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Chapter Twenty Two
Last Updated:
2024-10-27 02:27:10
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His Pretty Little Liar - The Devil’s Snare - Book 1 Chapter Twenty Three
LucaI haven't endeavoured to pack much because I don't plan on being away for more than a few days. Still, I ensure I have one spare set of black combats and enough straps to hold more guns to my body than ever before. I have a vest to ensure I don't get shot in vital places that might well help me bleed to an untimely death.My legs and arms will have to be sacrificed, and if they decide to shoot to kill, then my pretty face is of no use to me in the face of death.The importance of this kill strikes through me, making me cognisant of the fact that an attempt on my father's life has not happened in a long, long while.Perhaps not since he was gearing up to taking the throne from his father.Is the timing coincidental?I think not.I'm just slinging the bag over my shoulder, having given myself the pep talk to walk out of this house, intent on not returning until my charge is complete when Emma enters our bedroom. Her eyes are wide, her cheeks flushed as if she were only warming up f
Last Updated : 2024-10-28His Pretty Little Liar - The Devil’s Snare - Book 1 Chapter Twenty Four
Reaching for her ring, I turn her palm up, stroking the date sixteen years ago when she had almost drowned out of fear of falling into less than eight inches of water. It would have been so easy for her to be able to save herself, but she panicked so much that she failed the only natural instinct we are born with. Survival. That day, she failed to do the only thing our brain knows from the moment we take our first breath, just like she's panicking now.But what she doesn't know is I'm the snake. I slide in and slip out without so much as a batted eyelid.This man will be dead before tomorrow and, if not then, the early hours of the morning after.He doesn't know what's coming for him; he doesn't understand the gravity of his treachery, nor does he expect the son of the man he chose to execute to avenge such a decision.My father stated that it was a stupid move to have me fly out there, ready to kill him. And that's why he won't be expecting it. Everyone expects us to keep our securit
Last Updated : 2024-10-28His Pretty Little Liar - The Devil’s Snare - Book 1 Chapter Twenty Five
EmmaI can't sleep; I know I should, but the beat of my heart has changed; it's painful. Uneven. Luca walked out with half of it when he left with his team. So here I sit in our bedroom where he left me.I know the importance of ensuring a message is sent, but surely, they have hitmen who could carry out this formidable task.I grab the book on the bedside table and read it all night.The bedside light lets me see the words on the pages, and I devour over thirty chapters before the sun comes up.Is he there yet?Has he set up his sniper to kill the man who tried to kill his father?Does he have someone on the inside to give him intel on the target's whereabouts, movements, and routines? Or will he make it more personal, merely intersecting the man to show him who decided to kill him in retaliation?Is it wrong of me to want him to do the latter so the man knows his worth and mistake all in one go?That's what I'd do; I would have got him alone and tortured a hole into his leg, stabbi
Last Updated : 2024-10-29His Pretty Little Liar - The Devil’s Snare - Book 1 Chapter Twenty Six
A girl walks along the hallway half-dressed, being escorted by a man in black as they appear every so often in the windows. But Niko's appearance, who walks outside in nothing but a pair of lowly hung lounge pants, his body bronzed like any Italian god, that intrigues me. His chest chiseled to perfection, a deep v running down into those pants. My eyes rise back up to his face; his usually sleeked-back hair now acts as a curtain to either side of his face. A cigarette hangs from his lips as his bellows smoke into the air above him.Heat lances through me at the sight of him, and I don't allow the deep-seated emotions for Luca to pass judgment that I find his most trusted man hot."I see you, little spy," he whispers, barely audible for me to hear, yet I see his eyes seek me out, our gazes clashing in a way they shouldn't.Heat unfurls in my core, and for a long and adulterous moment, I allow my mind to imagine him fucking me out here in the tree line.I have only one memory to go off
Last Updated : 2024-10-29His Pretty Little Liar - The Devil’s Snare - Book 1 Chapter Twenty Seven
LucaTravelling to France is usually more for pleasure than business, but here I lay on the mountainside with my target in his rather large abode, ready to kill him. So now it's being tinted by blood thirst instead of awe.I'd been watching all day, and he hadn't exited the house alone as Niko had suggested he might. This means I am running out of patience, and I barely have any to begin with.Do I just shoot through the window of his apparent office that he's failed to leave, or do I wait it out another day in the hopes of a clean shot that will no doubt kill?Kill.That's the demand that flung through my father's lips. So that decides it; I'll have to wait him out.One of my men army crawls beside me, Luke, with his sniper; he sets it on the floor and starts to look through the scope as I side-eye him once.He's middle-aged and has toured more times than usual, with his count being thirteen. He's the best shot in my men besides myself, so I see why they sent him.The team must be g
Last Updated : 2024-10-31His Pretty Little Liar - The Devil’s Snare - Book 1 Chapter Twenty Eight
"Job done?" Mass, my number three, jumps to attention as he throws his half-smoked cigarette to the floor before grinding his foot on it with a huge smile as if already knowing the answer."Job done; let's get home to the others," I nod, slinging my gun inside the boot and grabbing a bottle of water because I'm more than parched after laying out under the beating sun."Good, Niko has been hounding me since sunrise this morning. Apparently, that woman of yours virtually killed our morning men from the tree line of the garden," he grimaces even though a smile still tugs at his lips as if he likes the idea of her being able to do such a thing."Virtually?" I ask."Paint gun, apparently. Red paint, too; she's quite something. Isn't she boss?"My jaw clamps, and my teeth grind; I don't appreciate how my men look at my soon-to-be wife."So let me get this straight?" I ask, leaning against the seat I've chosen in the back. "Emma shot all of the men on the morning rotation with a paint gun, a
Last Updated : 2024-10-31His Pretty Little Liar - The Devil’s Snare - Book 1 Chapter Twenty Nine
EmmaBirds fly through the sky together, a swarm of black dots high above the tall wall surrounding the property as they dance a unique pattern in the sky. I swallow lightly; the cooled water warmed as I held it in my mouth.And though I feel freer here than I have over the last six years, that small part of me wants to fly up there as free as any bird as I wished for so many years.I've trained all day, only taking a break when Niko demanded I eat and drink at just after two pm for fear I would fall to the ground due to low blood sugar or dehydration on his watch. The honesty of the matter is that I needed a distraction, and sparring with Luca's men was the distraction of a century. Only because I'm better than them, and that brings me a thrill like no other. I'm sure if they started putting me on my arse, then I wouldn't crave to show them up any second I could.He's been there all day, too, standing at the French doors that lead into the garden. The patio beneath his bare feet, t
Last Updated : 2024-11-02His Pretty Little Liar - The Devil’s Snare - Book 1 Chapter Thirty
I shiver into his chest, clinging to his naked skin as he walks me into the house, taking me through to his office, kicking the door shut behind him with a few choice swear words. I'm staring blankly as he opens another door inside his office—a bedroom I hadn't known about coming into full view.It's sparsely decorated, with a large bed covered in blue silk bedding, two bedside tables to either side and one dresser with a TV on the wall opposite the bed.Niko places me down on my feet, his hand immediately coming up to my cheek; he holds me there before him, his eyes never leaving my own as his thumb strokes along my wet cheek."I'm sorry, bambina. I shouldn't have left my post," he whispers, his thumb stroking away a stray tear falling down my cheek. His thumb catches it, and he brings it to his mouth to lick as I watch with parted lips, and my breath hitched in my throat.Something transpires between us, but my mind is so frayed I can't explain exactly what it is that I'm feeling
Last Updated : 2024-11-02
Latest chapter
His Pretty Little Liar - The Devil’s Snare - Book 1 Chapter Ninety Five
It's been four fucking days of Emma sleeping in Niko's room, and I'm about ready to murder that fucker with anything that comes within a breadth of my fingertips.She's kept her distance, giving me only moments like breakfast and dinner to speak with her. It doesn't help that Bianca, too, is staying away, seemingly choosing sides with Niko and perhaps Emma.Her words of disgust haven't slipped my notice, but then again, I did have her kidnapped—she just doesn't know that I did that to prevent my father from killing her to send that much-needed message to her father.Bianca is disrespecting my home and myself, something I'm only putting up with because she's Emma's sister.Anyway, enough of them. I've decided to take things into my own hands. I need to get Emma away from whispered opinions that might be our undoing. And a business deal came up at the last minute.Call it an excuse to get her out of my compound. Or call it a coincidence that my father called for me to leave as soon as p
His Pretty Little Liar - The Devil’s Snare - Book 1 Chapter Ninety Four
LucaEmma is nowhere to be found after seeing my father and mother off the property, but I have no doubt where she's hiding, and I disfavour that deeply.For a long moment, I stand before Niko's door, my hand midair as I contemplate knocking and demand she sleep anywhere but his room. A jealous side of me that lives rent-free inside me has surfaced. After all, before my father turned up with his fake apology, we had been communicating more effectively than ever before.I think about where she could stay—even upstairs in one of the other's rooms while they bunk up would be favourable—but something stops me.Sighing, I step back from the door. I have to start making good decisions, and bowling on there right now to demand Emma come to bed with me will be far too pushy and far too soon.Even I know that. I'm treading in murky waters without recollection of safe ground. I'll have to move carefully and consider each decision—contemplate Emma's reactions to ensure I don't make another wro
His Pretty Little Liar - The Devil’s Snare - Book 1 Chapter Ninety Three
Emma"We should leave. It would be best if you didn't stay with him," Bianca notes unhappily as Niko finishes replaying my utterly private conversation in a condensed form that suits him.Luca's parents have just left, and though I feel as if Luca and I had a breakthrough that was much needed and is something I honestly want to explore more, I decided to come back to Niko's room to give myself time to recuperate and also keep the distance that perhaps is the right course of action for the pair of us at the moment.Niko is hissing unhappily in his weapons closet, gathering a few articles of clothing that I presume he intends to change into for bed. The evening is upon us, and despite not having eaten dinner yet—even though I can smell it cooking, I'm ready to fall into a mattress to sleep.Apparently, Niko is done with work today, and he's adamant that he should probably find another room to sleep in.Of course, I told him not to be silly. This is his room, not mine, so it should be Bi
His Pretty Little Liar - The Devil’s Snare - Book 1 Chapter Ninety Two
Niko opens the office door. He moves stiffly as he swings the door to reveal my father and mother. Neither says a word to me or looks my way. He just opens his palm to offer my parents into my office in cold silence.Emma instantly begins to move from my lap, so I hold her back, enabling her to turn to face them, silently stipulating that she stays put.This irks both Niko and my father, but I pay no mind to their opinions."Mother... father.""Good evening," my mother greets us, walking in with a delicate smile to sit opposite us.Her gaze wavers as she sees the screwed-up gauze and bullet sitting proudly for her to look at. Her gaze searches for my father with contempt, and it's then I realise my father obviously wasn't as forthcoming with his role in my injury as he should have been."Are you okay?" My mother asks me."Just fine; what are you doing here?" I grit out. I can't quite raise my gaze to my father's but glance at him, moving to stand beside my mother."I'm sorry, son. I s
His Pretty Little Liar - The Devil’s Snare - Book 1 Chapter Ninety One
LucaLeaning forward, I catch Emma's neck and hold her still before me. She's apologising, which irks me, so I tell her so with a deep voice of control."You have nothing to apologise for, bambina.""I hit you," she sighs, running her fingertip over the slight swelling around my eye.She did hit me, and rightly so. I was acting manic; I wasn't allowing her space. I refused to let her leave and all that after I wrongly accused her of cheating which I still need to investigate who exactly sent me those damn fucking images.They say pictures tell a thousand words; well, perhaps they conceal a thousand truths.I can completely accept that she felt backed into a corner, and I'm glad she raised her back to me in a way.The fact she can stand up to me is something our relationship obviously needs, but I don't wish to push her so close to the edge to cause her to strike out.I want to be better; I intend to be better. I don't know how, but I will strive to be the man she deserves—if she lets
His Pretty Little Liar - The Devil’s Snare - Book 1 Chapter Ninety
The mafia business follows mafia protocols. Luca obviously upset his father enough to provoke this reaction from him. Besides, I'm not sure I want to argue with him after he's lost an evidentially large amount of blood.I pour us both a drink, passing one tumbler to him as he assesses me with hooded eyes. I have no clue what he's thinking right now, and for once, I see the pain etched on his handsome face. The liquid burns my throat as I swallow the tumbler full, but after the last few days, I feel that I need something to steady me and look at his arm.I'm not squeamish, not really, but I was right. After ripping his shirt open, I note his shoulder is a bloody mess with flesh sticking out of a close proximity shot from what I can only presume is a pistol. Blood trickles out the hole and down across his skin as I assess him flexing the hole."You need a doctor; it's still inside—," I note as the gold bullet shines back at me and the blood surrounding it dribbles down onto his peck."
His Pretty Little Liar - The Devil’s Snare - Book 1 Chapter Eighty Nine
EmmaI woke up from a restless night's sleep to face a new day with a fresh perspective. Throughout the night, I had been nestled between Bianca and Niko on his bed whilst cuddling Bianca, but in the morning, I turned to look at Niko.He was still clearly in pain, his abdomen showing worsening signs with mottled purple hues. Despite the doctor's miraculous revelation that nothing was broken, Niko was seriously bruised, and that coincided with his lack of sleep overnight.I spent some time simply observing his breathing, silently contemplating how to best care for him. And though I lay there promising myself not to think about the events of last night, my mind wandered. Had my behaviour triggered Luca's response just as much as his triggered mine in the kitchen?It feels as if we've been conditioned to tiptoe around one another for fear we'll lose one another again, and I know that my father dislikes that I was called home to fulfil his promise. So, are we exasperating the problems r
His Pretty Little Liar - The Devil’s Snare - Book 1 Chapter Eighty Eight
"Your mother warned me that you seemed off the other night, but I didn't want to admit that perhaps this takeover has put too much on your shoulders too quickly. But this," he bellows, stabbing his pointer finger into his phone. "This is very, very disappointing.""I'm sure it is, father.""I never raised you to be this type of man," he adds with a fist on the desk."We sell women to the highest fucking bidder; we hurt women every day of our lives. Force them to uproot everything they know, to lose their families and dreams and aspirations to sell them to the next man, one that probably has a weird ass kink that the girl has never even heard of yet a few measly marks on my wife's neck is too much for you to handle?" I scoff. "Oh yeah, besides that, you never taught me to lay my hands on a woman.""We sell women to men that are vetted. They are safe, fed, looked after," he shakes his head. "I have a team checking on each girl that passes through our hands at least once every few months
His Pretty Little Liar - The Devil’s Snare - Book 1 Chapter Eighty Seven
LucaContemplating my life is not a task I like to take part in. But here I sit, five tumblers deep, as I assess every fuck up I've made since Emma came back to me.I love the girl so profoundly that my behaviour stems from fear of losing her for a second time, yet this time, it is me who is making the decisions; it's me who is pushing her away.I can't believe I hurt her as I did in the kitchen. I can't believe I allowed that insidious side my father nurtured to take over and cause her harm.Her, of all fucking people.Why must I keep making these mistakes?Why can't I treat her as I always did when we were younger?Can she even love me after seeing the monster I've indeed become?These are the things I contemplate in my alcohol-induced haze.Emma never resurfaced from Niko's room, and though I could have barged in when the doctor let himself out, I knew it was the wrong thing to do.So instead, I stood in the darkness of the unlit hall, waiting for her to leave the room, hoping that
