Page 3

Nova

After the fire, I was placed in another foster home.

Thankfully, my stay there was uneventful. I was on my best behavior for a little over a year, until I turned eighteen. I worked at a diner while I lived with the Bradford family, saving every dime I made, counting down the days until I was free to start over. All my thoughts were focused on leaving and starting a new life. I worked overtime on the weekends whenever they offered. They loved me because anything I could do to earn extra money, I did it.

To be on my own.

To forget about him .

I haven’t seen Colt since the night of the fire. While my instincts tell me it was him who saved us that night, I haven’t laid eyes on him since the night he left, over a year and a half ago.

I’ve moved on with my life now, burying what I felt for him in the far corners of my withered heart.

I work as a bartender at the local bar, and I usually get off around three in the morning. It’s good money and the tips make up for the belligerent bastards I have to put up with every night. Lacey, the other bartender who trained me is tolerable most days. She’s always praising how quickly I learn and while I appreciate it, the fact remains.

I fucking hate people.

Sliding a beer across the counter to Joe, one of the regulars, the door to the bar opens and the crowd goes deathly quiet.

In walks the talk of the town.

No one knows his name, but they call him ‘Devil’.

Supposedly, he’s a stone-cold killer, a boogeyman in the night. Rumors say he controls all the illegal activity in this town and he’s not one to fuck with. I’ve heard countless stories about his sins, but I take them with a grain of salt. If he’s so dangerous and lethal, why the hell is he hanging out in this shithole bar?

I’m calling bullshit.

He takes a seat at his usual table in the back corner. It’s dark and away from the crowd, the perfect place to watch everything going on. The quiet murmurs begin and everyone’s eyes dart to the mysterious man in the black hoodie, a hat pulled down over his eyes. I don’t know why they still make a spectacle of him. He’s come in every night since I’ve began working here.

I’ve never been close enough to make out his features. He’s tall and broad, tattoos covering his hands, the only exposed skin I can see. Strands of dark hair peek out from underneath his hat and I wonder what his face looks like. A part of me feels guilty about my curiosity, but Colt never returned. I know he had to leave, but we’re adults now. Why hasn’t he come back for me like he promised?

Maybe he didn’t feel the connection between us as strongly as I did.

He imprinted himself inside me, haunting both my dreams and my waking thoughts. He’s condemned me to what could’ve been. My chest aches at the thought of him and I try my damnedest to push it all away.

Glancing towards Devil, I watch Lacey approach his table. He says something, and she nods curtly, scurrying my direction. She stops in front of me on the other side of the bar. “Satan wants whatever we have on draft.”

Her nervousness makes me grin and I have to ask. “Is his face as nice as his body?”

She gapes at me. “Nova, that man is a monster!”

“I’m just curious.” I chuckle and she shakes her head.

“I can’t see him because it’s so dark in that corner and his hat is pulled down.”

While I can’t see his eyes, I feel his gaze boring into me like a warm caress. Something flutters in my chest, but I ignore it, not ready to analyze that shit show.

Turning the glass at an angle, I fill it slowly as Lacey taps her fingers on the bar. Once I’m finished, I set it on her tray. “He’s just another customer. Calm down.”

She nods jerkily, heading towards his table. Setting the beer down, he nods his thanks, handing her a few bills as he speaks.

She comes back to the bar, eyes wide with a huge grin plastered across her face. She shoves the money into my hand and my jaw drops when I see it’s two one-hundred-dollar bills. “What the fuck?” I whisper.

“He gave me three but told me to keep one.” She waggles her eyebrows. “Looks like Lucifer has a crush.”

Rolling my eyes, I press the money into her palm. “Give it back to him. I poured him a beer; this is too much.”

She looks at me like I’m crazy but does as I ask. I feel his stare again as I pour Joe another beer. It’s unnerving but oddly comforting.

I need to get a grip.

We play this game for the rest of the night. It’s fucking ridiculous but I can’t control myself, constantly looking his direction. Every time I feel the familiar prickles along my skin, I know he’s watching me.

Has he always done this, and I’ve never noticed? I’m usually preoccupied with customers and cleaning, but it’s hard to believe I’ve never felt him like this before.

“Have a good one, Nova.” Joe says, interrupting my thoughts. He leans over the bar, lowering his voice. “Quit staring at him, girl. He’s bad news.”

Rolling my eyes, I pop his arm with the dish towel. “See you tomorrow, Joe.”

After I finish cleaning up, I realize it’s closing time. I look up to see Devil is the only one left in the bar. He stands slowly, the chair scraping across the floor. The sound startles me even though I’m looking at him. Quickly, I busy myself, wiping down the already cleaned countertops.

A large, tattooed hand slaps the bar beside me, and I jump at the sound. My body hums at his closeness, but he turns before I can see his face. He leaves without saying a word and only then do I notice the two-hundred dollars he left behind.

Staring at the bills like they may bite me, I try to wrap my head around the mystery man’s behavior.

There’s something about him that intrigues me, and I can’t put my finger on it.

No one has captured my attention since Colt, and the first person who does is called Devil.

Sliding the money from the bar top, I slip it into my back pocket. While it’s too much, he obviously wants me to have it.

And I’m a broke bitch.

Heading towards the back, I grab the last few bags of garbage to take to the dumpster while Lacey finishes mopping. The owner of the bar, Jared, never stays until closing, so us girls end up doing everything.

Opening the back door, I peek outside to make sure no one is hanging around. A cool breeze hits my face, and an eerie feeling sends a shudder down my spine. Closing the distance to the dumpster, I quickly raise the lid, throwing the trash inside. Before I can take a step back, a large hand grips my bicep painfully, spinning me around.

My gaze collides with Emmett, a dumbass who spends most of his paycheck at the bar. He’s asked me out multiple times and usually Lacey steps in to run interference. He’s a few years older than me and not a bad looking guy, but I’m not interested. He refuses to take no for an answer.

“You shouldn’t be out here by yourself, sugar.” He grins and my stomach churns. He’s sloppy drunk, but he doesn’t look like the guy I’m used to seeing. Something sinister lurks behind his usually playful eyes.

“What are you doing out here, Emmett?” I snap, trying to jerk my arm from his hold.

He grips me harder, pushing me against the wall next to the dumpster. The alcohol on his breath makes my eyes water, the smell strong and foul. He didn’t come in tonight, so he must’ve gotten drunk somewhere else.

“Let me go, asshole!” I grit out, my knee coming up, but he twists to the side, dodging the blow meant for his balls.

He laughs darkly, pressing his body against mine, pinning me in place. His hands squeeze my breasts as I squirm to get away. “I’ve tried to be a gentleman, Nova, but I think you’re a bad girl who needs a man to take it.”

My blood boils at his words, my veins feeling like they’re about to explode from the pressure. “Already been done, you fucking twat.” I slam my forehead into his and he stumbles back, letting out a string of curses. Pushing myself off the wall, I get all of two steps before he grabs me again, backhanding me across the face.

“You fucking bitch!” He shoves me down to the ground, dropping to his knees. He cages my legs between his own, his fingers working the button on my jeans. My body curls, my fists swinging at his face and chest.

I have to get this motherfucker off me.

The pop of my button is loud, and he pulls down my zipper as I scream and fight.

A shadow appears behind him, and I freeze.

Please don’t be one of his friends coming to join in.

Before another thought passes through my mind, the figure grabs Emmett by the hair, shoving a knife into the back of his skull. He stops moving immediately, his mouth gaping open as his bloodshot eyes stare down at me. A trail of blood runs down his neck, soaking into the fabric of his shirt.

My gaze slides to the shadow behind him, unable to make out any of his features. But judging by the buzzing along my skin, I know exactly who it is.

Devil.

He pulls the knife from Emmett’s skull, shoving him in the side of the head. He falls to the ground beside me, and I jump to my feet, hurrying to button my pants. My savior turns to walk away, but I can’t let him leave just yet. “Hey!”

He stops without turning around.

“What’s your name?” I ask, taking a step towards him.

“Devil.” His voice is rich and deep, sending goosebumps across my skin. I take another step and his body tenses.

“Thank you.” I murmur, not sure what else to say. I have a million questions, but after what just happened, my mind is blank.

“Always, Nova.”

My breath hitches. “How do you know my name?”

He begins to walk away, throwing his response over his shoulder. “I’m the devil. I know everything.”