“Yeah,” Milk agreed.
“It’s pretty,” Upper said.
I took my eyes off Devil and met Upper’s gaze with a smile.
“There’s just something—”
Three audible knocks from the driver’s side window had us shouting and jumping in fright.
My hand was already on my chest as I snapped my head to see the blond standing there, trying to look in.
“Motherfucker.” Dog released a breath upon seeing her.
And so did everyone, collectively.
“Didn’t mean to scare! Can you guys—wind down?” Her muffled voice reached us.
Devil looked at me, the previous suspicion in his eyes long gone. Concern was all that remained there now. “Should I?”
I looked back at the blond, knowing she couldn’t see us.
Cracking my knuckles, I sucked in a breath, trying to calm the hard thumping in my chest as I nodded. “Yes,” I said, putting on my mean face. “Wind down.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Zahra
Devil pressed a button, and the window opened.
My stomach twisted with jealousy. She was even prettier up close.
“Hi!” she chirped, looking into the minivan. “Oh, it’s a—it’s a full house,” she said, fighting to keep her grin from slipping as her gaze fell to Devil, and then her grin turned a little brighter like she was genuinely pleased to meet him. “You must be Elia. I see the resemblance, the whole hair color and ch-chin, like—yeah.” Her grin turned into an awkward smile as she glanced at me.
I leveled her with a glare, and she quickly averted her eyes from me. Intimidated. Yes. Good. I liked that.
She cleared her throat. “You guys have been out here for an hour now. Would you like to come in?” she asked, swallowing. “My nonna just finished making dinner; I think there is enough for everyone—”
“Oh, thank God, I was starving—”
“Dog,” I warned.
“What?” he whined. “We haven’t eaten in hours, I’m dying here.”
“The cemetery isn’t far. Remember?” I gritted out.
Gemma’s eyes widened in fear at my statement.
“And you.” I pinned her with a stare. “Do you just randomly invite strangers into your home?”
She blinked. “Uh… well… you’re—you’re Elio’s girlfriend, and he’s Elio’s brother… I mean—when I saw the minivan, I recognized it and knew it couldn’t be Elio because he’s not in Italy.I tried to call him, but he wasn’t picking up, and then I figured it might be someone from—you know? His work? I wanted to call the cops, but the minivan was familiar, and I just wanted to make sure.”
“So, you came out of your house—not sure if it was a serial killer waiting to kidnap you or hurt you—just to make sure it was okay to call the cops?” Devil asked.
Gingerly, she raised her hand to reveal pepper spray. “I have… pepper spray?”
I looked toward the back seat to my friends, with a question in my eyes, only getting shrugs in return.
I turned my gaze to her. “You know us.”
