Page 62 of Brutal Devil

“Listen.” I scrub a hand over the scruff on my jaw. “I have some work I need to do. I’ll be gone for a bit.”

She sits up, the throw falling around her lap, and I’m momentarily distracted by how amazing her tits look in that top. “For how long?”

“A few hours, if everything goes well. Saint is going to be here if you need anything, andZiasent more of her famous lasagna to keep you two fed. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

Luna stands, frowning. “What kind of work?”

I’m not going to tell her that. For one, she’ll worry. For another, if things don’t go according to plan, I don’t want her to know anything the authorities can use against her.

I kiss her cheek. “The less you know, the better. I won’t lock you in the bedroom. You can have your run of the place.”

“What else is here?”

“A gym, a game room, a pool, a kitchen, and a few other bedrooms.” There’s also a surveillance room, but she doesn’t need to worry about that.

“There’s a pool down here?”

“Yeah.” I rub the back of my neck as I think about her floating in the water in nothing but a tiny bikini.

If I don’t get out of here now, I’ll never want to leave.

“I can’t believe you’ve been keeping me locked in that room when there’s a pool.” She glares at me, giving me the sass I can’t help but find irresistible.

“I needed to know I could trust you before I let you roam freely.”

That gives her pause. “And you trust me now?”

“Like I would a feral cat.” I grin at her. “But I’ve had my men remove anything that could be used as a weapon.”

“I have hardback books,” she points out.

A tendril of dark hair has fallen across her cheek. I sweep it back and tuck it behind her ear.

“Those books are too precious to you. You don’t want gangster blood on them.”

Her eyes narrow even more.

We both know I’m right.

But I don’t say so. Instead, I dip my head and kiss her again. Fuck, her lips are soft—and responsive even when the rest of her is all prickly and defiant. I like this woman.

Like her way too much.

I end the kiss reluctantly. “Behave,topolina. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

With that, I turn away from her, stalking toward the door.

“Gangster?”

Her voice stops me. I pause and throw a look over my shoulder. Luna is standing where I left her, looking like a dark-haired, kick-ass fairy.

“Yeah?”

“Be safe.”

My gut clenches. There’s no way she knows the danger I’m about to walk straight into, but she’s smart. She senses it. I’ve never had a woman to come home to before, not like this. Warmth rushes inside all the cold, dead places where my heart used to be.

I hold her stare. “Always.”