Page 49 of Married to the Devil

“He’s a city boy.” Devlin throws a rock at the pines. It cracks off bark and bounces away. My youngest brother’s lean and fit, his dark hair cropped tight. “Can’t stand all this natural beauty.”

“Give me skyscrapers. And fucking honking horns.” Kellan lets out an annoyed growl. “Not all this—“ He gestures around vaguely.

“Fresh air?” Devlin picks up another stone and arches his brows. “Clean water?” He sends it spinning into the trees.

“Enough,” I say wearily. If I don’t interrupt, they’ll go on trading insults all day. Sometimes they end up beating each other bloody, and that’s preferable. At least that finishes their bickering. “We need to focus.”

“On what? There’s nothing here.” Kellan shoves his hands in his pockets. “That’s the point, isn’t it?”

“We have other issues.” I glance back at the walls and lower my voice. “You both know why I’ve come here.”

“Yeah, you took the wife on a honeymoon.” Devlin laughs at his own joke. “Seriously, where’s she at? I gotta admit, for some random ass girl, she’s good looking.”

“Better be careful,” Kellan warns. “He’s already got that pissed-off look.”

“Uh-oh. Am I enraging the Don?”

“I may be your Don, but I’m also your big brother, and I swear I’ll fucking punch that smirk off your face,” I snap, annoyed with myself for letting Devlin get to me. That’s what he does and he’s good at it.

Devlin barks a laugh, clearly amused, and even Kellan grins and shakes his head. “Someone’s a little protective,” Kellan says, raising his eyebrows. “You got a thing for the new wife, huh?”

“She’s convenient, that’s all. Now would you two fucking focus?” I slam a fist to the wall and stop walking, glaring at them. “The photograph. The one that kicked all this off.”

Kellan seems thoughtful. Devlin’s hunting for another rock.

“There aren’t many people who could’ve plausibly gotten into your office.” Kellan leans beside me, arms crossed over his chest. “Some staff. Silas and Theodora.”

“You think either of them might be involved?”

Kellan dismisses that with a wave. “Not remotely, but I’m being thorough. That leaves staff. I’ve already vetted everyone working that day and I can’t seem to find any who might have a motive. Nothing was picked up on the cameras either. Not that we have many in the main house.”

“It’s bothering me.” I grit my teeth as Devlin hits another tree with a rock. “Whoever left that threat is inside our family.”

That sobers Kellan. He watches the trees with a grim expression. “We’ve been lucky all these years. We haven’t had to deal with traitors.”

“But the business is changing.” I push off the wall and start walking again. “We need to be prepared. The picture was only the beginning.”

“I can handle it.” Devlin cuts in. He meets my dubious stare with a big, vicious grin. “Come on, boss. I’ve been so fucking bored lately.”

“I need you two focused on getting our distribution channels locked down.”

“Kellan’s got that.” Devlin wanders closer to the pines. “You ever wonder if the stories about this place are true? Not the Jersey Devil shit, but look at it. You got to think a lot of bad, dark things have happened in those woods.”

I grit my teeth. Devlin’s always been attracted to the dark side of life. Not that I can blame him. My youngest brother was born in fire and raised in blood. It’s all he knows.

“Let Dev look into it,” Kellan suggests. “If we really do have a traitor, we need them found sooner rather than later.”

I don’t love it, but he’s got a point. “Alright, Devlin. Run this down for me. Check out everyone working at the house that day.”

“Yes, captain, my captain.” He salutes sarcastically. “Now, when do I get to meet the new family?”

We continue talking business but soon I take my brothers back through the walls and into the main compound. Nunzio is waiting on the driveway, a few of his soldiers standing off to the side, while Hattie draws ponies with laser cannons attached to their backs and unicorns with magic wands and a whole lot of what looks like explosions all around them.

June seems very unhappy about all this and watches warily as we approach.

“I see there are more of you,” she says, eyes locked on me.

“Sister-in-law, allow me to introduce myself.” Devlin ignores her scowl and holds out a respectful hand. “I’m Devlin, the smartest and best-looking brother.”