Page 31 of Die for You (Diamond Devils #4)

Aurora

I’m still sore two days after my night in the woods with the Devils. My whole body aches like I ran a marathon after getting pummeled in a Jiu Jitsu tournament.

Damien’s fingerprints are imprinted on my thighs from where he held me while he fucked me against the tree, Finn’s imprinted on my hips and Knox’s under my arms from where I dangled in their grips while they held me above the ground.

I should’ve known that any night spent with three Devils would be unhinged and leave me aching, sore, and addicted.

Being chased and fucked by the Devils did absolutely nothing to sate my appetite for them. Now I’m ravenous.

Even Leah’s attitude isn’t enough to sour my mood today. She’s like Leah two-point-oh now that she’s been promoted to manager, but I’m too high up on cloud nine to give a shit.

I grab my table’s drinks from the kitchen, and when I push back out the door, I still can’t shake off the grin I’ve been wearing the past two days.

Until I spot the new guest seated at one of my tables.

Fuck .

I ditch the drinks in front of the regulars and intercept Leah as she’s about to take her order to the kitchen.

“What?” she hisses, shaking off my grip.

“Can you take my table?”

She scans the diner before scowling at me. “You only have two . If you seriously can’t handle that, you are not cut out for this job?—”

“Just this once.” Even though Leah is one of the last people I ever want to ask for anything, I force out the word. “Please.”

Her expression doesn’t change. I’m dog shit on the bottom of her shoe. “Do I seriously need to remind you that you’re already on thin ice? Do your job or quit. Those are your options.”

With that, she flounces back into the kitchen. God, she’s the worst. I grit my teeth, forcing a fake perky smile as I head for my only other occupied table.

“Can I get you started with something to drink?”

“Oh, hey!” The girl with wavy brown hair blinks up at me through thick lashes.

Monica . I’m so fucking tired of seeing her face around Diamond.

She gives me a sickly sweet smile. “I didn’t know you worked here.”

“Not sure why you would. I’ve never seen you here.” Don’t be a bitch, don’t be a bitch, don’t be a bitch . But it’s so hard when you’re dealing with people like Monica.

“I’m meeting my boyfriend. He should be here any minute.” She bats her lashes, but I literally couldn’t care less about her social life. Just as long as she stays away from Knox. “You know I meant to ask you: which of the Devils are you dating?”

I nearly bite out I don’t see how it’s any of your fucking business , but I catch Leah observing us out of my peripheral vision. “I shouldn’t really discuss my personal life at work. Can I get you a coffee or something?”

“Oh my god.” Monica covers her open mouth, lashes fluttering in horror. “Tell me you’re not screwing all of them?”

I step closer and drop my voice to a hush because I’m too pissed to care what the hell Leah thinks. “It’s actually none of your business.”

Monica’s gaze turns scolding. “That’s not fair to Knox. He wouldn’t want to share. At least, he didn’t want to share me.”

I clench my jaw. Leah will fire me on the spot if I rip Monica’s hair out, but it would be worth it.

“He’s not the same person he was in high school. Some people change.” My gaze rakes over her. “Some don’t.”

She purses her lips at my jab. “You should cut him loose. Stop stringing him along. If you can’t choose, let him find someone who will choose him .”

Her words hit their target. From the beginning, I’ve been feeling guilty about my inability to choose between the Devils. Casual sex with all three of them is one thing. But this runs deeper than sex now. And I’ve been waiting for them to give me an ultimatum—pick one of us, or none of us.

But I can’t. I can’t possibly choose. I care about all three of them. Want all of them for different reasons. For the same reasons.

Damien is gruff, demanding, rough. Knox is funny, charming, comforting.

Finn is thoughtful, possessive, dependable.

They’re all protective and obsessive and trustworthy.

They make me somehow feel safe while chasing me through the woods in masks.

They make me feel things no one else ever has.

I don’t want just one, and I don’t want to hurt any of them by being forced to choose.

But I’m terrified I’ll hurt all of them by not choosing at all.

“Can I just get a coffee?” Monica sighs and slips from her table to the restroom.

From her spot near the register, Leah shoots fire from her eyes in my direction. If she makes another comment about me bringing my drama in here, I’ll explode.

The bell on the door clatters as three giant men push through, hovering awkwardly in the entrance until they spot me and brighten.

“Welcome.” Leah straightens and puts on her dazzling smile. The one she uses with the guys she wants to fuck. “Have a seat anywhere you’d like.”

I rush over to them. If Knox sees Monica here, he’ll lose it. Worse, she might try to talk to him. Can’t she just be a decent person and stay away from his campus, out of his town? Date someone who doesn’t attend the same university as the ex who wants nothing to do with her anymore?

But I guess asking Monica to be a decent person is too big an ask.

“You guys should go.” I try to keep my voice low, but it’s clear by the deep scowl on Leah’s face in my peripheral vision that she heard me.

She’s definitely going to fire me.

“Why would we do that, beautiful? We just got here.” Knox smiles at me, and suddenly, Leah and Monica and Jeremiah are wiped from my mind. No one else matters but them.

Damien grabs my ass and hauls me to him for a possessive kiss that makes my heart stutter. When he finally releases me, Finn grabs me for his turn.

Leah’s cheeks are cherry red, and she quickly scurries to one of her tables to check on her guests. Somehow, she’s going to find a way to blame me for the over-the-top public display of affection.

Finn holds my chin possessively while his mouth claims mine, and my heart is hammering now. Even though they’ve all been inside me, the way they kiss me still feels so startlingly intimate. Way too intimate for public, let alone at my job.

I shove at his chest. “You’re all going to get me fired.”

“Awesome. More time with us.” Knox beams before sweeping me up into his arms. I yelp, knees clamping against his torso, but he holds me like I’m weightless. Lips inches from mine and minty scent enveloping me.

“Put me down,” I whisper, even though it’s the last thing I want. I want to be held by the Devils all day.

I dare a glance at Leah. She and half the guests are watching our little display, and her hands are balled into fists at her sides.

I’m officially dead.

“Seriously.” I try to wriggle out of Knox’s grasp, but he has me in an iron grip. “You guys need to leave.”

Monica won’t linger in the restroom much longer, and I don’t want to see the infectious smile disappear from Knox’s face. I don’t want his mood to sour.

As soon as I can get the Devils out the door, I’ll tell her to fuck off and stay out of Diamond. Her boyfriend can visit her instead. She doesn’t need to keep tormenting Knox like this.

“Fine.” Knox lets out a dramatic sigh before planting a kiss on my forehead and easing my feet back onto the floor. “But we’re waiting outside.”

“You don’t have to?—”

“Knox Rockefeller,” a singsong voice calls. “How are you?”

In front of me, Knox stiffens. His smile has vanished, and his attention is no longer on me.

Monica’s smile is bright as she closes the distance between them, but I cut her off. “Leave him alone, Monica.”

A muscle in Damien’s jaw feathers, and Finn hovers nearby like a silent assassin ready to strike.

She surveys us and barks a laugh. “Oh my god. Why are you all acting like I’m a serial killer?”

“Is there a problem over here?” Leah’s sickly sweet voice drips with poison. Her eyes narrow on me like I’m the cause of all of this.

“I was just saying hi to my high school sweetheart,” Monica explains. “But your waitress seems to have a problem with it.”

“We all do.” Damien takes a dangerous step closer to her.

Leah glares at me. “Aurora, you need to?—”

“ Fuck off , Monica.” If looks could kill, I’d make sure Monica was no longer breathing. “Get the fuck out of here and leave him alone . He doesn’t want anything to do with you.”

The entire diner goes silent.

Leah is on the edge of exploding when Monica storms out the door, the bell clanging violently behind her.

Behind me, Knox’s palms land on my hips. A silent thank you.

Leah squeezes my hand hard enough to bruise and hisses low enough that the guests can’t overhear, “What the fuck , Aurora? Get out. You don’t work here anymore.”

The silence is broken abruptly by the chaos of the Devils’ whoops and cheers. Leah’s scowl deepens.

Fuck it. This job fucking sucked anyway. Dealing with customers who get an attitude for no reason and a boss who’s had it out for me since day one. If I’m fired for defending Knox, then I’ll happily find another way to get a paycheck.

Damien scoops me up, and I yelp. The gesture is supposed to be celebratory, but I feel like a sack of potatoes tossed over his shoulder to be hauled off.

The diner is totally different from this high up. Leah is like a tiny, yappy dog from this angle, and I waggle my fingers at her. I never have to see her again, and a bubble of joy wells up in my chest. As sweetly as I can, I call, “Fuck off, Leah.”

The Devils’ house is eerily silent.

Behind me, the door locks shut with a hollow echo. A lock clicks into place. I call out their names, but there’s no response. But something tells me they’re home.

They’re in this house. So why are they staying silent?

Paranoia builds up to my throat. Something is wrong.

I keep my steps as silent as possible as I sneak through the house. No sign of anyone. Not Juliet or Sienna or Trey or Luke. My Devils nowhere in sight.

Only Knox’s bedroom door, propped open an inch.