Page 22 of Devil’s Candy

From inside the open door, I hear a female squeal. “Candy? Angel, did you just say Candy’s here?”

A woman appears in the doorway, wearing a cropped tank top and thong. Then another behind her in an equally tiny outfit. “Is it really you? Oh sugar, I’ve been dying for one of your waxes. Tell me you brought some tools.”

More women stream out the door, moving past the Sinclairs like water around a rock. Some of them are topless, others are without pants, none of them are concerned.

And they are all talking.

About Candy’s hair. Or her cute jeans, or their snatch which is in desperate need of her services.

Candy’s eyes are wide and a little glassy.

“Girl. Tell me you have scissors and can fix whatever hot mess that Aisha made of my weave.”

Another one of them fluffs her hair. “It’s not the same around here without you.”

“Um…” Candy clears her throat. “I’m sure Angel does not want me⁠—”

“Angel,” another calls, turning around. “You gonna let Candy fix us up or what? Looking this raggedy is affecting my tips!”

Angel frowns, his gaze meeting mine. I give a quick jerk of my chin. I won’t hide behind Candy when it comes to Angel, and it’s better that she’s not present for the meeting I need to have with him. There are things that need to be said and a strong likelihood this could end in violence.

“Candy, are you willing to do a cameo for us today?” Angel asks, his gaze shifting to my sweet little treat.

“Of course,” she says, sounding slightly breathless. For the first time, it occurs to me that she might have feelings for Angel. He’s the original hero, and that fact sends a wave of hot anger coursing through me.

But I let her go as one of the women draws her forward and the crowd of women carries her inside.

Now it’s just me and the wall of Sinclairs.

I’m sure they think their numbers give them an advantage. It doesn’t. I’ve fought a lot more men than this and I always come out on top.

I stand straighter.

“Want to come inside?” Angel asks.

“Here is fine for now,” I answer, crossing my arms as I subtly draw out a knife that is tucked in the arm of my shirt. I’m certain we’ll need to move this conversation to a more private location, but I want to observe these men first.

Angel lets out a long breath. “Why are you here?”

“With Candy, no less,” Rock spits. “Flaunting the fact that you flipped her?”

“Is that a sexual reference?” Now I’m just being a dick. But it has the necessary effect, riling Rock as he blows out a breath like a bull.

“Rock,” Angel growls.

Rock might be their weakest link. Hotheaded and lacking in a certain emotional depth, he struggles for control.

I return my gaze to Angel. “I’m here because last night, three men tried to kill Candy.”

“Three?” Axel asks, brushing back his overlong hair. “That seems excessive. Candy’s fairly petite.”

Knox snorts.

“I don’t think you’re funny,” I growl back. “You cut her out and left her to die. That doesn’t bother you?”

Angel straightens up. “Her dating profile was a liability we couldn’t ignore.”

“She has to die over that?”