Page 45 of Devil’s Promise

Oh. Right. I shrug, taking his phone back from him without asking.

It’s liars that scare me.

Gunner reads my words and grunts softly. “That’s one way to look at it.”

I’d like to ask him more, but he’s been pretty open for a guy who hasn’t asked me a single thing in return.

So instead, I type one more message. It’s probably more than I should share. More than I’ve said to anyone for a really long time, but maybe I’m desperate to be understood by someone.

Someday I hope I can be more like you.

He reads the words, takes the phone and then deletes every word I’ve written before he pockets the phone.

Then he shoves an entire éclair into his mouth. I stare at the podium where I was just photographed across Angel’s lap and wonder what the media will say this time.

Enough time passes that I’m surprised when Gunner speaks. “If I were you, I wouldn’t try to be a soldier. It’s not your skill set, blondie. But you’ve got some real…assets. I’d focus on convincing a soldier to do the dirty work for you.”

It’s my turn to snort. It’s a nice thought, but if today taught me anything, it’s that winning Angel to my side is a dead end.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Angel

Whatever I thought this day might be, it’s been so much fucking worse.

First, Promise was dead-on about the clothes.

Which leads me to wonder what Don is playing at. My family’s future is riding on this deal. I can tell my brothers hate the plan.

And my reasons for choosing it, for wanting more, are starting to feel…empty.

Did my brothers sense that? Or did they always know that Don wasn’t a man to be trusted?

Either way, I don’t need some uppity fucking politician thinking he’s going to double-cross me. I might be a lower-level drug dealer, but I do the kind of dirty work Don can’t even imagine.

And then there is the way Promise is dismissed. It’s like she’s invisible to all inside participants until the cameras are on.

And then she’s the target.

My growing protectiveness over Promise is another problem. I’ve been trying to hide it all day, right until I caught her in my arms. Then the whole room got a view of my…feelings.

I can play them off. Say that I was acting for the cameras. Because I need Don. Or, more precisely, he’s got a few high-value items that I want, and he knows it.

And while Promise’s advice was invaluable, if Don thinks my allegiance has shifted, I could lose everything.

Which is why I played it cool today.

Didn’t speak to Promise.

Didn’t touch her when it wasn’t necessary.

But the way Don’s charging toward the back of the country club, he didn’t appreciate my last performance for the cameras. But I steel my spine. I know how I feel, he doesn’t. I was following the script. And even if I wasn’t…

I’ve got a theory that he gave Promise revealing clothing and me a shitty fucking suit to paint us as villains.

I made myself the hero.

Because while I don’t want him to think I’ve turned against him, I’m a soldier, and I know how to fight all kinds of wars.