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Delicate, Quavering Ice
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The Deal With The Devil The Devil's Brother
SiennaAfter Giovanni left, I took a long, hot shower then decided to lie down and close my eyes for a few minutes. Now, as I open them in the almost pitch-black room, I realize I must have slept for hours.I glance to the other side of the bed, but it's not been slept in. I wonder what time it is but there's no clock in this room. Pushing the covers back, I get up. I'm barefoot and the cold of the stone beneath the old carpet chills me.I walk into the alcove thinking the walls must be three feet deep. I wonder if that's for insulation or protection in times past. I look out the window at the utter darkness outside. The almost complete stillness.The moon is full, the wind a whistle that urges the clouds across the sky, the light an ominous silvery ghost-like thing spilling over the water and the hills.I think if I look hard enough, I'll see ghosts out there.Finding the latch, I push one of the heavy windows open and lean out. It's a cool night and I inhale the clean, fresh air.I
The Deal With The Devil Dangerous State Lines
SiennaHe stands there for a moment looking at me with surprise, but he recovers quickly and smiles, comes inside."You weren't introduced to me," he says, and I really have to pay attention to understand him because his accent is so heavy. "I'm Declan Adams, Giovanni's half-brother." He holds out his hand.I put my sandwich down, force myself to swallow the bite in my mouth and place my hand in his. "I'm Sienna.""Sienna. It's nice to meet you. You missed dinner.""I must have slept through it.""We didn't want to wake you. The maid said you were fast asleep.""Where's Giovanni?" I ask.He shrugs a shoulder and moves to the counter. "Who knows?" he asks, opening a cupboard and taking out an unmarked bottle of liquor. "You like whiskey?" he asks, turning to me.He seems different than Giovanni. Not as hardened."It's our own," he says, not waiting for my answer but taking two glasses and returning to the table to take a seat across from me. "Don't mind me. Eat," he says, pouring whisk
The Deal With The Devil Good Man Not
SiennaGiovanni's angry gaze turns to me and when he steps into the room, I see his clothes are wet, muddy even. He's not wearing a coat, and in his hand, he's got a half bottle of whiskey.Declan stands, turns his gaze to me. "Glad to meet you, Sienna," he says. "Let me know if you want me to take you into town tomorrow. It'd be my pleasure."I can tell from the way he says it that it's for Giovanni's benefit. To irritate him. Taunt him.And it works because Giovanni stalks forward, sets the bottle on the table and lunges for his brother.But he's drunk and Declan isn't, and he sidesteps him. I let out a scream, jump to my feet."Not used to our whiskey anymore, brother?" Declan asks."I'm going to kill you."I grab Giovanni's arm when he lunges again but I don't even think he can feel it. Feel me holding him back.Declan's face hardens and he steps toward Giovanni. The two are like giants, nose-to-nose and raging."I'd like to see you try," Declan says."Stop it. Both of you," I yel
The Deal With The Devil An Invitation Into Town
SiennaI don't know where Giovanni spent the night or where he is this morning, but it's almost ten o'clock when I'm walking down the stairs of the big house because I somehow managed to fall asleep again after the episode in the kitchen."She's here!" I hear a little boy's excited, loud whisper."James, give her a little space," I hear Declan say as I get to the first floor and see the big fire already burning in the fireplace. Lamps are lit through the room and I think they must need them on all day long because of the weather and thick walls of the house.The little boy steps up to me with a wide smile on his face and Declan follows with an apologetic look on his."Hello. I'm James Declan Scott," he says. "Almost laird of this house.""James," Declan says in a chastising tone.I crouch down so I'm at eye level and see that he has Giovanni's eyes almost exactly. Their strange color is the same, but Giovanni's hold none of the innocence this boy's do."It's wonderful to meet you, Jam
The Deal With The Devil Warm, Sunny Air
SiennaI don't run into Giovanni on the way back upstairs and don't see him anywhere in the house. Declan lends me a jacket which is about five sizes too big. When I slip my arms into it, I realize it's his from the scent of aftershave clinging to it. I find myself glancing back to be sure Giovanni isn't coming around a corner because if he was angry about me talking to Declan yesterday, he'll flip when he sees me wearing his jacket.We climb into Declan's older model Range Rover and head into town."This bridge scares me," I say as we cross it.Declan smiles wide, glancing over at me. I see two dimples beneath the scruff along his sharp jaw. His dark hair is messy, and he looks like he hasn't shaved in two days. He's wearing a Barbour jacket that looks well broken in and all I can think is how opposite he looks to Giovanni right now. How this is the side of himself that Giovanni hides beneath his expensive suits."Bridge is fine. It'll be here long after we're gone. Don't fret, Sienn
The Deal With The Devil Territorial Monster
SiennaDeclan places a hand at my lower back, and we walk to a table. I hear Giovanni's warning of last night. That I don't know what his brother is capable of. But when I look at Declan, it's not danger I sense. Actually, it's a similar sadness to what I see in Giovanni.They're more alike than Giovanni realizes."Declan, can I ask you something?""Of course.""When you said Giovanni was changing things, did you mean you and James won't be able to live at the house anymore?"He nods and I see the worry in his eyes when his gaze shifts momentarily to his son."Does he know you want to stay? He won't kick you out. Why would he?""You don't understand our past, Sienna.""When he goes back to Las Vegas—""Do you think he'll go back?" Declan asks it like it's a question, but I think he's trying to tell me Giovanni will be staying.I look at him. I just assumed..."This is home to him. To all of us. Being a Highlander, you're tied to this land. This wild, unforgiving country. No place is h
The Deal With The Devil Broken Bridges Can Be Fixed
Giovanni"Why did you bring me here?" she asks when we're in the car. "I thought you needed me, but you just seem really pissed off with me every time you see me.""I'm not pissed off with you. Being back here is harder than I thought it would be. That's all.""Then let me help you."I turn to her. "Stay away from my brother. That'll help me.""You're wrong about him. He's really just being nice.""What did he tell you about me?"She looks straight ahead as we drive. "He told me about your parents and Ann."I snort. "What did he say? Paint her to be a saint?""No, actually, he didn't. He told me about the affair and finding out he was your brother by blood. And he told me how much influence his mother had over your father. He gave the impression she was unfaithful, and you tried to protect your father and that it backfired."I'm silent for a moment because it's the truth. And I guess I didn't expect Declan to tell the truth. Or maybe that his version would be different than mine.That
The Deal With The Devil Grieving Highlander
SiennaMy knees give out and he holds me up as he slides out of me. He pulls up his jeans first, then tugs mine up because I can't seem to move. He's rougher than he needs to be, and I feel his breath at my cheek.I turn to look at him and I think about what he said. About being his. Belonging to him. And it feels like this is different than our strange arrangement."When I went to my father with my allegations against Ann, I was naïve," he starts, surprising me with this.He walks away, sits on a stone.I remain where I am and watch him even though he keeps his gaze outside."I should have waited to have solid proof although who knows what he'd have done even with that. He was so completely in love with her and she just had him wrapped around her manipulative little finger. She made him choose. Me or her. It couldn't be both. And my father chose. And then I chose. I don't think he expected me to leave."He's quiet, but he's not finished."I vowed vengeance. It was all I could think o
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