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The Deal With The Devil 9
VeronicaBy the time we landed in Florence, we'd been traveling for over thirteen hours. The drive to the Armando property took another hour and fifteen minutes. Located outside of Florence near a town called San Gimignano, the house—or rather estate—came into view only a few minutes after we'd driven off the country road and through a large entrance, where tall iron gates stood open and stone walls separated the property from the road.We sat in the back of a dark sedan with tinted windows. As the driver took us through, I looked back at the dragons on top of the two pillars. Each was posed differently, one perched on its haunches, the other ready to take flight with its wings wide. Both had eyes that seemed to follow me.I shuddered and glanced at Stefan, who had a strange look on his face as he surveyed the land, the swelling hills, the green grass, the vast seeming acres of land."It's beautiful.""Thank you." He smiled.That was maybe the first authentic smile I'd seen from him.
Last Updated : 2024-04-13The Deal With The Devil 10
VeronicaThen someone else walked out of the house. I did a double take and glanced at Stefan. I knew they were twins, but to see them in person, it was weird. Amazing, that nature could duplicate life so flawlessly. Stephen stood as tall as Stefan, his hair just as dark, his build big and powerful. The only difference between them was in the eyes. Stephen's seemed kinder.He greeted his brother with a handshake, and I could see from the expressions on both their faces that their relationship was strained.Stephen looked at me and smiled. The brothers approached together. Watching them was almost surreal."You must be Veronica."His voice was as deep as Stefan's but had a different tone altogether. I wondered if this was how Stefan would sound if he hadn't spent the last several years of his life behind bars. If circumstances had turned out differently for him."I'm Stephen Armando, Stefan's brother. Welcome to Italy.""Thank you. It's nice to meet you, Stephen.""Stephen is the sligh
Last Updated : 2024-04-13The Deal With The Devil 11
VeronicaI followed him down the hall to the third door. He opened it, and I stepped inside. My suitcases were already arranged on luggage holders, which were the only modern things in the large room with its king-size bed, draped by curtains hanging from the ceiling with high, intricately carved wooden head and footboards. Blues were the theme here, and the curtains at the picturesque windows matched that of the headboard. The windows stood open, and I realized that for as warm as it was outside, the house itself felt reasonably cool, even if it had a slightly musty smell. Stefan seemed to notice it the same moment I did."The room hasn't been used in a while.""It's beautiful." I turned in a circle, wondering how old the furnishings were."Bathroom is here."I followed him to an adjoining room, not very large but big enough to house a bathtub separate of the shower. White marble veined with gold covered floor, ceiling, and walls, although the fixtures looked quite old. He turned the
Last Updated : 2024-04-13The Deal With The Devil 12
Veronica"Why do I make you so nervous, Veronica?" he asked, setting a mug on the counter.I turned around and looked up and found an array of tea bags in the cupboard. "You don't," I said weakly, focusing on reading every box."I told you I don't expect to bed you. I thought that would ease your mind."I concentrated on opening a tea bag."Unless you wanted me to, that is. I'm open to the idea, of course.""You like messing with me," I said, watching the water as he filled my mug."I do. It's so easy."He set the pot down and went over to the sink. On his way there, he glanced down at his shirt, which was smeared with dirt. He pulled it over his head and dropped it down a chute along one of the walls. A laundry chute. I had one in my room too. He stood with his back to me, scrubbing his hands and splashing water on his face. I wasn't sure if it was the marks I noticed first, thin silvery lines crisscrossing flesh, or his powerful back flexing with muscle at the movements.When he tur
Last Updated : 2024-04-13The Deal With The Devil 13
Veronica"Sit," he growled."No.""Just fucking sit. Ask me a question. A different one.""Are you going to stop being a jerk?"He gave me a lopsided smile. "I'll try, but no promises. It's my nature."I hesitated."Sit down and talk to me," he said finally.I wasn't sure if it was his tone or his words that made me do it, that made me sit back down and meet his eyes and feel at least a little closer to equal footing for the first time with this man.He nodded in acknowledgment."Is this home for you?" I asked.He inhaled deeply. He took his time to answer, and I thought about what he'd told me earlier, what he'd promised. Truth."Yeah, I guess it is.""Why?""Because it's where things were good. It's where I remember my mother. Where I remember my brothers and me as kids." He paused. "I remember being happy mostly."Hearing him say that last part, it was strange. In a way, it almost hurt me to hear it. I felt the loneliness coming off him, and I realized it was always there, every ti
Last Updated : 2024-04-13The Deal With The Devil 14
StefanVeronica looked so completely confused sitting there, it was charming. Almost endearing, even."Up. I'm taking you to bed." I hauled her to her feet. It was the first time I'd really held her, and she felt smaller, lighter than I expected. More fragile."That's what you'd like, isn't it?"She tried to stand on her own and stumbled, her little hand shooting out to grab hold of me to steady herself. The moment we made contact, we both stopped. I looked down at her hand, pale and delicate against my chest. I'd been working outside since late spring, so my skin had been tanned a rich golden brown, making her soft white a beautiful contrast.I thought she'd pull away, and maybe if she hadn't drunk that whiskey, she would have. Hell, she'd be smart to. I'd been messing with her up until now, but something about her innocent, maybe naive directness, intrigued me. And when she let her hand move over my chest, softly feeling the touch of my skin, sliding it over to my shoulder, then bic
Last Updated : 2024-04-13The Deal With The Devil 15
StefanAfter she ate, I led the way to the large garage. It was built in the same style of the house and had enough space for three cars, but two of those were loaded with old equipment for the vineyard we no longer used. In the third stood the truck I'd been working on, a 1970s Chevy."That's very old. Does it still run?" she asked when we neared."I hope so. I spent last night and two hours this morning working on the thing." I'd been up since half past five."You didn't get much sleep."I shrugged a shoulder.She touched the rust and peeled off a layer of old paint, then opened the door and climbed in as I settled behind the driver's seat."Is it safe?""I wouldn't drive you around in it if it wasn't."She stole a glance when I said it, then fastened her seat belt. The engine hiccupped then roared to life, and we drove off."I hope you don't mind the wind." I had both windows rolled all the way down. "Couldn't quite get the AC working.""No. I like it. How big is the property?""Ab
Last Updated : 2024-04-13The Deal With The Devil 16
VeronicaWhen I'd woken up this morning with a headache and bad memories of what I may have said last night, I hadn't expected to be smiling from ear-to-ear later that same day. But here I was, carrying my brand-new puppy into the house. I decided to name him Charlie.Stefan surprised me. Even if he did end on that cryptic "I'll think of some way for you to repay me later." The memory of it made me shiver.Last night, the whiskey had hit me hard. For one thing, I was an inexperienced drinker, to say the least, and for another, I was jet lagged and exhausted. I remembered almost everything but hoped I'd dreamed parts of it, especially the last part when I'd told him he smelled good, and worky—what kind of word was worky—oh, and like a man. God. How embarrassing. And if that wasn't enough, I also clearly remembered telling him I was a virgin.Stefan had said he had work to do and left me at the house to wait for the seamstress.Maria gave Charlie a little pat on the head, but from the w
Last Updated : 2024-04-13
Latest chapter
The Deal With The Devil Epilogue
StefanSpring, One Year Later* * *She never did sign those annulment papers. My stubborn, beautiful wife.I stood drinking coffee at the kitchen window, watching Veronica talk to one of the workers. Charlie, full grown and weighing eighty pounds, never left her side.We'd come back to Tuscany a few days after the bank took possession of the house in Philadelphia. Robyn had come with us and would be starting her final year at a school in Florence geared toward gifted musicians.Thanks to their grandfather's greed, Veronica and Robyn had lost everything. Guardia Winery no longer existed, except as an example of corruption and destruction.Robyn never spoke about any of it. She rarely mentioned her grandfather at all. Veronica worried, but Italy was a good move for her. It got her away from everything, the past, the publicity, gave her anonymity again, and hopefully would give her a fresh start.I finished my coffee and set the mug in the sink before walking outside. Veronica waved whe
The Deal With The Devil 65
Veronica"Well, I wouldn't want to put you out. You've probably been busy tonight, putting someone else to bed." I didn't mean for it to come out angry like it did."Ah." He finished his drink and poured another. "The truth.""I never lie to you.""You did once.""When?""You lied to protect your sister."I felt heat flush my face. How had he known?"I haven't put anyone to bed but you since we've been together," he said, cockiness gone."Oh.""Did you really think otherwise?""I don't know what to think. You don't have to be married to me anymore. I'm really more of a liability now.""I think of you as a human being, not a liability.""But I'm not an asset either.""Human being. Don't feel sorry for yourself, Veronica. Shit happened to you. You survived it, and you will now move forward. Welcome to life.""Piss off."His face changed, hardening a little. "Be careful, sweetheart."Sweetheart. God, I loved when he called me Sweetheart. "I'm not feeling sorry for myself.""Then ask the
The Deal With The Devil 64
VeronicaThe house had never felt like home to me. I didn't want to stay here and wouldn't have if it weren't for Robyn. But she'd been closer to our grandfather than I ever had been. And she'd lived here for as long as she could remember.After the very public scandal, Grandfather took the plea deal he was offered, which meant a reduced prison sentence—they took into consideration his age—in exchange for full disclosure. He'd kept meticulous notes, so much like him. In addition to the notebook Robyn had found, there were three others. At least three that were uncovered. I wondered if there were more. If he'd ever tell us. The land in Italy was auctioned off, bought by Vincent Moriarty of all people. And what a deal he got. It was unfair, but it was also finished.I saw my grandfather during his sentencing. I watched from inside the courtroom. I didn't make physical contact with him. Seeing him like that, up there looking smaller, older, I wondered if there was something wrong with me
The Deal With The Devil 63
StefanShe finally quieted.Fuck. I hadn't come here to fuck her. I hadn't."You still want me to let you go?"She shook her head.I released her wrists and flipped her over onto her belly, then straddled her again, trapping her beneath me."I love you," I said, reaching over to grab the bottle of hand moisturizer she had on the nightstand. "But you're a pain in my ass." I drew her hips up, so she was on her knees. "Don't get up," I told her when she started to rise. I pushed her knees apart with mine and fisted a handful of her hair, pushing her face down into the bed. "Ass up, face down. Understand?""Stefan—"I slapped her hip—not hard, but enough to get her attention. She cried out and looked back at me from the corner of her eye."Understand?""Yes.""Good." I let go of her hair and twisted the lid off the lotion, squeezing about half the tube on her lower back. "Now like I said," I started, unzipping my jeans and pushing them and my briefs down, my cock like steel in anticipatio
The Deal With The Devil 62
VeronicaI felt stronger, like the effects of the wine were wearing off. Maybe it was the water or the coffee, but I had a feeling it was the anger inside me burning away the alcohol more than anything else.But then he said what he said."If you wanted me out of your life, you would have signed the annulment papers."And I knew it was true. He was right. If I wanted him out, I would have signed and put all this behind me."I've changed my mind, anyway. You're not going anywhere, Veronica.""Not until you have my signature, you mean? Did you bring a clean copy of the paperwork?""You're being stupid.""No, I think the word is naive. You used that once too, didn't you? You had my number all along. I was the fool to fall for it, for your tortured soul act. Get out. I mean it.""No.""Get the fuck out."He cocked his head to the side. "Fine. You want me out? Make me go."I narrowed my eyes and went toward him. With both my hands on his hard chest, I shoved him backward.Except he didn't
The Deal With The Devil 61
VeronicaI left by train from Siena to Venice that evening. Once I checked into a small hotel, I called the attorney who'd overheard my conversation with my grandfather and left him my address, telling him to forward any paperwork to me here. I called Robyn and told her I was in Venice, told her what had happened and what I'd done, and told her I needed to be off-line for a few days.I missed Charlie. I missed cuddling up with him on my lap, missed his unconditional love.The first twelve days I spent in bed, feeling sorry for myself.On the thirteenth day, someone knocked on the door. When I told whoever it was to go away, they answered that I had received a package.Reluctantly, I went to the door, cringing when I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. I opened it and took the large white envelope, assuming it was paperwork about Robyn's guardianship. I pushed the shutters and window open to let in some fresh air and sunshine. The room smelled stale, and it seemed my sadness had
The Deal With The Devil 60
StefanIt had taken all I had to turn my back on Veronica and walk out of that office. I knocked someone's shoulder on my way out but didn't look back, didn't apologize, couldn't stop. I went out the door and into the hallway and flew down the stairs and out the front doors where I stopped, gasping for breath, my hands on my knees, wanting to vomit.Lying to Veronica on the chapel floor, that had wounded me. But this? Today? Leaving her like that, signing that damned contract and walking out on her, it finished me. I'd promised her truth, and I'd kept my promise, finally. And it destroyed me.I straightened, wiping sweat off my forehead.I didn't remember walking through the city to the parking garage. Didn't remember driving home. As soon as I stepped out of the car, though, Charlie came running to me. I stopped and looked down at him. Watched him wait for the passenger side door to open, for Veronica to step out. He barked several times, ran back to me, tail wagging, then returned t
The Deal With The Devil 59
VeronicaAfter Stefan left the office, I stood in the room, staring after him. Staring at the space where he'd just been before falling back into my chair, my legs unable to support me.I wasn't sure what would be easier, thinking he didn't love me or knowing the truth. Although I guess I knew there was no easy. This would hurt. It would hurt for a very long time.My grandfather and the attorneys walked back into the room. No one seemed to take notice of me. Grandfather set the ring and pen aside and checked the signature on the contract."It's done," he said, handing it to one of the men who slipped it into his briefcase then clicked it closed. No one sat back down. "Gentlemen, thank you. I'll be in touch."They were shaking hands, almost at the door, when I spoke. "Why did you want the marriage consummated?"They all stopped. Someone cleared their throat. My grandfather turned to me, a coldness in his eyes that chilled me, then shifted his attention back to them."Forward official c
The Deal With The Devil 58
VeronicaStefan shifted his gaze from my grandfather to me, but his eyes revealed nothing. My hand rested in his. His thumb drew circles in my palm.The longer he took, the heavier the silence grew, the more tears welled in my eyes.This was it.Stefan and I were finished.My grandfather cleared his throat and rose from his seat. "Five minutes, or the offer expires, and you can take your chances on the payout." He buttoned his jacket. "I'll be outside."We didn't watch him go, and we didn't speak for an eternity after the door closed.Stefan stood and went to one of the two windows. "I thought you were dead," he said, his back to me."What?" I started, swallowing the lump in my throat.He faced me but remained where he was. "I have this nightmare—I've had it for six years now—where I keep seeing the fire at the house, keep running inside to save my mother, and keep finding her too late."A weight heavy as a pile of bricks settled in the room with us."Well, it changed over the last fe
