Page 36 of Devil's Claim

Satisfaction had never felt so good.

CHAPTER 9

Christine

Sadness.

Hatred.

Anger.

They were all wrapped up inside of me. I was floored. Horrified. Enraged.

And so very sad. Tears threatened to derail the strength I’d just found. I turned away, taking gasping breaths. My son. Malcolm had taken my son away from me. How could he do that? How? Why? Did the man hate me so much he wanted to destroy all my happiness?

“Breathe,” Kruz told me.

I closed my eyes, trying to control my emotions. Forget about breathing. I was just hoping I’d survive. “My baby.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“I should hate you,” I told him with strong conviction in my voice. People were starting to leave. Maybe they’d finally seen Tonya for what she truly was. Why hadn’t I seen through her bullshit before? How had this happened? I knew why. Fury wrapped around me from not seeing it before. Nothing had changed. A new city. A new life. The same ridiculous greed.

“Do you?”

My laugh was stilted, but how could I be angry with him? He’s just honored me more than any single other man had done in my life. “Honestly? No. What does that tell you about me?”

“That you’ve had enough of deceit for which I don’t blame you. However, I do think it’s time for us to leave.”

There was such insistence in his voice, more kindness than I’d experienced from a man in a long time. I didn’t understand him in the least, but I also wasn’t stupid. He’d been waiting for something to happen, an attack maybe. Or someone to show. At least he’d been there when I’d needed him. That was crazy. Laughable. The man had pointed a gun at me a day before and he’d been kinder and more honest with me than Malcolm had during the years we’d dated.

The irony was twisted as fuck.

“Good for you for standing up for yourself,” Chloe whispered. Troy was staring at me as if I was a wounded animal.

“I’m so sorry about your party. I had no intention of destroying everything.”

Chloe laughed. “You didn’t destroy anything. I never liked Tonya.”

“Then why were we friends with her?”

We both looked at each other and laughed. “I don’t know,” Chloe said. “Other than my parents know her parents. Stupid. Just… Are you going to be okay?”

“I’ll be fine. I think.” At least the bitch had disappeared, taking Malcolm with her. How stupid had I been? How long had the two of them been seeing each other?

“We’ll work through everything about Maverick. I promise you. Maybe you should consider an alternative.” She darted a look in Kruz’s direction, purposely not providing any details, which I appreciated. The last thing I wanted was to have any other dirty family business strewn across the floor like the very garbage Kruz had mentioned. What sickened me was that while Tonya had treated me like white trash, she’d likely known about my past all along.

A game player. I should easily be able to pick one out from a crowd. My forced naiveté had stolen everything important from me. No more. That girl was gone.

I felt gutted inside, every piece ready to shatter into a million more pieces. I squeezed her hand. “We’ll talk tomorrow. Kruz is going to take me home.”

She nodded but walked closer to him. “Don’t allow anything to happen to her, Mr. Blanco. She’s special and doesn’t deserve the hand that she’s been dealt. While we don’t know each other, I have a mean right hook myself so don’t fuck with me on this.”

“Trust her,” Troy piped in, trying to smile while still registering the ugly ramifications. He pulled Chloe closer, but it was more about distancing himself from where I stood.

Kruz laughed. “I don’t doubt it. I’ll take care of her.”

Chloe shook her head and squeezed Troy’s arm. I watched them walk to the door and sighed. “What a great party,” I quipped, trying to keep from doubling over. I wasn’t certain if I did if it would be from laughter or retching the bubbly.