Page 39 of The Devil's Heir

Jarek

It was pure torture waiting for Liliana to finish her meal.

It didn't help that she also ordered dessert and did so with a wicked gleam in her eye.

Her moans and how she licked her fork after each bite of the chocolate dessert were a bit much, but I allowed her to have her fun.

However, she will be in so much trouble the second I get her alone.

"Aren't you going to have anything?" she asks as she looks me over.

I'm sitting back in my chair, enjoying watching her eat hers. I smirk, and reply, "I don't think you want anyone here watching when I eat mine."

"Why? Is it a messy dessert?"

Grinning, I shake my head. "Although your pussy does get messy, that's not why I won't eat it in front of these people."

"Ohh…" Lily finally catches on to what I was referring to and her face colors.

I smirk and lean in, reaching across the table to wipe the little bit of chocolate she's got on the corner of her mouth. I take my time running my thumb over it and then bring it to my mouth.

"Mm, that's pretty good. Not as good as the one I'm going to have, but to each their own."

Lily pushes her plate away, saying, "I think I'm full. We can leave now."

Her words are soft and breathy. If I don't know better, I'd say my pauper is turned on, but that can't be, can it?

"Are you sure?"

"Uh-huh—positive." She runs the linen napkin over her mouth before tossing it onto her dessert .

I hide my amusement as I raise my hand for the check. The server hurries over, asking, "How was your meal, Mr. Falcon?"

I don't take my eyes off Liliana as I reply, "Exquisite as always, thank you. I'll take the check now."

When we're alone again, Lily asks, "Do you come here often? They seem to know you well."

"I eat here once a week," I state, and before she can let her mind start to wander, I explain, "My parents used to bring me here every week. I picked up the tradition again as soon as I was old enough to drive. You are the first woman I've ever brought with me."

I notice her surprised expression but choose not to acknowledge it. The thought that bringing others here might make her jealous is appealing, though it's not my intention. I'm no longer interested in playing games with Liliana—I'm interested in earning her trust.

The server returns my card, and I stand, walking around to pull out Liliana's chair. Instinctively, I take her hand in mine and head to the front of the restaurant. We're about to the door when a barrage of bullets comes through the front windows, shattering the glass all around us.

I turn my body to shield Lily and take her down to the floor. Screams are all around us as diners get hit with both glass and bullets. One of the servers falls beside us, his eyes staring blankly at me. There's a bullet hole in his head and his neck.

Ensuring that my pauper is facing the other way so as to not have to see the dead, I pull the tablecloth from a toppled table and place it over the body. I don't want to get up yet in case the shooters turn around, so I press my face against Lily's and try to reassure her.

"It's okay, baby. You're okay. Do you hurt anywhere?" I ask.

She's shaking like a leaf as she shakes her head, but I'm already running my hand over her to be sure. Repositioning my body so she can't see the dead server, I drag my eyes down her length, looking for any bullet holes or blood. I notice a small cut on her cheekbone, but that's it.

"What the fuck was that?" Lily asks with a shaky voice.

"That was a drive-by shooting," I supply.

"I know that, but who was it? Why would they shoot this place up?"

That's a damn good question, and I'm going to get to the bottom of it. I have a sneaking suspicion that they were after me, but I don't dare tell Liliana that.

"I don't know, baby, but you better believe I'm going to find out."

I pull my phone out and text both Jackson and Joey. I had driven us here, not wanting to have anyone else in the way of my time with Liliana, but now I need Jackson to come and get Lily while I find the fuckers who did this.

After another five minutes, I deem it safe to get Liliana off the floor. I keep myself between Lily and the dead guy behind me, but I can't stop her from seeing a few others who lie closest to the windows. She gasps, and I pull her into me so her face is in my chest.

"Don't look at them, pauper. Keep your eyes closed or on me, okay?" I instruct, and she nods.

"Good girl. It will be okay. I will get you out of here."

"Jarek?"

"Hm?" I hum as I read Jackson's text, telling me he's about two minutes out.

"Are you the one they were targeting? I don't think any other important people are in this place." Lily is a great observer, and she's correct.

Although I'm pretty sure I was the target, I won't tell her that. "I can't be too sure. Sometimes, punks in rival gangs do this as initiations. They go to other towns and shoot up small businesses."

It's not a complete lie; the gangs do tend to initiate this way, but deep down, I know this wasn't the case.

It's no coincidence that this attempt happened just a few short weeks after announcing that Liliana was going to have my heir.

It's one thing for someone to try and take me out, but if they're coming after my pauper, there's going to be hell to pay.

People will truly know what the devil is like when I bring hellfire down on anyone who hurts what's mine.

When Jackson arrives, he brings Seth, one of my security guards and his lover, with him.

He doesn't think I know about them, but he forgets that I know everything that happens under my roof.

I don't give a fuck about their relationship; I'm grateful that he thought to bring another guard with him while he transports my precious cargo back to the estate.

"Stay behind me, pauper," I instruct as I open the bullet-riddled wooden door to the restaurant.

Both Jackson and Seth meet me right outside, the car parked on the curb. The three of us shield Liliana as we walk to the car, and Jackson reaches out to open the door. The car is bulletproof, so as long as they don't get into any accidents, she's safe in it.

When Lily notices that I'm not getting in the car with her, she looks up at me with concern. "What are you doing, Jarek? You're coming, aren't you?"

"No, pauper. I need to find out who ordered this hit, and then I need to make sure they're taken care of."

"But what if they come after you?"

The fact that Liliana is concerned for my welfare warms my cold heart. I haven't had anyone worry about me since my parents were alive, and it feels nice.

I bend over, take her chin between my fingers, and say, "I'll be fine. Don't wait up for me; it'll probably be late, but save me a spot in your bed, pauper. I haven't forgotten about my dessert; keep it warm for me."

I kiss her—and she's the one who deepens it this time—allowing me in, and I take full advantage of it. I'm reluctant to let her go, but I must.

Pulling back, I tell her, "Be a good girl." Then, addressing Jackson and Seth, say, "Go straight home; don't stop for anything—not even stoplights."

"Yes, Sir," they respond simultaneously.

"Jarek, please come with me…" Liliana pleads, and it tugs at me.

"Listen, Lily. I am the Boss; therefore, I must take care of this. You're in good hands—I promise."

Before she can argue, I kiss her lips one last time and then slam the door closed, hitting the roof of the car so Jackson can go.

I hated seeing the apprehensive look in her eyes when I said I wasn't coming, and I wish I could stay with her, but I need to do this. Her safety comes before anything else.

Joey, Koval, and Elliot show up seconds after the car pulls away. Two more SUVs pull up behind them, carrying more of my men, including the new guys. They all pile out and come to stand before me.

Koval gives a loud whistle. "Damn, what a mess. How many dead?" he inquires.

I shrug. "I didn't count."

"We need to go, Boss," Joey states.

The police sirens in the distance are getting closer. They will be here soon, and I prefer not to be held up by having to talk to them. I nod and head for my car.

"We'll meet at Lonzo's," I throw over my shoulder. When I get to my car, I call out to Joey, "You ride with me."

Joey tosses his keys to Koval and then comes and climbs into the passenger side. As soon as he closes the door, I pull out in traffic and floor it to the Lonzo estate.

"My father is making phone calls as we speak, trying to find out if any hits were put out," Joey informs me.

"I figured as much. I want Costa, Baratta, and Greco to be the first ones checked out."

"You don't think Carmen's uncle would do something like this, do you?" Joey asks incredulously.

"Honestly? He's my number one suspect."

"Damn, I knew he had an interest in being allies with your family, but I wouldn't have thought he'd go this far." My friend shakes his head.

"Who do you think inherits it all if I were to die without an heir?"

"Carmen." Joey deadpans.

"Exactly. I don't know if the shooter was after me or Liliana, or both, but either way, they're a dead man walking. Liliana could have been killed tonight, and that does not bode well for the shooters or the one who put the hit out."

I can feel my friend's eyes on me as I continue to drive. I'm just about ready to say something when he finally speaks.

"Talk to me, Jarek. Have your feelings for the woman changed?" he asks .

"What do you mean by changed? I've always had feelings for her; you know this."

"I know, but it seems like they may be stronger than what you had led on."

I give him another shrug. "It doesn't matter. Liliana will be the mother of my children, so I will protect her with my life."

"Children?" I can hear the amusement in Joey's voice. "I thought it was singular."

"Well, you thought wrong. I won't have a different woman for all my children. Liliana will bear all of my spawns."

Joey throws his head back with a boisterous laugh. When he calms down, he says, "Spawn is definitely the correct term for anything you produce."

"Fuck off, Joey…" I growl but end up smiling in the end.

We drive for a bit in silence, but Joey groans when Lonzo's estate comes into view. I don't have to wonder why. I can see the pink convertible parked in the circular drive. The car belongs to no other than Joey's future wife, one he did not choose for himself.

It's now my turn to grin. Joey may give me shit about Liliana, but at least she's my personal choice. My friend here, is stuck with the blonde Barbie Wannabe who his parents arranged for him to marry. So, I guess life could be worse for me—I could be in Joey's shoes.