Page 94 of Devil’s Promise

I grip the blanket, bringing it higher up around my neck. My father’s lip curls into a sneer. “Don’t worry. Angel will be here soon. And then…” He leans closer, grabbing my hair. “You’re both going to pay for your impertinence.”

I try to sit up again, but he roughly pushes me down. The thump of my head on the rug only registers as dim pain as I hear the door open. I gasp, worried it’s Angel, but my gaze meets Gunner’s.

He’s gagged, his hands tied behind his back, and his eyes burn with an absolute fury.

On either side of him are two men, each holding one of his arms. I see his body twitch, revolting against their hands. I wince as they push him roughly to the ground next to me.

He lands on his knees, his teeth digging into the gag.

“Your new family suits you, Promise,” my father laughs.

I hear a deep rumble in Gunner’s throat. I have no idea if my father does or doesn’t hear it, the sound of his own cackle overpowering the room.

I look up at Gunner but he’s not looking at me, he’s staring at my father, his muscles twitching, his arms working in small movements.

But watching Gunner is a mistake, because I’ve taken my eyes off my father. He grabs the edge of the blanket and tugs, exposing the lacy bra I have underneath.

I grab for the blanket but I’m slow. He pulls the cover over my stomach, his lip curling. “Do you want to know what I’m going to do⁠—”

But he doesn’t get to finish.

Gunner thrusts himself forward, his head hitting my father’s face with such force, I hear the bones in his nose crack.

He falls back in a scream of pain, blood spraying from his nostrils as his head hits the floor, his bandaged hand flying to his bloody face.

Gunner makes a noise that has me turning my gaze to him again. I watch as he shrugs the gag, which looked super tight, out of his mouth. How did he do that? “Cover yourself, Promise.”

“Gag him again,” Vincent snarls.

Gunner’s hands appear, and he holds them up. I don’t know if it’s a concession on his part, or if he’s just showing the other men he’s no longer bound.

But I don’t ask as I pull the blanket back up my body. He isn’t looking at me, he’s staring at Vincent. “Rock and The Shadow are circling this house as we speak.” He stands slowly, his eyes full of hate. “If you want to bind me again, you’ll have to kill me. And then, you bet your fucking ass they are killing you. You know what Killian Smith is capable of. And Rock? He loves to be unleashed.”

“You’re lying,” Vincent spits, but he’s visibly shaken and starting to sweat. And no one makes a move toward us.

“He isn’t.”

My head jerks toward the door, to the sound of Angel’s voice, as I barely hold in a cry of relief.

But Vinnie holds up a gun, pointing it at Angel’s chest. “Don’t fucking move.”

Angel’s gaze sweeps over me before he looks back at Vinnie. “And here I thought I was invited.”

“Put the gun down,” Vincent says to his son. Then to Angel, “You were invited.”

“Next time,” Angel’s lip pulls into a sneer, “just call.”

Vincent rolls his shoulders. “Apologies for all the dramatics. Don likes to make a show of everything.”

Angel looks down at my father, who has managed to get on his knees, his hands over his face. “Too true.”

“Fuck.” My father drops his hands, his face a mess like I’ve never seen. For a man who regularly inflicts pain, I don’t think he experiences it much. Not like this.

I start to sit up, wanting to watch, but Gunner’s hand comes to my shoulder as he drops back to his knees. He doesn’t look at me, doesn’t draw any attention to us, as he gently but firmly holds me in place on the floor. His message is received. I’m to stay down here.

And I have no desire to defy his silent command. I settle back on the floor.

“So why am I here?” Angel asks, his shoulders broad, his eyes sharp. “What conversation is so important that my brother and my wife were taken?”