Page 122 of Dancing with the Devil

I opened my mouth to defend myself, but shut it. I opened it again and shook my head. “Well, maybe if he wasn’t such a creep, he’d still be alive,” I crossed my arms over my chest. “Did he say why he took it?”

He seemed reluctant but answered my question nonetheless. “Logan was ill,” he explained, and I shifted on his lap. “And he just…likedyou.”

His jaw clenched, and I could hear the bitterness in his tone.

I was reluctant at first but eventually gave in. “Don’t you think that was a littleextreme? He only stole my bra.”

“Well,tesoro,” Antonio began. “I had a fuck-up in one hand,” he lifted his left hand. “And four hungry sharks in another,” he lifted his right hand.

“Two birds with one stone?” I asked, and almost as though he was impressed, he nodded—once.

“And, I don’t take disrespect towards you lightly.”

There was something so sinister about his tone that my words were almost caught in my throat. “Well, Logan’s gone now.” I got up and stared at Cesar. I whipped around, showing Antonio my biggest smile. “Can I have Cesar back now?” I whispered so that Cesar wouldn’t hear me.

“Have you learned your lesson?” he leaned back in his chair.

“What exactly was the lesson?” I hesitantly asked—rubbing the back of my neck—and I heard Cesar snicker behind me. Antonio’s eyes shot to him, and he cleared his throat.

Antonio sighed—giving in—and nodded. “Thank you!” I beamed, leaning forward to kiss his cheek.

Before I could move away, he grabbed my face, crashing his lips to mine.

Resting my hand on his thigh, I leaned into the kiss. He took my bottom lip between his teeth as I pulled away.

“Friends don’t kiss on the lips,” I sternly reminded him, and he grinned.

“Friends don’t fuck like we do either.”Damn him.

I immediately pulled back, fighting a smile as I walked to Cesar in the doorway.

“Hello, Miss Nirah,” he looked down at me and I broke out into a broad smile, leaping into his arms.

He, for once, hugged me back and I couldn’t help the warmth exploding across my chest. I broke the hug, slinging one arm around his neck as I lifted my leg. “Come on!” I encouraged him and he scooped me up bridal style. “We’re disappearing off into the sunset, bye Antonio!” I called out with both arms around Cesar’s neck.

Cesar carried me away and when I glanced up at him, he chuckled, shaking his head down at me.

“I don’t want to die, Miss Nirah.”

“If he even laid apinkyon you, I’d chop his dick off. He wouldn’t risk it,” I assured him.

As soon as we reached the basement door, Cesar carefully lowered me to the floor and opened the door. I was hesitant, but he stood firmly at my side. “I’m right here, Miss Nirah.”

His words wrapped around me like a comforting hug, so with a deep breath in, I headed downstairs.

It was cleaner than before, and the stench wasn’t as bad either. There wasn’t a single drop of blood in sight, including on the weapons. The only blood I saw was the blood dropping straight from Sylvester’s veins. “Did you…” I trailed off, looking at Cesar and he gave me a single nod.

“Mr. Antonio informed me that you did not like the sight of blood,” he said and my stomach grew warm.Did you just get heart flutters because of that? Maybe…Oh, Nirah, that’s fucked up.

After ignoring the unimportant and judgmental voice in my head—

I was not judging—hush!

I finally glanced over at Sylvester.

He raised his head with what looked like a lopsided smile—a grin maybe—and I swallowed the lump of fear down my throat. “You miss me,princess?” His croaky voice sent shivers down my spine.

“Where is he?” I asked, looking into his weak and dangerously low eyes. He knew who I was referring to.Alexander.