Page 56 of The Devil's Reward
“And you know it’s used in an adult way that doesn’t mean donkey,” Quinn says mildly. “Unless you want to sit here the rest of the time and not play, you won’t repeat it.”
“I like her,” Asa declares, giving Quinn a charming grin. “Why don’t you dump this loser and I’ll show you a good time?”
Quinn blushes furiously, obviously overwhelmed with all the attention. Thankfully she’s saved from answering by Macy. “You’re too pretty,” Macy tells him seriously. “I like Shadow best. He bought me chips, and he brought me here on our date.”
I smile smugly at Asa, who takes the rejection in stride. “Awww, thank you for telling me I’m pretty, princess. That will soothe my wounded pride.”
“Would you all go away?” I demand. As much as this is amusing, I can tell that Quinn is not comfortable, even if she is trying to smile.
“We’re going,” Bullet says firmly. He nods at Quinn and gives her a kind smile. “It was nice to meet you, Quinn, and I hope we’ll see you around.” Then he walks away, and the other men say their goodbyes and follow him. That’s the thing about Bullet, when he speaks you listen, and most follow his lead without question.
“You have a big family,” Macy remarks as she finishes her pizza when we’re alone. “So if you’re my mom’s boyfriend, does that make them my family too?”
Quinn looks at me pleadingly for help. I look at the little girl that is far too smart for her own good. “Your mom and I are only just starting to see each other, so we’re not boyfriend and girlfriend yet, but we might get there eventually. But if you ever need anything, any of my family will be happy to help you. Does that make sense?” God, please tell me it does.
“Do you know how to do a ponytail or a braid?” Macy asks, abruptly switching directions like I haven’t even spoken.
“Uh, I think I can manage it, why?” I ask carefully. I sense a trap.
“Because if you become mom’s boyfriend, that means you need to help take care of me, and you have to know how to do one of each,” Macy says pointedly. “Little girls are very particular about their hair, you know.”
“I have heard that.”
Pleased with my answer, or rather, lack thereof, she looks at her mother and asks, “Can I go and play now?”
“Yes,” Quinn agrees, and Macy waves at me before she takes off. Once she’s out of earshot, Quinn lays her head back and groans. “I swear I’m going to be fully gray by the time she’s done with elementary school.”
I chuckle and bring my hand up to cup the back of her neck, massaging gently to hopefully soothe her. “But you’ll never be bored,” I point out.
She lifts her head and gives me a droll look. “Bored,” she repeats carefully. “I think we need to clear something up, Shadow. You make it sound like Rose and the other women you introduced me to are always getting into trouble. Well, my parents and sister are just like them when they get together, and that is exactly who Macy takes after. The worry was never about beingbored.”
I fight back a wince. If I ever meet Quinn’s family, I need to make sure they never meet any of the other women. I don’t think my heart could take it.
“I stand corrected,” I acknowledge. “Fine, I’ll never use the words bored and Macy in the same sentence again.” I glance around and see that no one is paying attention to us, and that Macy is happily engaged in whatever game she is playing in the arcade area, so I pull Quinn forward and press my mouth to hers.
The kiss is quick and hard, but it’s enough that when I pull away, her eyes are dazed. “What was that for?” she asks softly.
“Because I can, and because I want to convince you to go on another date with me. One that won’t be interrupted by a bunch of people I know and where I can kiss you properly without being interrupted by a bunch of kids.”
“You want another date?” she asks, stunned.
“How else am I going to convince you to be my girlfriend?” I joke.
She stares at me and then starts to chuckle. “How indeed? I have to say though, this is a good start.”
TWENTY-NINE
MOLE
You never hold all your cards in one hand.
I sit in the stolen SUV and wait. No one noticed me as they all walked in. Not the women, not the men, and not even my so-called brothers. I nearly laughed out loud when they walked right by, never even glancing my way. I could have pulled out a gun and shot one of them and watched it all dissolve into chaos. Too bad it’s not my objective to kill Bullet now. Right now, I’m going to bring him to his knees in another way.
Along with the rest of those assholes who think they’re better than me.
I’m going to bide my time, wait for them to come out, and then I’ll strike. And maybe, just maybe, I’ll succeed in killing a few birds with one stone, as it were. I need Sage alive, but the others, well, they’re collateral. Even that pretty redhead and her brat. If they don’t make it out alive today, well, that’s not my problem. More deaths mean more brothers that I bring to their knees.
My phone buzzes and I pull it out, sighing in annoyance when I see Dmitri’s text.
