Page 25 of Devil's Last Dance

“Do I need to know who tattled?” he asked.

“I didn’t need anyone to tattle. I have ways of finding out what you’re doing.” Draven looked toward the man. “What are you doing, man?”

Antwone tutted. “If you have your ways of finding shit out, why don’t you already know about him?”

Draven took a step toward him. “He’s someone who has gotten on your shit list but I don’t know how he has gotten onto it, other than by pissing you off.”

Antwone laughed. “He doesn’t need to have any other reason. He’s scum and he’s going to die.”

He didn’t wait for Draven to stop him. He held the knife, walked up to Devon, and without a care in the world, he slit the man’s throat.

In the back of his mind, he saw the bruise on Candice’s face, and then he saw all those women. Devon was escalating. It wouldn’t be long before he ended up hurting her, or even killing a woman. Antwone did the world a favor.

Wiping the blood off his blade, he slid it back into place and then dumped the soiled cloth on the floor. They had people to clean up this kind of shit.

“Does Candice know what you’re doing?” Draven asked.

This made Antwone freeze as he looked toward his brother.

“You’re right, I have my means of getting what I want, and it doesn’t take a genius to realize a certain blonde has your attention.”

“You keep her out of this.”

“I’m guessing that’s the bastard that gave her the shiner she currently has.”

Antwone tensed up. “How did you know?”

“Candice had a delivery of flowers today and I got the chance to meet her.”

Antwone threw himself at his brother, grabbing him by the lapels of his jacket. “What the fuck did you do?”

“I didn’t do fucking anything, but are you going to slit your own throat one day?” Draven asked.

He frowned. “What?”

“She doesn’t have a fucking clue who you are, does she? She doesn’t know you’re the head of the fucking family, that you’re the bastard boss.”

“You stay away from her.”

“And how are you going to protect her?” Draven asked.

“No one will harm her.”

“The moment you showed an interest in her, you put her at risk.” Draven shoved him away. “Don’t you fucking see it? I was able to find her and get close to her. While you’re trying to avenge her, I could have already slit her throat.”

“You better not touch her.”

Draven grabbed the back of his neck and pressed his head against his. “Listen to me, brother, I would never hurt her, but think about what you’re doing. You’re a target and every second you spend with her, you’re putting a target on her back. Either end it, or bring her into the fold and tell her the truth.” He pulled away. “Because if you don’t, you’re going to regret it.”

Antwone watched his brother as he left the warehouse. Seconds passed, then minutes. He knew it was a risk being near Candice. That one night in the bar should have been the last, but he couldn’t get the stunning blonde out of his head. He liked her, and didn’t want to risk hurting her. He would have to leave her.

The cleaners arrived and that was his cue to leave. He stepped out of the warehouse and looked toward his men.

“Go,” he said to them.

He walked back to his car, climbed behind the wheel, and before they got the chance to follow him, he pulled out of the warehouse.

The only way to keep Candice safe was to never see her again. He pressed his foot to the gas, and the very thought of never seeing her again filled him with pain.

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