Page 11 of Devious
My stomach churns, and I offer him a fake smile.
We stroll up the stairs. He pushes the oak door open, and my nose is hit with the smell of fresh bread and wine. Butlers dressed in black uniforms walk around with trays of champagne poured in crystal glasses as Devious ushers us to the elevators, and he hits the top-floor button. The elevator comes to a stop, and the doors whistle open. As I step out, my eyes drink in the king-size bed made out of metal rails and the metal dresser. This is going to be my new prison cell for now until I kill Devious.
“Wait right here,” he says before stepping back onto the elevator. As I flop onto the fluffy bed, I take my phone from my small clutch and send Tommy a text message of my location.
Me: I’ll let you know when to drop off the stuff.
Tommy: Okay.
The elevator doors slide open, and I drop my phone and it clatters on the dark oak floor. I bend down and pick it up, examining it for cracks. My phone dings with another notification.
His gaze rakes over my body. “Who is texting you?”
My cheeks flush. “No one.”
“It better be a woman, because if it’s a boy you’re seeing behind my back, I’m going to fuck you in front of him and slice him into pieces afterward.”
Rolling my eyes, I grab my clutch and place my phone inside of it. “I’m not seeing anyone.”
“The party is ready.” He holds out his muscular arm, and I loop my hand around it. How am I going to get past Devious and security? I need to come up with a plan.
We reach the cement patio; the backyard is flooded with people. A banner that says “She said yes” hangs above our head, and I want to roll my eyes. A live band plays a soft, slow song, and Devious continues to hold my hand. Men gawk at me like I’m on their favorite menu, and women’s cheeks flush as they stare at Devious.
A butler offers me some champagne. Immediately, I glance at Devious.
“You’re allowed to drink, nymph.”
This won’t be my first taste of alcohol. I used to sneak into my papa’s alcohol cabinet and drink to forget about my troubles of dealing with my sick mama and abusive papa.
Nodding, I clutch the crystal glass, offering him a thanks. As I down the champagne, the bubbles tickle my nose.
Devious places his firm hand on my lower back, guiding me to an older gentleman who appears to be in his early fifties.
“Roselyn, this is Enzo. Our consigliere,” Devious states.
Enzo’s dress shirt tightens around his forearms as he slightly bows. His gigantic palms engulf mine, and he kisses it. I expect for Devious to go crazy on him because I’m practically his property, but he straightens his shoulders. Devious respects him. It’s very rare for him to show respect to anyone. When we had dinner with the other dons of thefamiglia, he was rude to them. I feel my cheeks heating.
“You’re such a rare beauty. I didn’t know Lex had such a beautiful daughter.”
“Thank you,” I say.
Enzo winks at Devious. “You did well. I hope your marriage will be filled with many blessings and love like mine. We need more successful marriages in the mob.”
Devious nods and smiles.
There is no way in hell I’ll fall in love with Devious, someone who’s aggressive, possessive, and has a moral compass of a used condom.
After Devious and Enzo exchange a few more words, Devious guides me to the sea of people, introducing me to underbosses, lieutenants, and capos and theirfamiglia. My eyes trail to Papa. He’s dressed in a tux, fully engaged in a conversation with some young girl who appears as the same age, if not a little older, than me.
Anger boils in my blood because of the way he pawned me off to Devious, like I was cattle to him. Especially since after Mother’s death, he promised her he wouldn’t do this. I hate the mafia. I wish Papa never told me he was an underboss on my sixteenth birthday. I scrape my nail on the crystal glass, wanting to scratch my papa.
“What’s wrong?” Devious’s voice tickles my ear.
I hate that he turns me into a ball of nerves. I take a step back, and my heels sink into the fresh-cut grass.
His beautiful eyes follow my line of view. “If you want to speak to your father and Emma, you can.”
Emma is beautiful. Her dark bangs hang over her forehead, making her ivory skin glow. Her cheeks are naturally blush and the short white dress hugs her body.
