Page 69 of The Devil

We trust you will enjoy your breakfast before departure.

As always, The Society remains at your disposal.

22

AMAL

“She isn’t going anywhere near them.” Jet’s hand disappears beneath his jacket heading toward his weapon. He looks pissed as hell as he begins to rise.

Severin reaches over to stop him. “Sit.”

"She isn’t part of this,” he grits out.

“She became a part of it the minute she decided to steal that watch. Now focus,” Severin says. “I’m counting three. How many behind me?”

“Two.”

“Probably more in the lobby.”

“Fuck. Malcom should have stopped them. Warned us.”

“I see why he didn’t,” Severin says and I follow his gaze through the arch of the restaurant’s entrance to see Malcom wedged between two men. “Pick up your fork and knife.”

“What?” I ask.

“Pick up your utensils and start eating. Both of you,” Severin orders, doing the same.

My heart races. I swear every single person in this restaurant grows quiet. Even if they don’t know what’s happening, they feel the tension around them and it’s like they’re all holding their breath. Waiting to see what will happen next.

“They’re not taking her,” Jet says flatly.

Severin sips his coffee which must be cold now. He looks relaxed. It’s the opposite of how he sounds.

“I don’t think that’s up to us anymore.”

“They’re the ones who sent the men last night, aren’t they?” I ask.

“How much does she know?” Sev asks Jet, not looking at me.

“Nothing. She knows nothing,” he hisses through his teeth, his words as much a warning to me as a response to Severin. “They’re not taking her.”

“You don’t think straight, Jet. Not when it comes to her.”

I look from Severin to Jet. Jet looks like he’s going to murder his brother.

“Jet,” I start, but don’t get to finish because it’s like I’m not even there.

“She’s my wife,” Jet enunciates every syllable. “I vowed to protect her.” He rises to his feet and leans toward Severin. “I will put every one of those men in the ground before I let them touch her,” he hisses through his teeth.

My stomach tenses, heartbeat hitching. He means it. He means every word. The restaurant is full of people and I need to diffuse this before people get hurt.

I stand. “I’ll go. It’s fine. You’ll be with me, Jet.”

Severin gets up, too. He shifts his gaze to me, eyes narrowed, and I know what he’s thinking, and I get it. Jet is his priority. I’m a stranger. No, I’m worse than a stranger. I’m the daughter of the man who nearly killed his brother and right now he’s risking everything for me.

“You won’t let anything happen to me,” I tell Jet, wrapping my hand around his, afraid if I don’t, he’s going to go for his gun and do something really stupid. Because I don’t doubt for a second that he wouldn’t do exactly as he said and I think Severin knows it.

“You don’t know what you’re saying. You have no idea what we’re dealing with. And I’m sorry I got you into this mess.”