Devil’s Game (The Devil’s Demons #2)

8. Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

Spade

T ap, tap, tap.

My fingers rapped on the dashboard in a steady staccato, the pulse of sound and the vibration of the thick plastic beneath my skin the only things keeping my mind focused.

“Can you fuck off?” Merrick growled, tearing his gaze away from the road to glare at me.

His voice was muffled, though, the words barely piercing through my mind. I was going to track Tommaso down and pin him to the ground as my sugar plunged a dagger into his chest, just like she’d done to Mike.

A grin tugged at my lips, the rhythm of the tapping increasing as I pictured the crimson blood flowing from the wound, his death like a balm to our souls.

“Spade.” My name was a sharp bark on Merrick’s lips.

My jaw clenched, and I snapped my hand back, barely keeping a snarl of rage at bay.

This was Merrick. He was just as worried and enraged as I was.

I pushed aside the acidic memories threatening to corrode through my reality.

They’re dead.

Some of the buzzing ebbed at the reminder, and I refocused on the buildings flashing by, the car’s speed making it impossible to focus on any one of them for too long.

We were almost there.

Instead of coming after us, the bastard tried to shake our girl.

“Get here now.” Kellan’s sharp command echoed in my mind.

I’d demanded to hear Giana’s voice before hanging up, needing the sweet melody of her voice to quell the storm savaging its way through my mind. I knew she was physically safe, but I had to make sure this didn’t rattle her; I had to make sure I didn’t slip back into that place of self-doubt.

Red and blue lights flashed, pulling me from my thoughts.

Merrick slowed, attempting to find a place to park, but I couldn’t wait.

“What the—” The rest of Merrick’s curse was cut off as I hopped out of the moving SUV, using the momentum to propel myself forward. “You’re fucking insane,” Merrick shouted out the still-open door as he slammed on the brakes, but I was already gone.

Shattered glass blanketed the sidewalk, a thick yellow band of crime scene tape cordoning off the area for curious onlookers.

“Hey.” A shout echoed from my left as I ducked under the sad excuse for a barrier, but a muffled voice quickly interrupted whatever else the officer was about to say.

I could feel my leash on my sanity weaken as malice rippled off me, my unhinged glare focused on the officers interviewing my family. It pulled taut, threatening to snap until I laid eyes on—

There .

Giana’s eyes locked on mine, relief softening them as her shoulders slumped slightly. Her arm was tightly bound around Sophia’s while another officer questioned her.

Fighting the urge to throw Giana over my shoulder and get her the hell out of here, I felt my control lock back into place as I gave her a sly grin. There wasn’t any of that doubt guarding her gaze that had been there when I first met her. No, there was a steely resolve straightening her spine.

My fucking devil was ready, and I’d be at her side every step of the way, delighting in her violence and lining up her victims for the slaughter.

“Spade,” Kellan said, the warning doing nothing to quell the murderous rage burning in my chest.

The cop interviewing him paused, his features slackening as he laid eyes on me. He fumbled for his radio, but before he could get a word out, Merrick’s footsteps crashed behind me. His thick boots thudded on the pavement, the glass shards cracking beneath him, as though not even they wanted to be in his path of destruction.

Tires squealed, and my hand immediately tugged on the edge of my jacket, ready to pull my gun at a moment’s notice, even if I ended up in a shoot-out with the cops, but I stopped short at the red and blue lights flashing on the roof of the SUV.

“We have enough,” the new arrival said, his door slamming behind him. He marched into the fray, drawing the other officers’ attention as he nodded at Merrick. Merrick’s eyes narrowed on him slowly, like a lion watching his prey, before he gave him a sharp jerk of the head in return.

As though the gesture had broken a spell on them, the rest of the officers followed his command, scrambling to gather their traffic cones before scurrying into their cruisers with their tails tucked between their legs.

Fucking cowards. It was because of them that this town had been run by gangs for so long, and why we’d had to step in. The irony wasn’t lost on me that a gang was left with the task, but that was what happened in a world with corrupt officials.

“Idiots,” Francine hissed, her small, frail form vibrating with rage as she glared at the officers hidden safely in their cruisers. “I told them to check the cameras at my shop for proof of where you three had been, but apparently, that would’ve been too easy and made too much sense.”

“Because they know exactly who did this, and they were just stalling to see if they could find some way to pin this on us,” Merrick grumbled.

My gaze sliced to the newcomer, who I assumed was the sergeant. He looked familiar, his square jaw and blond hair cut short into a buzz cut tugging on a memory.

He eyed the cars still parked on the edge of the street with an incredulous glare before barking into his radio. “You can all clear the scene. Don’t make me tell you again.”

The cars pulled out at the same time, nearly getting into an accident in their haste to flee. The sergeant groaned in exasperation as each of them took off down the street.

“Well, they’re done now. Just try not to drag too much attention to yourselves,” he said gruffly, giving Merrick a pointed look. “Not many strings I can pull if one of them gets brave and decides that they want to use you to prove their loyalty to the Barones.”

“You don’t want to see what I’d do if that ever happens.” Merrick gritted his teeth and arched a brow, his biceps bulging in anticipation, like he might launch himself at the man just for the insinuation.

Anticipation raced along my skin, my fingers twitching as it zapped my body to attention.

“No, I don’t,” he agreed. “I trust everything is fine now.”

“I guess you’re not going to look at the video footage for your report, so I can make an insurance claim?” Kellan huffed as he wrapped an arm around Giana, pulling her tightly to his side.

Dammit, I was so poised for any opportunity to attack that I completely missed my chance to steal her away.

“I didn’t see any video.” Apparently, all the cops were good for around here was body removal since the asshole shrugged and stomped back to his car, casting assessing looks over his shoulder every so often before he climbed in.

He was smart, at least, because judging by the way Merrick clenched his fists at his sides, he’d been about two seconds from clocking the guy.

“Should’ve known that was going to happen.” Kellan sighed and placed a kiss on Giana’s head.

My fingers itched to steal her away, to wrap her tightly in my arms, but I suppressed the urge . . . barely.

“Thank you for your help, Francine,” Giana said, pulling out of Kellan’s hold to gently wrap the older woman’s hand in hers

Even at her age, she was a force to be reckoned with. If looks could kill, I’m sure those cops would’ve been goners the second she narrowed her look of disdain on them.

“Of course, sweetie. I wish I could’ve done more.” She gave Giana a tender look before glancing around at our group. “I need to get back to the shop before school is out, though.”

She hugged Giana tight before turning to Sophia and doing the same. “Boys.” She eyed us, a mix of affection and warning in her eyes before she left.

I couldn’t help the grin that tugged on my lips. She might have no idea what Giana could do, but she wasn’t wrong in her silent command. The three of us would do anything, pay any cost to keep our devil safe. I would rip the world apart, tear the Barones to shreds if I had to, damn the consequences.

“What about Francine? If they—”

“We’ll have a few of our men watching her and her grandson,” Merrick cut in, his near-permanent scowl disappearing like it did any time he looked at our girl.

“I’m going to clean up, but you and Sophia should go back to the house with Merrick.” Kellan’s hand wrapped around Giana’s, dragging her gaze from Francine as the mother figure disappeared behind her shop door.

“I want to help,” Giana insisted, shaking her head. “But you should go back.” Giana pulled Sophia a little tighter, seemingly afraid her friend might disappear if she let go.

“Are you sure?” Sophia asked, looking at the disaster behind us.

“We won’t be too long,” Kellan assured her with a smile. “I just want to get some of the glass cleaned up while I wait for the boards to be delivered.”

Giana’s face fell at that, and I barely held myself back from sweeping her up in my arms and demanding what was wrong.

“If you’re positive . . .” Sophia trailed off, gaze unsure, yet an unmistakable sense of relief slackened her features.

“Please.” Giana nodded, her grip on Sophia’s arm slowly easing.

“I’ll keep her safe, little devil,” Merrick growled and stomped over to her, wrapping our girl in a tight embrace.

“I know you will.” She sucked in a sharp breath as his lips slammed down on hers in a brief, scorching kiss.

Asshole . I should’ve thought of that first.

But at least I’d have her almost to myself as we worked on Kellan’s shop.

“See you soon.” Merrick released her, his eyes hungrily devouring her form before striding to the SUV still parked in the middle of the street.

Sophia’s mouth hung open momentarily before Merrick’s shout snapped her into motion. “Let’s go.”

“See you soon.” Sophia’s words came out on a squeak as she turned on her heel and sprinted to the car, wisely not wanting to piss Merrick off.

“I’ll head inside to get some brooms.” Kellan pressed a kiss to Giana’s temple before he strode for the shop, his footsteps crunching as the glass cracked under his feet.

My body moved on instinct, and I enveloped her in a tight embrace, the violent beat of my heart easing with the press of hers right next to it. “How are you doing, sugar?” I murmured as I pressed my lips against the top of her head and inhaled the citrus and lavender scent of her shampoo, letting it release the built-up tension from my mind, body, and soul.

“I’m fine, Spade.” She sighed, embracing me with just as much fervor. “There’s guilt, of course, but I know that I can’t control Tommaso’s actions.”

My hands slid to grip her shoulders, my gaze searching for some hint of a lie hidden in their depths.

“I want to help, Spade. You’re all doing something to work against them, but I haven’t done anything.” There was a steely note to her voice.

“You’ve been—”

“I know, I’ve been with Sophia, which was important, but I want to help—no, I need to help.” Her mouth was set into a firm line, determination sharpening her tone.

“Did something else happen today?”

“Yes.” I expected a frown to pull at her lips, but instead, they curved into a smile, helping to keep the darkening shadows from the edges of my vision. “The three of you have helped me find myself again, but I’ve been pulling back with Sophia being here, with the threat Tommaso poses to her. But Francine helped me realize something, made me remember that I’m so much more, that I’m worthy of love, of friendship, of fighting back and getting my own revenge.”

A hint of mischief sparked in my chest, my grin widening. This was my Giana, our little devil, ready to level the world for what they’d done.

“I want to find these guys and make them pay.” Violence flickered in her eyes, singing a siren song to the growing blaze in my chest, threatening to consume me whole. “Will you help me track them down?”

“Anything for you, sugar.”

Giana shuddered, as if the words slipping from my lips were a sweet caress. Cupping her jaw with one hand, I tilted her head up, my lips meeting hers in a soft, teasing brush. “I’d burn the world down around us if you asked me to.”

I wasn’t sure who made the first move as our mouths crashed together, the kiss searing the woman deep into my soul. She parted for me, and I wasted no time delving in, my tongue consuming hers like she was the air my lungs desperately needed to breathe. I was calm with her, my mind at ease when her wicked tongue tangled with mine.

Giana was perfect, and she was mine. I could share her with my best friends, as long as I still got to have her like this, feel her lithe form writhing beneath me, taking and giving what we both needed.

These streets would fucking run with blood when the two of us were done, and I couldn’t wait to see the Barones’ world crumble beneath them at the hands of this woman.