Page 40 of Devil's Claim

The man’s hatred of me had likely resulted in either his parents or his brother inheriting custody should anything happen to him. Besides, if he was dead, I had no doubt his family would try to frame me for his death. Maybe Tonya’s too.

“He deserved to die,” he told me.

“Why?”

“He had no intention of letting you go.”

“Why?” I pushed.

“Likely because you were seen with me.”

“And who the fuck are you? Not your name. Don’t give me the crap that it’s better if I didn’t know. I deserve to have a clear understanding of why my entire life just went up in smoke and people are dead.”

He shifted in his seat as if the question made him uncomfortable. I highly doubted it. The man could wield a weapon like some sharpshooter. My guess was that he wasn’t scared of anything or anyone.

“I’m considered a nightmare to everyone who crosses me.”

“Does that mean I should be afraid of you?” I almost laughed. He was still planning on being cryptic.

He tipped his head as he drove onto the freeway at a high rate of speed. “Are you?”

“Maybe.” Which was the truth. “Where are we going?”

“Back to your house. For now.”

“What about the police?”

“Trust me. I can handle the police.” His sneer pushed a trickle of fear into me.

For now. His tone was entirely different than before. Suddenly, I was afraid of him. Very afraid. I was no fool. It was one thing to have him break into my house so he could hide from some other evil men. It was another that I’d seen him kill a number of people without hesitation or a single ounce of guilt. Cringing, I forced myself to stare at the ruined dress. No matter if it came clean, I would never wear it again.

I wasn’t certain I wanted to go home.

Everything was different since I’d experimented with sin, enjoying a side of a boogeyman who was polite, caring, and eager to please me with his lips and tongue. As well as his bank account. Yet he’d been right. Happiness wasn’t built on money. At least that’s what I’d also told myself when I’d shut the door on my past.

Only you couldn’t really do that and in the end, money had reared its ugly head. So I’d allowed myself to sink into one big fantasy if only for a little while. A blip in an otherwise decently lived life. I’d considered myself a nice person, following all the rules and laws. But I’d wanted a taste of the dark side for myself.

I’d gotten it in spades.

Unfortunately, since the boogeyman had reared his handsome head, showing more of his many talents, things had changed. I’d changed. Maybe we both had. One day. That’s all it had taken. One horrible day.

Right now, the ebb and flow of danger was a reminder that I’d never be able to escape another type of sin.

The one from being born into the wrong family.

“I need you to be very calm and do as I say, Christine. Can you do that for me? Can I count on you to be a very good girl right now until I can figure out how to handle this mess?”

This mess.

He made it sound as if he’d done nothing more than crash a party and knock out my ex-boyfriend. My mouth and throat were suddenly dry. Every muscle was tingling and if I wasn’t careful, I’d be close to hyperventilating. This was no fantasy, and he was certainly no Prince Charming.

This was a nightmare and one I might not survive unless I got away from him.

I knew the answer he wanted and maybe the only one that would keep me alive. So I looked him in the face, realizing my mistake in ever placing my trust in him. The man was handsome, intriguing, and debonair.

And dangerous as hell. But I’d give him what he wanted until I could find a way to escape. So I responded exactly as he wanted to buy myself some time.

“Yes.”

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