Page 79 of Ruined By a Devil

“So we become prisoners,” I say, looking at Jade. “That’s fabulous.”

“Think of it as the much-needed honeymoon,” Levi adds.

“I think it’s a good idea,” Jade’s voice is weak when she speaks.

I take her hand into mine, squeezing it strongly without hurting her. “Fine, we’re going to the safe house.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

Jade

The cabin is buried deep in the woods and while I expected it to smell like some old, abandoned building in the middle of the forest, to my surprise it’s quite luxurious and very clean.

We arrived a few hours ago and the sky has gone completely black, the only light in the living room coming from the fire I built in the fireplace and the designer floor lamp in the corner of the living room not far from the window.

Malachi hasn’t moved since we got here. He just stands by the window, staring out into the absolute dark, a glass of whiskey in his left hand, the ice melting, completely untouched.

I sit on the edge of the leather sofa wrapped up in a warm blanket, as I watch the rigid line of his back and the tense cut of his shoulders under his dark shirt.

“You know we can talk about it,” my voice cuts through the quiet crackle of the burning fireplace.

He doesn’t turn around as he responds. “Talk about what.”

“Tell me what they did to you…”

“It’s a long story, Jade.”

“I have all the time in the world,” I insist, refusing to back off.

Malachi takes a slow breath, still not looking at his whiskey, but the ice clinking against the glass as he finally turns to face me. The shadows in the room carve deep lines into his face, making him look exhausted.

“Two years ago, right after he killed my father, Ronan Devlin set up a meeting on the south docks,” Malachi starts, his voice flat, completely stripped of any human emotion.

He walks over to the heavy wooden coffee table and sets his glass down. “Yes,” he nods, continuing. “It was supposed to be an opportunity to negotiate peace between our families, and as the newly assigned head of the family, Zeke was supposed to go.”

“But he sent you in his place.” Finally all the pieces begin to fit together and it clicks. Now can understand why Ezekiel’s face turns pale every time someone mentions the Devlins.

Malachi nods. “We were all feeling vulnerable after both of our parents had been recently killed at the time, and we couldn’t afford putting Zeke’s life in danger.”

“If he went down, the Kavanaghs would have been screwed,” I say.

“Exactly,” he confirmed. “We wouldn’t had even lasted a week. And we didn’t trust Ronan because he had already betrayed our father. The two of them were very close friends and allies before Ronan decided to stab him in the back.”

“So wait,” I say, trying to piece together the puzzle. “You’re telling me that Nolan and you kinda grew up together? Were you friends?”

“Friendly,” he responds. “You know how these things work with families like ours.”

I nod, knowing exactly what he means. I had friends like that myself growing up, those I was forced to be close with because Papà was a close ally of their fathers. Though in my family, we relied more on blood than on partnerships.

“I found out that the Devlins were moving extra muscle into the perimeter,” he continues, looking down at his hands. “So I told Zeke to stay at the Eden and I took his car and went to the docks in his place.”

My stomach drops. “It was an ambush.”

“Yes, they wanted to cut off the head of the snake, but they got me instead,” Malachi finally looks up, meeting my gaze. “They dragged me away and locked me up, beating me senseless until I forgot my own name.”

I look at his wrists, remembering the thick, faded white scars I felt under my fingers when we were lying in bed the other night.

“Did you talk?” I ask quietly.