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Book:The Devil Wants Me Published:2024-11-11

Allison
“When I picture a nice walk in the park with my husband, this isn’t really how I thought it’d go down.” I lean up against Gregory, grinning up at him and batting my eyes. He gives me a hard look, not in the mood to play around. The Waterfront Park presses up against the river, and while the cherry blossoms aren’t in bloom, it’s still a beautiful stretch of grass and concrete. Groups of people jog, ride bikes, roller skate, and stroll in the sunshine.
Nearby, about two dozen heavily armed men lurk around the trees and bushes looking absurdly out of place.
“Did you want to have that sort of relationship with me?” he asks, putting an arm across my shoulders. “I assumed you were more into the fighting and spanking.”
“It’s nice to be treated like a regular girl once in a while, you know.”
“Should we plan a honeymoon then?”
“I won’t complain. I could use a vacation for once.”
“Where would you want to go?”
“Paris,” I answer immediately.
His eyebrows raise. “Really?”
“I’ve never been out of the country before,” I admit, feeling a little embarrassed about it. “I know it’s a cliche, going to Paris or whatever, but I’ve always wanted to visit.”
“You’d like it,” he says softly. “It’s a beautiful city. Lots of things to do.”
“You’ve been?”
“I traveled in my youth.”
“What, like, you backpacked through Europe?”
His smile is distant as he looks out at the water. “Not exactly. I stayed in five-star hotels.”
“Ah, yes, you’re a Callahan. I almost forgot.”
“Better remind yourself then.” He slows as we approach a bend set midway down the walking path. A lone man’s sitting there, a big man with broad shoulders, practically taking up the whole bench with his bulk.
It’s Paul Debarcio, all alone.
“I’m surprised he’s here,” I say, staring at the man I nearly married. A dozen conflicting emotions press through my mind. I’m afraid, of course I’m afraid, but I’m also angry and a little bit curious. Who is this man, really? Where does he comes from and what does he want? Why did he kill my sister? What did she find out that was worth murdering her to cover it up? I realize I know almost nothing about him personally. None of this makes sense, and now seeing Paul again only dredges all those emotions to the surface. I can see him on our wedding day again, giving me that disgusted, disdainful stare, his lips curled.
“Try to stay calm,” Gregory says, guiding me toward the bench. “He might try to bait you into getting emotional. Don’t take it. This is all one elaborate game, and we’re going to win it.”
“I can handle myself,” I murmur, though I’m not sure it’s true, and I resolve to follow his advice.
Paul stares as we approach. He’s a hard man, his eyes narrowed, and he stands. Gregory’s about his same height, though where Gregory’s athletic and toned, Paul’s like a bear. Burly, massive, bulging against his clothing.
“You came,” he says, sneering. “I half expected you to ignore my request.” He inclines his head toward me. “And you brought my former fiancee as requested.”
“I was never really your fiancee,” I say despite Gregory’s warning.
“How is married life treating you?” Paul asks. His smile is needling, goading me into rage. “I see you enjoy going from one strange man to another. An unusual pattern.”
“We’re not here to discuss our relationship.” Gregory moves forward, standing slightly in front of me. “Why did you want to meet, Paul? You’re taking an interesting risk, coming here alone.”
The Russian surveys Gregory for a moment. His lips pull back, not impressed. “You’re the famous Callahan boy. You and your big, bad family. I invited you to my wedding, and what did you do? You stole my wife. That was a shameful thing you did, running around through bushes like a child.”
“She chose to get herself out of a very ugly situation. I merely facilitated her exit.” Gregory doesn’t show anything. His face is an impassive mask. “Is that all you want? You want to go over grievances? You can complain, but meanwhile I’m buying up your competition. Once I’ve consolidated all their power, I’m going to pick you apart, bit by bit, until there’s nothing left of you.”
“It’s a good plan,” Paul says, gesturing in the air. “It might even work, except I can do things you cannot in this city. Such as, I can convince people not to talk to you.”
“Good luck with that. You might be intimidating, but money has a way of motivating even the most terrified cowards.”
Paul laughs. It’s low and throaty and ugly. I sink back, suddenly feeling exposed. Gregory doesn’t move.
“We’ll see about that. I’m happy you came. I really am. Even if you brought your entire army with you. You want to speak of cowards?” He gestures around himself at the soldiers. I can tell Gregory doesn’t like that. “I wanted the measure of this man that thinks he can challenge me, and I now have it. I also wanted to pass along a message to the woman that would have been my wife.” He stares at me, his face hard. “I did not kill your sister. But I will kill you.”
Gregory steps forward. “Enough threats. Are we going to discuss business?”
“Oh, no, we are not.” Paul looks at his watch. “I think that’s time enough.”
“For what?” Gregory’s eyes narrow. He tenses, expecting an ambush.
Except Paul only turns away. “There was a point when we could have worked together, Gregory Callahan. Together, we would have been a force. But then you embarrassed me at my own wedding, and now there’s no chance at reconciliation. Remember that when your men die and your money burns. You chose this.” He begins to walk away.
Gregory says nothing. I step forward, grabbing onto my husband’s arm. “What’s going on?” I whisper sharply, uncomfortable. I don’t understand why Paul would draw us out for a meeting like that only to make vague threats.
“I don’t know.” Gregory still doesn’t move. I want to start running. Paul’s acting like he just pulled off some enormous victory, the way he’s swaggering down the walking path, but I don’t understand what it could be.
At least until a middle-aged man with graying reddish-brown hair comes walking fast from the trees.
Gregory looks over. “Sean,” he says. Paul’s barely out of sight. “What’s going on?”
“Just got a call.” This guy Sean looks pale. His eyes dart to Paul as the Russian boss disappears around a corner. “It’s about Corgan.”
I look between them, confused. “Who’s Corgan?”
“Riker Corgan,” Gregory says, his face hard.
That name’s extremely familiar. “My father’s biggest rival?”
“Former rival,” Gregory amends. “He sold his company to me yesterday.”
“Except Orin called,” Sean says. “He found a box at the house.” He glances again to where Paul disappeared. “It had Corgan’s head in it.”
I take a step back. My mouth opens in shock. Horror pulses into my guts, picturing poor Orin opening a package only to find a severed human head inside.
Gregory’s expression tightens as he takes in the news. “Now we know why Paul seemed so confident.”
This can’t be happening. I’ve met Riker Corgan a few times. Despite being my father’s biggest competition, he was always cordial, even charming. I liked him. And now he’s dead.
Decapitated. His head chopped off by Paul Debarcio. Mutilated by a Bratva monster.
“How are you acting so casual about this?” I ask, staring at Gregory. I feel like I might throw up.
“This is his move,” Gregory says, looking thoughtful, as if we weren’t discussing the brutal murder of a human being. “Paul’s opening salvo. He’s going to scare anyone that comes near me. The message is obvious: sell your company to the Callahan family and get your head chopped off.”
“It’s not a bad move,” Sean admits.
I back away from the men. I feel dizzy, lightheaded. “Riker’s been murdered,” I say through my teeth. “Shouldn’t we… I mean, the cops…” I hold up my hands as if I could pull threads from the air to make this all make sense.
Gregory comes toward me. “This is only the beginning, my princess,” he says, keeping his voice calm and low. I try to move away, but he catches my wrist then holds my arm tightly, pulling me close. I look around, but none of the people out for their midday stroll seem to notice my distress. “Pull yourself together, wife. There’s going to be more violence very soon. Look at it this way-now you can go for a run.”
“You’re insane.”
“I’m pragmatic.” He steers me back the way we came with Sean ghosting behind us. “You want revenge, don’t you?”
“Yes,” I say grudgingly. “That hasn’t changed.”
“Good. Now things can get interesting.” He holds me tighter. “You did well back there. Aside from the panic you’re feeling now, which is understandable, you did very well. You should be proud.”
I want to close my eyes. I want to scream.
Instead, my husband steers me away from the meeting we just had with a murderer, and I’m fairly sure there’s more death coming.