Page 24 of Devil’s Promise

Rock is the muscle of our group. Along with Knox, of course. But Knox is an MMA fighter, we bring him in when we want someone majorly fucked up.

Rock, however, is exceptionally good at scaring the shit out of people with minor damage. It’s his unsteady nature. Freaks them out and with good reason. Occasionally he loses it and then he does massive damage. Death. Dismemberment.

I know that Rock has a good heart, even if he has killed a few men he wasn’t supposed to.

“I try,” I answer, scrubbing a hand down my face. It’s been a long day and I’m tired. I’ve normally done the count by now with all the money tucked away, but I’ve been having trouble concentrating today.

And I know tomorrow is going to be a busy day.

Promise’s clothes and goods will be delivered, along with a wedding dress, but we are going to tour the venue, looking like we’re in love while the press looks on to record the entire charade.

The photo ops are what her father wants. This is the other way I’ll help his campaign, I’ll help get rid of the story that he’s doing damage to his daughter by presenting a new story… Happy couple.

I’ve been asked to cover my tattoos, and I’ll oblige. My hair is also being trimmed up to look far less gangster and far more Upper East Side.

I move across the room, sliding over the cabinet that hides the safe, as I lock up the money from the drops.

Rock gets up and leans against the door, waiting for me to finish and put the cabinet back before he leaves the room.

I follow, making my way upstairs.

In the rooms that I pass, I can hear people fucking. Some of the doors are open and I can see fat old men sweating over the svelte bodies of the whores.

They moan obligingly, barely containing their bored expressions.

My lip curls. Some men don’t care, I guess. They just want to cum. But in rank order, I like innocence, and then enthusiastic participation, both of which make the orgasm better.

I reach the top landing, unlocking the apartment door and closing it behind me. I’m half tempted to sleep here.

But I want a decent shower in the morning, and I should probably tuck Promise into a different bed from me. At least for the next few nights.

I am a man who keeps my word. Always. I don’t have loads of ethics, but that is one of the few that I believe deeply should be upheld.

Crossing the apartment, I move into the bedroom. Even in the dark, I can see Promise on her side, sound asleep in the center of the bed.

My pulse ticks up, my tiredness forgotten.

She looks so perfectly fragile in the center of the large bed, her soft breath filling the space.

I nearly change my mind when she wakes with a jerk, her breath hitching, and her head coming up.

“It’s just me,” I murmur as I cross to the bed.

But she doesn’t lay her head back down. Instead, she stares at me with a wary gaze. With a long breath, I cross to the bed. “I’m tired, which is why I’m going to pick you up and take you to my car so we can go home.”

I don’t want to fight her, not now. She cocks her head, assessing me with a questioning gaze. Then she mouths the word, home.

I scrub a hand down my face. It will be her home, and I’m not sure I properly weighed that fact before I started down this path. “That’s right.” Then I pull the covers back and lift her into my arms.

Thankfully, she doesn’t protest, her body relaxed as I lift it to mine.

In fact, she loops her arms around my neck as her head settles on my chest.

What the actual fuck?

She’s back in her wool dress but her feet are bare. We’ll collect her heels tomorrow.

I carry her from the room, moving quickly down the stairs.