Page 5 of The Devil

JET

Iwatch her go, tuning Cassian out for a minute. Amal Lombardi, daughter of the man who terrorized Allegra and was single-handedly responsible for the destruction of her family.

Who tried to kill us all.

I see the guilt in her eyes. In the set of her shoulders. I recognize it. I know what that weight does to a person. There’s a difference between Amal and me, though. She’s innocent. Me not so much. In a way, my new position in Cassian’s family, it fits. It’s brought out what was always there. It’s given the devil inside me an outlet.

Amal can still be saved. No monster lurks inside her contrary to what she may believe. There’s a part of me that thinks, no, that craves, to be the one doing the saving.

“She shouldn’t be driving herself,” I tell Cassian.

“She’s an adult. She has a license.”

“You know what I mean.”

“Malcom’s got her,” he says.

I drag my gaze to his and find him watching me closely. He chose his words well.

“Or would you rather be the one who’s got her?” he asks, eyes narrowed.

I shove my hands into my pockets so he can’t see me clenching them into fists. “It’s not safe for her. For either of them.”

“No one will touch them. They know if they do, they’ll answer to me. But that’s not what this is about, is it?”

“What’s it about then?” I ask, irritated. Mostly at myself.

“She’s not for you, Jet.”

I grit my teeth. Look away. “Who’s she for then? You have someone in mind?” I hear my attempt at casual. My failed attempt.

“No, nothing like that. Hell, I think you’d kill the bastard if I did.”

I shrug a shoulder, not committing. He’s probably right though.

“I just need to figure out what to do, Jet, considering everything. But she’s safe. We’re in Trevino territory.”

“Trevino territory or not, her father made a lot of enemies, and they all want a piece of her. Today’s evidence of that.”

“You took care of it. Sent a clear message.”

I did. This one was a smaller player in the Romanian mafia. His brothers will have to go on a scavenger hunt through the city to find all his body parts. It’s why I was late. I like to be thorough especially when it comes to Amal Lombardi.

“I need to head to the club, or Sybil will lose her mind. You coming?” Cassian asks when Allegra stands with a sated, sleeping Seth in her arms.

I nod.

“Good. I’ll see you there.” He takes two steps away, but stops, returns. “Jet, it’s for her own good. You know that. You don’t want her in this life any more than she wants to be in it. That’s what these last four years have been about.”

“It’s not a choice she gets to make though. You and me both know that. It’s one made for her. I want her safe.”

“That’s all? It’s me you’re talking to.”

I jut my chin out, not answering because I don’t fucking lie.

“Thought so,” Cassian says and meets Allegra as she comes toward us. I watch him with them, see how his whole face changes when he’s around her. Around his baby. It’s good seeing him like this. He’s happy.

Although he’s also distracted. Which is why when I leave the church, I switch on the tracker I placed on Amal’s car and follow. Amal and Daniel are inside McDonald’s when I pull up beside Malcom.