Page 3 of Dead Devil's Playground
Before I can bite back, Rev strolls out of the bedroom, his movements precise and purposeful as always. He heads straight for the open kitchen, starting the coffee machine without a word. Then he leans back against the counter, arms crossed as he locks eyes with me. He doesn’t need to say anything, I can tell from the look on his face that he already knows I didn’t sleep.
Rev just waits for the coffee machine to work its magic, but the tension in the room is palpable. He’s already running calculations behind those eyes, working out the best way to approach me without lighting the fuse.
They learned very quickly when we were reunited that I am no longer the sweet and innocent girl they once knew. What happened carved me up–literally and metaphorically–it left jagged edges and shadows. It left me broken, and probably on the edge of unhinged. Or maybe it simply set me free. It would depend on the day. But they stayed by my side, accepting the darker parts of me without hesitation. Perhaps because they’re just as fractured, just as wild. Just as fucked.
Kai and Rev are the perfect matches for my broken soul—unhinged in their own ways, their chaos complementing mine.They’ve seen the worst of me, they understand that darkness all too well, having accepted their own demons over the years. We’re all a little twisted, but somehow, we make it work.
Rev finally pushes off the counter, the smell of freshly brewed coffee filling the room as he pours us each a cup. He adds the caramel creamer that Kai and I like before he hands one to Kai, then offers me mine, our fingers brushing together briefly as I take it. He doesn’t push. Instead, he shifts gears. “Kai,” he says, his voice deceptively casual, “you hear anything more about the building on Fifth?”
Kai straightens, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah. Arson. No doubt.”
The knot in my stomach tightens. I knew it, but hearing it out loud? That’s a different beast. Kai’s eyes flick between us, warning that there’s more.
“And there was a message,” he adds, voice dropping. “‘The reign of the current devils is coming to an end. Careful, or you might end up a dead devil too.’”
The words coil in my bones, cold and jagged. My grip tightens on the cup, ceramic biting into my palm. The message is a clear threat aimed at me and everything I’ve built.
Rev watches me, his expression unreadable. He’s waiting to see how I’ll react, ready to step in if necessary. But there’s no fear in his gaze, only grim understanding. This is the kind of battle we’ve all been preparing for.
“Let them fucking try.” My voice is steady, but anger hums beneath like a live wire. “They have no idea who they’re dealing with.”
Rev’s nod is small, approving. Exactly what he expected. “You don’t go anywhere without Hudson from now on.”
The words slam into me. “Rev—” I nearly growl, “I don’t need a fucking babysitter.”
“This isn’t up for debate,” he replies, voice flat steel. “Hudson’s the best. We’re not taking chances.”
I want to argue, to claw at the edges of the order like a caged animal, but it’s pointless. The first time my life was threatened after we took control of the city, I’d been more accepting of the twins’ decision to bring in extra protection. But then they’d introduced me to Hudson—the walking complication. Six foot five inches of lethal precision and inconvenient attraction. The man’s been a shadow at my side ever since. Competent. Relentless. And those fucking green eyes that see too much. I hate how my body betrays me around him. I hate how much the twins love to throw him in my path like a game.
“I can handle myself,” I mutter, more petulant than I’d like. Rev raises an eyebrow, trading a look with Kai.
“No one doubts it,” Rev says. “But this isn’t about what you can handle. It’s about not giving them easy chances, baby girl.”
Kai leans in, smirking. “So, what’s your plan for today?”
I glance at the mess of papers, already plotting. “I need to make a trip to the club to make sure everything’s ready for the opening, and maybe put a new color through my hair.”
Kai twirls a strand of blonde between his fingers. “I’m going to miss the blonde,” he says with a sigh. “Are you going back to purple again?”
It’s tradition–I’ve dyed my hair purple for Dead Devil’s Night every year for the last three, but I feel the itch for change. I smirk. “Maybe. Or maybe I’ll surprise you.”
His grin sharpens, tugging on the strand of hair he’s holding. “Looking forward to seeing it wrapped around my fist, whatever color it is.”
I laugh—breathy, involuntary. Rev clears his throat, dragging us back to the present. “We have business to attend to down in the Lair and at one of the pool halls toward the edge of the city,”he says, his tone shifting to a more businesslike edge. “You know the one?”
I nod. The pool hall in question was once owned by the men who attacked us years ago. Taking over the places once owned by the bastards who hurt us had been… delicious.
“Well then,” I say, draining the last of my coffee and shoving to my feet. “Guess I should get ready.”
The elevator dings, and I force down a growl of annoyance. Hudson is punctual to a fault, arriving at the apartment every morning like clockwork. As expected, his muscular frame steps off the lift, filling the space. His eyes flare when they land on me, then smooth into professional detachment. I catch the twitch of amusement at the corner of his mouth before it vanishes.
And that’s when I realize; I’m standing there in nothing but an open gown, bare skin on full display.
My cheeks burn, but I yank the gown closed and refuse to give any of them the satisfaction of watching me squirm. Kai’s snicker cuts through the room sharp as glass, and when I whip him a glare he just grins wider, smug as sin. Rev stands back, unreadable as stone—except for that twitch at the corner of his mouth that tells me he’s enjoying this more than he should.
Hudson clears his throat. “Ready for the day?” His tone is professional, but the teasing glint in his eyes is anything but.
I take a deep breath, forcing my irritation down. “Give me a minute,” I snap as I turn on my heel to head toward the bedroom. “I’ll be ready shortly.”
