Cards of Love: The Devil (Devil's Playground #1)(14)

Devil: I don’t mean to hurt you.

AngelBaby123: Then why do you?

Devil: Because it’s easier to hurt the person you love when they’re not the person you should love. It’s easier to push them away because your life would be so much better if you did.

AngelBaby123: Then why do you keep pulling me back?





Keep giving me hope.

Devil: Because I’m sick and selfish. I should let you go, but I don’t want to lose you. I don’t want to lose you because I don’t want anyone else to have you. This thing between us is terrifying. It’s ruining me.

AngelBaby123: So that makes it okay to ruin me?





The bottom of my screen says he’s typing, but then it goes blank. Like he erased everything he wanted to say.

AngelBaby123: I guess I have my answer. Have a nice night, Mayor.

Devil: Don’t hate me. I was only doing what I thought was right. The next two weeks will be the hardest of my life. So if I’m acting like an asshole to you, and I obviously am, it’s only because I’m scared about the future.





I’m scared about the future too.

AngelBaby123: I’m tired. I’m gonna go back to sleep.

Devil: I don’t want you going to bed upset with me. Can we start over?

AngelBaby123: How can we start over when we never began?

Devil: Don’t give up on us. Let me make this right.

AngelBaby123: How?

Devil: I’m sending you a surprise soon.

AngelBaby123: What kind of surprise?

Devil: I’m giving you everything you ever wanted. All you have to do is take it.

AngelBaby123: What? How?





His username turns gray.





Chapter 8





Cain





“Can you check on Eden for me? She still hasn’t come downstairs.”

Claudia raises one gray eyebrow. “I told you ten minutes ago that Eden said she wasn’t feeling well.”

“You did?” I look down at the paperwork on my desk. “Sorry, it’s been one of those mornings.”

“I imagine it has. Tonight’s the big night.”

When I stare at her blankly, she sighs and says, “The ball.”

“Oh, right.”

She looks in the direction of the staircase. “Poor thing is sick on her birthday.”

Guilt settles over me. Eden’s not sick…not physically anyway.

“Make sure someone checks on her while I’m gone for the day.”

I don’t want to ruin Eden’s birthday by forcing her to see me…but I don’t want her to be alone either.

Claudia glowers. “You don’t have anything on the schedule other than the ball.”

Claudia’s advanced age works in her favor because if it was anyone else questioning my whereabouts, they’d be tossed from my office without so much as a severance check.

“I’m having lunch with Milton Bexley…and his daughter.”

“Hmm.”

I grab my suit jacket from the back of my chair and put it on. “Hmm? What’s hmm?”

“Does Eden know yet?”

“Know what yet?”

“That you’re dating Margaret Bexley?”

Claudia’s more perceptive than I give her credit for. “Keep your voice down.” I look around to make sure Eden isn’t eavesdropping on our conversation. It wouldn’t be the first time. “I haven’t had a chance to tell her yet.”

That’s wrong, I’ve had plenty of chances to tell her over the last month…I just haven’t.

I shoot Claudia a warning look. “I trust you’ll keep this to yourself?”

“My gossiping days are long gone. Besides, it’s better Eden hears this from you.”

“I’ll tell her when the time is right.” I swipe my wallet and keys off the desk. “Did you order her present like I asked you to?”

She nods. “Should be delivered shortly.”

“Perfect.” I go to walk out, but my ears tune in to what’s happening on the television.

“A young woman by the name of Jodie Gale is missing,” the reporter says. “Her stepmother, Katrina Owens reports she was supposed to return home yesterday evening after work but never did. Our sources say Jodie’s a junior gossip columnist at the Independent Chronicle.”

I freeze when a photo of the young woman appears on the screen. “Fuck.”

“Authorities are asking anyone who may have any information to contact them.”

“Isn’t she the reporter you threw out yesterday?” Claudia questions.

I glare at her. “No, she’s the reporter I baked cookies for right before we roasted marshmallows and recited a few of our favorite Bible passages.”

She opens her mouth, but I jam my finger into the wood of the desk. “Fix this shit, Claudia. Or enjoy living solely off your social security checks.”

I’m out the door before she can argue.





Chapter 9





Cain





Past…


“Sorry, man. I didn’t want to be the one to tell you, but someone had to,” my friend and sometimes rival in debate tells me. “I’d want to know if it were me.”