Page 83 of Ravaged By a Devil

When we all finally gather around the grand dining table for dinner, the warm energy only multiplies. But the moment the food is passed around, Grandma Milly takes center stage.

She serenades the entire table with embarrassing, ridiculously funny stories from my childhood—recounting the time I tried to cut my own bangs or when I got caught hiding a stray cat in my closet.

"Grandma, please!" I bury my face in my hands, my cheeks burning so hot I know I am bright red, begging her to stop.

The entire family roars with laughter. Even Cain, sitting right beside me, has a low, genuine chuckle rumbling in his chest, his dark eyes soft and amused as he looks at my flaming face, enjoying every single second of my torture.

"Never thought I'd see the day Cain Kavanagh lets a woman decorate his house with pink unicorns and strawberry candles," Malachi drawls from across the table, smirking as he swirls his drink.

“Who told you about that?” Cain frowns in his direction.

I smother a laugh. His brothers stopped over the other day and would not stop laughing at our new decor. I think it’s cool.

Ezekiel snorts, leaning back in his chair. "Word on the street is he's even learning how to eat without inspecting food for explosives first. Softest executioner in the city."

"Shut your damn mouths before I bury both of you in the backyard," Cain rumbles, pointing his knife casually in their direction.

The threat flies around the table, but I catch the slight tug at the corner of his lips. He isn't genuinely angry at all. In fact, under all that dark, stoic armor, he’s almost... relaxed.

Around ten o'clock, Grandma Milly begins to suppress a tiny yawn, her shoulders dropping with exhaustion. The moment Cain notices, he stands up from the head of the table without a single word of complaint, gently offering her his hand to help her up.

“We have to go,” Cain says aloud. “It’s almost time for your medication.”

A wave of relief and deep gratitude swells in my chest. I’m so glad I didn’t let my anxiety get the best of me, so glad I didn't get cold feet and call this whole night off like I’d planned to in my head three separate times today. It was completely eye-opening.

"We need to do a girls' night," Jade insists as she pulls out her phone, swapping numbers with me while Riley types hers into my contacts. "No men allowed next time."

"Agreed," Riley grins, giving me one last quick hug.

Out by the front porch, Cain is already slowly escorting Grandma Milly down the driveway toward the idling car. I hurry my steps to catch up with them, my heels clicking softly on the stone path, but I slow down as their voices drift back to me through the cool night air.

"She’s spent her whole life taking care of other people, you know," Milly says softly, her voice thick with quiet affection as she pats Cain's forearm. "She never lets anyone take care of her."

Cain stops by the open back door, looking down at my small grandmother with an intensity that makes my breath catch in my throat.

"Then it's about damn time someone took care of her," he answers, his low voice absolute and steady.

Standing a few feet away in the shadows, a slow, tender smile breaks across my face.

We all climb into the car, and Cain pulls out onto the main road, heading back toward Milly’s place. Grandma leans her head against the headrest, looking over at Cain in the rearview mirror. "You have a wonderful family, Cain. You really are very lucky."

Cain catches her gaze in the mirror, and a small, rare smile touches his lips—a true, unforced one, warm enough to melt the shadows in his dark eyes. It’s one of the few real smiles I’ve ever seen on his face.

And for some reason, seeing it right then completely crowns the night for me.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

CAIN

It’s four in the morning, and the air in the basement gym is freezing, but sweat drips off my chin, stinging my eyes as I grit my teeth and power through another set.

I had a completely sleepless night. And it was all because of her.

Ever since we drove back from that damn family dinner last night, my mind has been in a violent, non-stop tailspin. Watching her laugh with Jade and Riley, watching the way her eyes lit up when she looked at me, listening to her grandmother... it hit me like a physical blow to the chest.

My feelings for Alexis run deeper than I’ve ever allowed myself to acknowledge. Way deeper than lust, way deeper than simple possessiveness.

I’m falling for her, and it terrifies the living hell out of me.