LOGINShare
Bad Kind Of Butterflies
Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
The Deal With The Devil Hell Is A Real Place
SiennaI consider switching out the lights and trying to sleep, but I won't be able to. I'm too wound up. I get up, grab my phone out of my tote, and check for messages. There aren't any.When I'm walking back to the bed, I notice a book lying open and face down on the dresser.I pick it up, read the title. I don't recognize it. I open it, meaning to flip through to read the first few pages when a photograph falls out.I bend to pick it up. It's a photo of an older man with his arm around a younger woman, and beside them stands a man who resembles Giovanni. He's got a baby in his arms, and the woman, I assume the baby's mother, has her face turned to the baby. A little hand has got a fistful of her hair, and she's trying to loosen it.I turn it over to look to see if it has a date, but there isn't one, and when I look at it again, I have to smile at the woman's expression.I'm so engrossed that I don't hear him come in."Are you going through my private things?"I'm so startled when h
Last Updated : 2024-10-29The Deal With The Devil Want You
Giovanni Her gaze is locked on me, and she pulls away when I sit on the bed. Bruises are already darkening her neck.When I reach out to touch her, she flinches."I'm not going to hurt you.""You already did."I grit my teeth, but I accept that. I own it."I can't fight you," she says. "You're stronger than me even without trying.""Don't look through my things and you won't have to worry about it.""I wasn't looking through your things. I wouldn't. It fell out of the book that was on top of the dresser."I switch out the light. Was it? I'm usually more careful with things."Lie down and go to sleep."She switches the light back on on her side. "What happened? Why did you get so angry?"This is unexpected.I give a little snort. "No personal effects, remember?""It was a photograph.""Shut off the light and go to sleep." I lie down and turn my back to her."Was it the phone call?"I roll to face her. "Were you eavesdropping too?""No. I just came out into the hall after my shower and
Last Updated : 2024-10-29The Deal With The Devil Caveman Tendencies
SiennaIt's suddenly cold when he slides off me and goes into the bathroom. I hear water running, and a few minutes later, he returns. He's cleaned himself and now cleans me with a warm washcloth."I can do that." I try to take the cloth from him."Stay," he says like a caveman.When he's finished cleaning me, he goes back into the bathroom to get rid of the towel before returning and switching out the light. He lies down beside me.I turn my back to him, meaning to slide to the other side of the bed, but he wraps his big arm around me and pulls me to him. He holds me there, tight against his chest.He doesn't say a word, he doesn't let me go, not for a second and all I can think is how warm he is. How soft his skin is over all that muscle and I find myself melting into him. Again, this feeling of something solid at my back. Something safe.I should pull away. This is too close. But when I try, he just tightens his grip."Sleep," he says as if he hears my thoughts, hears the chaos in
Last Updated : 2024-10-29The Deal With The Devil Always Be Unhappy
SiennaI have a feeling I wouldn't get very far if I tried that. Besides, I need this time. This month.Is it naïve to think that if I stay here, in this penthouse, that if or when Ciara tells Sean about me, maybe he'll think I'm gone—that I took off—and I can slip back into my life once the month is up?And with Giovanni, I think I'm safe even as that image of him last night, that of the raging beast, flashes in my memory.Who's going to keep you safe from Giovanni?I'm about to go back into the bedroom to get dressed, thinking I'll wear the jeans and top I'd quickly shoved into my tote last night when the elevator dings, announcing someone's arrival.The doors slide open and a woman steps out, giving me a once over. Two men follow her, each pushing a rack into the penthouse."Put them there," she tells them."What's this?" I ask when she introduces herself as she tugs the cloth covering the first rack off.I forget her name as soon as she says it when I get a look at what's on those
Last Updated : 2024-10-29The Deal With The Devil Anything For The Master
SiennaWhen we get to the lobby, I ask the man to wait when I see a coffee shop and stop for a to-go cup. I take out my wallet to pay but an older woman, I guess the manager, steps between me and the girl and pushes my money away."It's taken care of, Miss," she says. "Anything you need."Of course, it is.I'm his whore. And they all know it. The woman with the designer clothes. The man who is standing a few feet from me. This woman."Thank you," I say awkwardly, knowing it's no use arguing.I put my money back in my wallet and take the cup, too distracted to even add cream or sugar before heading outside where the sedan that once brought me here carries me to the shop.Sundays aren't usually that busy at the shop so being there today will give me a chance to take inventory.On Monday I'll walk over to the homeless shelter a few blocks away and hand them a check for fifty-percent of what the shop took in minus what I'd given Ciara. It's not usually that much, but people don't realize
Last Updated : 2024-10-29The Deal With The Devil Break A Little More
Giovanni"There are reasons people do things and you don't know anything about mine."These are the words that go around and around in my head as I watch Sienna look through the new clothes on the racks in one of the spare bedrooms.I had all the designer stuff taken away, well, most of it. She still needs some evening dresses. In their place, the racks are stuffed with more casual clothes, still good brands, but not the best designer labels money can buy."Better. Thank you," Sienna says, picking out every pink item and shoving each into my arms. "No pink though."I take the hangers, curious about this peculiarity, but she turns away, her attention back on the clothes."You're welcome." My phone buzzes. I drop the clothes she handed me on the bed and step out to take it. It's a file from Jack with more details on Sean Williams and I'm starting to figure out why Sienna accepted my offer. What some of those reasons are that she thinks I know nothing about.She's been leaving breadcrumb
Last Updated : 2024-10-29The Deal With The Devil Casino Dreams
SiennaI hate parties. I always have.I pretty much always feel awkward and can never figure out how people stand there and make small talk for hours.There are easily two-hundred people here. Men and women and enough perfume and hair spray to smother you.I notice how when Giovanni walks away, people seem to part to clear his path. The way they look at him, men and women both, I know everyone knows who he is. I wonder if he notices how watched he is. If he cares.As soon as he's gone, I find eyes turn to me. The men appear curious. The women, something else.I drink my vodka and try not to make eye contact with anyone as I walk along the perimeter of the room, looking for a bathroom or someplace to disappear into for the next ten minutes.When Axel walks inside, I'm at the far end and I don't think he sees me when he scans the room. He stands off to the side, his face impassive and closed. I'm guessing he'd like to make small talk with me about as much as I'd like to make it with him
Last Updated : 2024-10-29The Deal With The Devil Endorphins Are Multiplying
GiovanniThe meeting that should have taken ten minutes takes almost two hours, and my attention is split.On top of that, there's the voicemail from my brother that I should never have listened to. My bastard brother is telling me to go to hell. Brandishing his victory.He should be more careful. He won a battle. I will win the fucking war.When I walked out to tell Sienna that Axel would take her home and found that man beside her, having almost cornered her, when I saw his hand on her, I lost my shit. All I saw was red.Rage.That idiot boy was touching her.And she looked scared shitless. Pale as a ghost. Eyes huge. And fucking terrified.The elevator seems to be crawling tonight as it climbs to the penthouse. I wonder if she's figured out that she can't leave it without a key yet. That's why I don't keep a man on her in the apartment.When the doors finally slide open, it's dark.I hit the switch and soft light bathes the large, open room."Sienna?" I call out, glancing around to
Last Updated : 2024-10-29
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
