other topics.”

Duck tilted his head to the side. “How about let's return to the panties?”

“Yes.”

“I can keep them?”

“Yes, because the whole situation is weird. Throw them away or whatever but—”

“Oh, I'm definitely not throwing them away—”

“Well, whatever you do with them, don't tell me about it—”

“Because you want visuals. Video or photos?”

I shrieked. “No.”

Duck chuckled.

“You're not funny.”

He touched his chest. “Many women find me hilarious.”

“It's probably due to your corkscrewed penis.”

He chuckled again. “That could be it.”

Shaking my head, I took a sip of the wine and then set the glass down. “You're fun, Duck. A fucking blast actually. And. . .I really do consider you as a new friend.”

A neutral expression fell over his face.

“But I'm serious. I don't date brothers, cousins, best friends, etc. Which means that I would love for us to be good friends and nothing more.”

“And if Lei discovers that he no longer wants to spend time with you?”

Tension gathered in my shoulders.

He gestured back to the empty throne. “You do know that he's going to spend the rest of this night, searching for Chanel's body.”

My gut twisted into knots.

“And if Lei doesn't find her corpse, he may not return to the mountain at all.” Duck frowned. “And. . .if hedoesfind her corpse. . .he still may not return. Do you know why?”

Sadness rose in my chest.

“Because Lei has spent all of his life focused on Chanel and with Yan taking the body, my cousin may start to feel guilty and return to his obsession simply due to loyalty for what he lost.”

I gritted my teeth.

“What will you do then?”

“Then. . .I will go home.”

“And where is home, Monique?”

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