Page 109 of The Devil's Thorn
“That she doesn’t kill without a reason. And that she had one—once—but held back. Which means she’s not reckless. She’spatient.”
“And that scares you?”
“No,” I say. “That intrigues the fuck out of me.”
There’s a beat of silence again. I know he’s processing. He’s always been slower to trust. Sharper around the edges than even I am.
But he also knows me better than anyone. And he knows what it means if I’m even entertaining the idea of letting someone like her this close.
“And what about the two guys?” he asks.
“Kellan and Ash? Still protective as hell. Still ready to throw hands the second anything smells off.”
“You’re letting them roam aroundyourcity.”
“I’m not letting anything,” I say calmly. “I’mwatching.”
“That’s going to bite you.”
“Not if I bite first.”
I can hear him sigh again. Tired. Frustrated. But not disagreeing.
“What’s the end game here, Raf?”
I don’t answer right away. Because the truth is—I don’t know yet. Not completely. All I know is that Isabella’s not just part of the puzzle. Sheisthe puzzle.
And for the first time in a long fucking time… Iwantto solve her.
“I’ll let you know when I figure it out,” I finally say, rising from the chair, stretching my shoulder once with a quiet crack. “Until then, keep watching everything. Especially Calderone’s people. See who’s got too many drinks and too few secrets left.”
“Copy. I’ll call you if something shifts.”
“Do that.”
I end the call and slide the phone onto the table.
The house is tooquiet now. Too still. Except for the sound of her breathing. And the faint hum of tension still burning through my bloodstream.
It’s only a matter of time before her shadows come knocking.
I know they didn’t drive far. Kellan and Ash wouldn’t leave her, not even for a minute. Even when I let them in, even when I handed them a sliver of my trust—they didn’t relax. Didn’t drop their guard.
Loyal. Ruthless. Watching everything.
I canrespectthat.
But I’m not naïve enough to think they won’t come through my doors the second they sense something’s wrong.
Especially now. Especially with her like this.
And just as the thought sharpens in my mind— I hear it. The front doors fly open with abangthat echoes through the marble halls.
Faster than I expected. Much faster.
I don’t move. Not yet. Because I want them to find me like this. Standing over her. Calm. Waiting.
The taste of the drink lingers on my tongue—smoke and citrus, dull heat curling down the back of my throat.
