Page 102 of Cruel Devotion

“You have no idea what you got yourself into.”

“Well. . .according to Yan,Ididn't get myself into anything. Leo did it.”

“Yeah, butyoudid something to get Uncle Leo's attention long ago.”

“I didn't.”

“You did.” Duck finished the claw and then wiped his hands. “By the way, getting Rowe Street Mob to guard you was a mistake.”

I frowned at him. “Yeah. I gathered that today.”

Duck selected a chocolate covered strawberry near him. “I should explain a very big fact to you.”

“And what's that?”

Duck twisted the chocolate strawberry back and forth between two fingers. “We're wolves. All of us. Wolves with sharp fangs and bloodied claws.”

I widened my eyes.

“And then you came around like a little lamb, innocent and sweet. Just trying to survive and do the right thing among criminals.” He grinned. “It was as if someone poured blood in the water to draw sharks.”

I swallowed hard.

“If I were Banks, I would have done the same. Put tons of men around you.” Duck nodded. “We're lucky he didn't start a war on this mountain.”

I stiffened.

Duck continued to study the strawberry as chocolate began to drip onto his fingers. “And if I were Lei, I would have done the same too. Break legs and arms. Put them all in the hospital.”

A cold shiver sliced up my spine. “And if you wereme, what would you do?”

“Run.” Duck lifted his view to me and popped the chocolate strawberry in his mouth. It didn't take long for him to swallow it down, and I wondered if he had even chewed it at all.

But what he did take time with was licking the chocolate off his fingers.

Watching me, he slowly trailed his tongue around each finger, gathering up all the chocolate.

Ummm. . .

His tongue made small circles and strokes, before finally giving one last lap at the tips of his fingers to savor the remaining drops of chocolate.

As if enjoying my reaction to him savoring the strawberry, a wicked smile spread across his face. “Wolves.”

I leaned forward and lowered my voice. “You better behave. We're not doing another Meatball Gate situation.”

“I'm supposed to give you back your panties.”

Shock almost knocked me off the throne. “What?”

“Blue panties. Silky. Damp. Cute lace on the outline. And the scent. . .” Duck raised his hand to his mouth, pressed his thumb and forefinger together and pressed his lips against the tips. “Chef's kiss.”

“Why do you have my panties?”

He leaned his head to the side. “Lei didn't tell you?”

I blinked. “What the fuck? Lei knows you have my panties?”

“We fought about it.” Duck considered that fact and then nodded. “Aww. But then he returned to the tent and fought Rowe Street Mob. I guess he didn't get a chance to tell you about the panties.”

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