Page 153 of The Devil's Heir

So many emotions flood me at once. Relief that Jarek's alive, excitement because our son won't grow up without his father, and sadness for the fact that I can't show any emotion toward him at the moment. But most of all, I hate that Carmen is killing the man I love, all for money.

I stare blankly at the man before me—once broad and muscular, now a mere shadow of who he was. The Jarek Falcon standing in front of me is not my devil. And yet, he is.

"Is this some kind of joke?" Carmen hisses. "She's supposed to be dead!"

The bitch's true feelings are shining through, and although she catches herself, it's too late; Marino and Ricci already saw it.

"I mean, the news said the poor thing didn't survive," Carmen reiterates.

"I don't know about all that, but this pretty little thing is alive and well and is now mine," Marino states, caressing my arm.

I don't really belong to him, and I'm not his pet. He's been perfectly respectful to me, but we had to make Carmen believe I'm no longer a threat.

When he sees Marino touching me, Jarek starts to move, but Carmen's hand stops him.

"Isn't that nice, baby? She survived after all…" Carmen's attention returns to us as she asks, "And the baby?"

Marino shrugs his shoulders. "I haven't seen the bambino. I'm assuming it died. She knows nothing of it."

Carmen stands from her chair and walks over to me. I stare blankly like I'm obeying my Master, but my skin crawls as Carmen circles me, tracing my waist with her finger.

"How much for her. I bet she'll fetch a hefty price," Carmen's grin is cynical.

"She's not for sale. I like the way she fucks. I could never give her up, at least not yet," Marino replies.

"He's not wrong," Ricci chimes in. "He let me have a taste of her, too. He'd be crazy to sell her now. Marino's a lucky son of a bitch."

Jarek's hands are fisted on top of the table and when I'm sure Carmen isn't watching, I shake my head as I gaze into his dark eyes. We just needed him to see me so he knew I wasn't dead, and he'd keep fighting to free himself. However, seeing him like this, I don't think he's strong enough to fight.

The decision is quick, and my movement is even faster as I snatch up the knife by Marino's plate and spin. I stab Carmen in the shoulder, and she screams as I yank it out. I don't want to kill her, not yet, anyway.

Grabbing the bitch while she's nursing her wound, I spin her around and place the knife to her neck. I move us both, so we're standing between Jarek and her two goons, who now hold guns in their hands, pointing straight at us.

Marino and Ricci pull their guns, and then Lonzo steps into the room, along with Joey, Koval, and Elliott, their weapons also in hand.

"What the hell is going on?" Carmen screeches. "Why are you just standing there? Start shooting!" she orders her men, but they drop their weapons, knowing they're outnumbered.

"Did you really think you would get away with taking what ismine?" I growl in Carmen's ear. "You fucked with the wrong man, bitch. Jarek has been mine since we were teenagers; I just didn't know it. Now that I do, I'll be damned if you or anybody else touches him."

Carmen's laugh is maniacal. "Oh, you stupid girl. He's my husband. You've already lost him."

"Oh? Have you consummated it?" I ask, amused, already knowing the answer without being told.

"No," Jarek states from behind me.

"Yes!" Carmen lies at the same time.

I press the knife into her throat until a small stream of blood trickles down her neck.

"Want to try that again?" I ask.

Carmen doesn't learn—she's stubborn.

"I fucked him real good on our wedding night. I rode him like a fucking bull. I came all over that gorgeous, young cock of his, and he came inside me like a geyser."

I laugh now. I can't help not to. I shove Carmen toward Joey so I don't accidentally shove the knife into her throat and end her. I want to make her suffer first.

"Nice try, bitch," I tell her as she glares at me, but she's already forgotten as I spin around and run to Jarek.