Share
71
Related chapters
The Devil She Knows 72
CamilleI stare at the rustic red brick wall before me, tapping the bricks with my fingertips to that song in my head.Run and catch, the meadow's calling you home...I tap one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.On the eighth count I blink, then I'm running through the meadow. A bird flies high in the sky, and the sun is bright and warm on my skin, tempting me to chase it. I run toward the sun but it disappears, and blackness swallows me whole.It's so dark, I dare not breathe. I'm too scared that I'll disappear. But I walk on the unseen path before me, terror ravaging my soul.Darkness fills my mind like a thick fog of smoke, suffocating me with theominous feeling of imminent doom.Patches of light flicker in the darkness, and I see it—the crest with the wolf and the moon engraved into it.I try to get closer, but shadow monsters rush out of the darkness, howling and gnashing their teeth like evil souls trapped in the pits of hell.Faceless faces push out of the darkness an
The Devil She Knows 73
Camille"I don't think Alessio would like you in here touching his things," comes a voice I really don't want to hear.I turn around and see Gytha coming through the door. She stops a few paces away with her hands on her hips and a pout marring her model-like features."I'm sure he wouldn't mind." I pray she leaves me alone and goes away. I don't have the strength for her today. I never had it before."I've known him much longer than you have, so I know he doesn't like his things being touched by anyone other than him."She's such a fucking bitch. Why, why is she always around when I'm either at my lowest or I'm contemplating something important? Today I'm both."Gytha, I'm his wife. Just leave me the fuck alone."My tone and choice of words piss her off and she moves closer, like she's going to hit me.She stops in my personal space, and because she's much taller than me, I instantly feel more vulnerable."You think just because he gave you his name it means anything? It means shit,
The Devil She Knows 74
Camille"Sometimes we need a good cry." Ehlga strokes my hair."Thank you for defending me. I don't think I could have done it even if I didn't feel so wretched.""That's okay. That was a long time coming. Gytha deserved it.""Some of what she said was true, though.""No, there was no truth to her words."I dab away the last of my tears with the heel of my hand and nod. "Yes, Ehlga. I'm sure you know what happened between Alessio and me."She sighs. "That doesn't mean Gytha was right.""I understand how he feels about how I reacted that night, but there's nothing I can do about my father or Richard." My voice comes out in a choked rasp."Has he told you anything more about the past?""Not much. He told me his mother was killed and that he lived here with her when he was younger, then Denmark, then Russia. That's essentially all I know about Alessio's past."She searches my eyes. "Then I think maybe the right time has come for me to tell you."My spirit lifts at this possibility. "Will
The Devil She Knows 75
CamilleI make my way up the wide, sweeping stone steps of The Langham Hotel and the gentle night breeze lifts the ends of my hair.As Leif is so distinguished in the Knights, and generally throughout Boston, I'm not surprised his retirement party is being held at one of the city's finest hotels.It's located right across from Boston Harbor, so the slight salty scent of the sea tickles my nose. A little distraction from my shaky thoughts.I'm not a hundred percent certain about this idea of just turning up and seeing how things go with Alessio, but I'm doing it.This is me trying. This is me fighting for the pirate man who holds my heart.The doormen open the doors for me and I walk in, immersed in the music and people dressed in formal wear. It's almost a déjà vu moment from the fundraiser, but this time I'm by myself, and people notice straight away.The hotel's facilities have been booked out for the event so everyone around me is here because of it. But there is no mixture of what
The Devil She Knows 76
AlessioShe's like a dose of fire to my soul.Scorching and consuming everything in its wake. Owning it. Owning me.I pound into her body like I own her, but it's Camille who owns me.She owned me the moment she chose me.I heard what she said to Richard, and my heart tells me she knows more things that I couldn't tell her about the past and her father.It's the way she looked at me and how she thought she was the devil, not me.That means Ehlga told her. I trust Ehlga wouldn't have done so if she didn't think it was right, so I'm okay with it.When I look at Camille, I see nothing but the woman I love. My wife.Her blue gaze, filled with pleasure, pain, and love, is everything, and I need nothing more in this life than what she can give me.I try to hold on and control myself so I can keep going, but I never stood a chance. I've wanted to take her again from the moment I walked away the other night.I come and she does too, digging her nails into my shoulder.She wraps her legs aroun
The Devil She Knows 77
AlessioI walk into the warehouse and find the back office.Leo and Kill are standing by the large metal door.Leo is nearly as tall as the door and looks like the typical Bratva man with tattoos covering his arms and neck. Kill is tall, too, but is more built and has elbow-length black hair with shaved sides. He reminds me of a Viking warrior, especially with the runes for death, war, protection, and justice tattooed on his neck and arms."We're back here," Leo says, motioning through the door."Is our new friend still functional?" They were still trying to interrogate the guy while I was on my way."He is, and still not talking."No surprise there.They lead me inside, where I find Zakh and Malik standing together with their guns at their sides. Both acknowledge me when I walk in. I do the same then I take in the bald-headed Chinese guy sitting in front of them. He's covered in blood and tattoos from head to toe. He has so many tattoos, I can't tell the blood and ink apart. I also c
The Devil She Knows 78
AlessioXiou doesn't look fazed by my threat. I didn't think he would, and I already know he's not going to talk for me. If he didn't for anyone else, I won't be the exception."Who are you working for?" That's the best place to start and, like I guessed, I'm met with his silence. "Why do you have those pictures? Did you follow all of us? Me? My wife? My mother? The Butyrskayas?"My question garners no response from Xiou. He's little more than a stone statue with a heartbeat. Pretty soon, he won't even have that. It's time to up the game."Not gonna take that chance?" I try to clarify.When he doesn't answer, I cock the hammer on my gun and shoot him right in the top of his left leg. That gets a response from him.He howls with pain and shakes against the chair. Blood spurts from his thigh and flows onto the floor, joining the blood already there."Have you changed your mind?"Still no answer, so he gets another bullet in the same leg, then I shoot him again in his other leg.Now he's
The Devil She Knows 79
Camille"Have more tea, dear. It will help." Ehlga taps the back of my hand.She gives me a warm smile, but the worry in her eyes gives her away.She looks just as worried about Alessio as I am and seems to be doing her best to not just calm me down, but herself too.Across the table between us are the cups of chamomile tea and coffee we've had. Only God knows how much we've drunk between us since before the sun rose.We switched out the tea for coffee about an hour ago.I was already in the kitchen, sitting here at the breakfast table when she came downstairs. I couldn't sleep after Alessio left.I assumed he must have contacted Ehlga at some point because she knew he'd left the house on business before I told her."I think I'll pass, Ehlga."Her shoulders slump. "Then I should make you something to eat. It's breakfast time now.""No, I'm not hungry. I'm just worried." I've never seen Alessio leave the house with a gun.I'd only seen the gun once before, when he pulled it on Richard.
Latest chapter
