Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Devil You Made Me: Kabanata 21 - Kabanata 30

KyrenThe gunfire was still echoing in my ears as I grabbed Alastair's wrist and pulled him toward the back of the diner. His eyes were wide with shock, his face pale in the harsh fluorescent lighting that flickered ominously overhead. I could imagine the questions that were on his mind."This way," I hissed, keeping low as we moved between overturned tables and scattered debris. The shooters were still focused on the front of the diner, their automatic weapons tearing through the booths. "Kyren, what the hell is happening?" Alastair's voice was tight with panic, but he followed me without hesitation, trusting me to get us out of this nightmare even as his world collapsed around him."Shut up and move." I couldn't afford to explain right now, couldn't waste mental energy on anything except survival. The emergency exit was twenty feet away, marked by a faded red sign that had probably been installed when this place opened in the 1960s.Behind us, I heard the distinctive crack of som

KyrenHow could I interrupt him when I was completely entranced by the sheer need I had for this man? Desires, wants that I had suffered to bury for these past days. Telling myself repeatedly to stop thinking about him.This was an opportunity to completely indulge myself in what I wanted, a rare opportunity to throw caution to the wind. My chance to live.It didn't matter that I had a situation that needed my attention or that I was shot at.My desire rivaled all of that.So, I slowly shook my head, my eyes burning with lust.“Come here,” I beckoned to him.Alastair kissed my lips, stealing me back from my thoughts. He kissed me hungrily, sucking whatever rationality that was about to spring up in my mind.While kissing me, he stretched his hand out to the nightstand, where I kept my condoms. He brought out the condom and the lubricant, laying it right in front of me to see what I was up against.I swallowed.My body was trembling with how much I needed him. To fuck the adrenaline o

AlastairJamie's dorm room smelled like stale pizza. He was one of the few people at the university who knew about my work at Velvet, and more importantly, he was the kind of person who asked no questions when someone showed up at his door with a duffel bag and exhaustion etched into every line of their face."You can crash here anytime you need to," he said, clearing textbooks and empty energy drink cans off his narrow twin bed to make room for my bag. "My roommate transferred last month, so I've got the space.""Just for today," I promised, though we both knew I had no idea where I'd be sleeping tonight. "I have some things to sort out."Jamie nodded and went back to his organic chemistry homework, I left my bag tucked safely under his spare desk and headed across campus to my first class of the day, trying to pretend that my world wasn't falling apart one piece at a time.The International Trade Policy building was one of the newer structures on campus, all glass and steel designed

KyrenI drank one shot after the other, groaning in satisfaction as it slid down my throat. I was doing a poor job of numbing the image of Alastair's face when I'd called him a whore. I'd seen hurt before, had caused it, weaponized it, and used it to get what I needed. But the look in his green eyes when those words left my mouth was devastating.I'd broken something in him that I didn't think could be repaired.The drive made me reflect and self loathe. My hands gripped the steering wheel with enough force to leave impressions on the leather. I'd gone to the club to apologize, to explain why I'd pushed him away, maybe even to admit that he was right about everything. Instead, I'd done what I always did when cornered, I'd lashed out with enough cruelty to ensure he'd never want to see me again.Mission accomplished.I got to my penthouse, staggering like a teenager who couldn't hold his liquor. How the fuck did I get drunk? I should have noticed the absence of my security detail

KyrenWhen morning came, I was able to see the destruction in my living room, the bullet holes in the walls, overturned furniture, and the blood stains on the marble floor that the cleaning crew hadn't managed to completely remove. But the physical damage was nothing compared to the mess my life had become.I was in over my head and it seemed like every step I took landed me in an even bigger mess.I needed leverage against Alvarez, and the only way to get it was through the Serrano family connection. Which meant I needed to spend time with Anna, needed to learn everything I could about her father's business dealings and potential weaknesses.The irony wasn't lost on me. Here I was, planning to manipulate my own fiancée to save my skin.It was the life, I had to protect myself and everyone that I loved. Anna answered her phone on the second ring, her voice bright with happiness that made my chest tighten with guilt."Kyren! I was just thinking about you. The florist called this mor