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《The Devil's Mistress》全部章節：第 31 章 - 第 40 章

178 章節

31

DAMIEN RAPHAËL POV Roxanne sighed, setting the chips bag down on the counter, her shoulders slumping. She shook her head slowly. "Even if you could help, Damien," She said quietly, "These people are brutal, heartless and I don’t want to risk getting anyone else hurt for my sake. Especially not Angelina." Her voice wavered at the end and when she turned to glance at me, I caught the shine in her eyes. A tear teetered along her lower lash line, threatening to fall. My jaw clenched at the sound of my daughter’s name—my daughter, born into this shitstorm by blood alone. Even if Roxanne had no idea about us, she was still trying to protect her. If only she knew what the Raphaël family truly was. If she had the faintest idea of who I am—a contract killer raised in a family of merciless tacticians, people who didn’t blink twice before pulling the trigger. I had blood on my hands long before I ever knew how to properly hold a wine glass. And still…this was exactly the answer I expe

32

ROXANNE POVThat same night, after Damien left with Fred, I didn’t bother sitting around to overthink my next move. My gut had been screaming and after seeing Damien’s face tighten at the mention of Angelina, I knew I couldn't risk sticking around any longer. Kendrick was out there, somewhere and waiting, after that warning shot he made.I packed light. Just the essentials. No more than I could carry on my back. I didn’t need much, hadn’t for a long time now.I slipped the strap of my bag over my shoulder and headed downstairs to Mr. Harris’s place, my landlord. I knocked lightly. He opened the door with that usual look on his face, half-curious and half-concerned. "I came to pay off the rest of the rent." I said, handing over the cash I’d tucked in a paper envelope.He blinked at the money, then at my bag. "You headin’ out?" "Yeah. I’ll mail you the rest by the weekend, not tomorrow." I added, avoiding his eyes as soon as I spotted his son coming from around the back.Mr. Harris

33

ROXANNE POV "No," Garry said with a small nod, as if answering his own twisted question. "Perhaps you’re just gonna keep running away from everything like the ungrateful bitch you are." I clenched my fists. My glare sharpened, but he didn’t flinch. He leaned closer instead, his voice lowering like we were sharing a secret no one else could hear."And the more you keep running, Roxanne, the more hazy those lost memories of yours will get. You’ll stay in the dark about who you truly are…and what you were made for."The train hissed as it slowed into the next stop. A bell chimed. My body tensed. I was ready. But he kept going."So I’m giving you two options." He raised two fingers. "Come back to me…marry Kendrick…and you’ll be forgiven. A fresh start. Or…" He paused, licking his bottom lip slightly. "Walk off this train and keep living a meaningless life, scared and alone. Because out there?" He nodded toward the world beyond the sliding doors. "No one’s going to help you. No one needs

34

ROXANNE POVI was waking up, slowly and groggily.My limbs were heavy and there was a cold sting pressing against my spine. It took me a moment to realize I was lying on the floor.Concrete.I pushed myself up with trembling hands, my body swaying slightly from the aftermath of whatever chemical had knocked me out. My head throbbed dully behind my eyes, but I was barely awake and breathing.I blinked, finally taking in the room around me.It was dimly lit, no windows, just artificial light humming overhead. But what really caught me off guard were the walls.Mirrors. Everywhere.They reflected me in infinite angles; me, alone in a room that felt more like a trap than a prison.Then it hit me.Kendrick.He'd done this. Drugged me. Took me off the street like I was some possession he'd misplaced and finally recovered.And of course, Garry was just bullshiting on the subway. I stumbled to my feet, ignoring the dizzy lurch in my gut. I checked my pockets, praying for a miracle.Nothing.

35

ROXANNE POVStill watching him, I took a steadying breath. "I'd do it a thousand times," I said, bluntly as I let a relaxed smile crawl onto my lips, despite myself. "If it meant protecting myself and the people I care about? I'd do it without blinking." He stopped in his tracks. Tilted his head slightly, like I'd surprised him.That pause gave me just enough time to try and read his eyes; dark brown and intense.He took another step, before asking, "And what does that make you?"I scoffed. "A fucking survivor."Then I screamed, loud and pointed, jabbing my finger at a spot on the floor behind him. "Behind you!" He turned his head.I ran.I bolted for the open panel, every part of me screaming go go go...But he was faster.An arm whipped out, yanking me back. I shrieked, struggling, kicking, twisting, but he was already behind me, locking me against his body like he'd done this before. Like he knew my every move.He leaned in, mouth brushing against my ear as he whispered, "Nice t

36

DAMIEN RAPHAËL POV One shot. Clean, center mass. The man dropped like a sack of bricks onto the pavement outside the casino, right between a flashing billboard and a line of tourists snapping selfies. None of them had any idea. No one even screamed, not yet. His body was still jerking like he was drunk or tweaking, blending right in with the vibe of downtown nightlife. It was poetic, in a way. He’d spent the last six months moving dirty funds through a fake nonprofit, smiling for the camera while children starved and women disappeared. The client of the hit was a silent investor he owed money to. He wanted it wrapped up with no drama, no trail and no second chances. That’s where I came in. I slipped the Glock with the custom suppressor back into the hidden compartment under my leather jacket, flipped up the collar and melted into the crowd. In less than ten seconds, I was gone. No rush, just a steady pace as my hand slipped to check the stopwatch on my wrist. One minute, thi

37

DAMIEN RAPHAËL POV Slowly, I turned just enough to glance at him sideways. My stare locked in. Cold. Thomas stilled. I knew that breath in his chest wasn’t coming out anytime soon. "So you’re questioning my decisions now, Thomas?" I asked, voice like steel dragged over gravel. He shook his head quickly. "Of course not, sir. I just thought..." "Don’t." I cut him off. I stepped back down one step, still staring. "If Kendrick wants her, and I want his fucking head on a platter...then it’s only natural I keep her. Close." I let the silence hang for a second. Then I added, "So if he wants to keep playing this little cat and mouse game, trying to break her, he’ll have to come to us. Either way, he’ll show himself." Thomas gave a slow nod, silent now, knowing better than to press. I left him standing there and climbed the rest of the staircase. As I got closer to the second floor corridor, a soft sound caught my ear; childish giggling and the hum of a woman’s voice. I paused, t

38

ROXANNE POV The dream had its claws in me again. I was running. Always running. The ground shifted beneath me, cement one moment, glass the next, shards tearing at my feet, breath caught in my throat. Garry’s voice echoed through the dark, twisted space behind my eyelids. It was mocking, cruel and close. No matter how fast I ran, I couldn’t wake up. Not until a hand touched my shoulder and a deep voice cut through the noise. "Roxanne." I jolted upright with a sharp yelp, heart slamming in my chest. The scream that had built up inside me died somewhere between dream and reality. My eyes scanned the room, panic still clinging to my ribs, until I realized where I was. Same bedroom. Damien’s mansion. The soft lighting from the hallway spilled through the open doors. A familiar scent in the air. And beside me, standing silent as ever, Damien Raphaël. Shirtless. Sweatpants slung low on his hips. His expression was unreadable in the shadows, but his eyes…they were calm. Wa

39

DAMIEN RAPHAËL POVThe sun was already heating up the damn bricks in the driveway, and I was two minutes into scrolling through a few unread messages. Business. Nothing urgent enough to distract me from what today was about.Shopping.Yeah. Never thought I’d use that unironically."Come on, silly! Daddy’s waiting for you!" I glanced up from my phone and there they were, Angelina tugging Roxanne by the hand at the front door like she was pulling her into a carnival instead of just out for a day of shopping.And Roxanne?She looked…different.A short, casual dress clung just enough to her curves to draw the eye, mine included, and the pair of heels she wore didn’t even try to hide the smooth length of her legs. Her hair was straightened and parted to the side, falling neatly over her shoulders. And she kept brushing her fringe behind her ear like she wasn’t used to the attention. She didn’t know it yet, but she’d caught every bit of mine.I watched her pause in the doorway, her hand i

40

DAMIEN RAPHAËL POVI sat at my desk, one finger tapping the neck of the half-empty whiskey bottle in front of me. The bass from the club downstairs thumped faintly through the floors, muffled by the soundproofing, but my focus was locked on the two men in my office.Garry Anderson sat across from me, his shoulders relaxed, too relaxed. The same bastard who made Roxanne's life a living nightmare. Who laughed while she cried. The same lowlife that raised his voice louder than her screams.I knew his type. Dressed clean, smelling like expensive cigars, pretending to be civilized. But underneath it all? Just another street dog who clawed his way up and never stopped barking.And now he was here in my office, acting like this was a casual drop-in.Then there was Kendrick Lee, he didn’t bother sitting; he was too busy pacing the room like a damn vulture. Hands in his pockets, his eyes scanning the shelves, the décor, the bottle of scotch on the cocktail counter, like he was searching for s

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