Page 76 of Die for You

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 himalone. 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 thefuck, 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.