Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 102184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 511(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 511(@200wpm)___ 409(@250wpm)___ 341(@300wpm)
Devereaux’s light-brown eyes crash into mine and the way he stares at me makes me feel like no one in the world can hurt me as long as he’s near.
My breath catches when his gaze travels over my simple black dress. It’s as if he physically touched me. I hate the way my heart pounds against my chest as I take in the sadness etched in the sharp planes of his face.
I glance back at Luna’s grave, but I can still feel his eyes all over me.
The service ends, and people disperse, but Devereaux’s leather shoes stay rooted in the grass. The Thorne twins say a few words to him, but his gaze doesn’t stray from the grave. His sister, Greer Huxley, runs a comforting hand down his arm before walking away with Roman and Ledger.
“Did you hear he paid for the funeral?” Panti says in a low voice to Kitty as we all head toward the cars parked along the street.
“Who?” I ask.
“Dev. Luna’s parents passed away a long time ago, I think. So, he paid for the whole thing.” Panti and Kitty continue walking, but I stop and stare at Devereaux as he glares down at the grave, hands shoved in the pockets of his black suit pants.
Everyone’s nearly gone, so I plod across the grass until I’m standing next to him. “Hi,” I say, unsure whether the opportunity to dig for information or the gloomy look in his eye pulled me here. “It was a nice thing you did, paying for the funeral.”
“Taylor’s boyfriend came to me with red-rimmed eyes and shaky hands, like he thought I’d actually say no.” His raspy voice causes a pinch in my chest. “He said he didn’t have the money and her parents were dead. I told him I’d gladly pay for the funeral. I’ve paid for all the funerals of the murdered women, and although people think it’s nice of me, I’d much rather be paying their fucking paychecks.”
If he’s the killer, he’s a talented actor. As we stand in silence, the sun dips low on the horizon and it strikes me that Luna will never see it again.
“The cops will catch this guy,” I say, almost as an affirmation to myself.
“I think you should quit Club Greed,” he says with a clipped tone.
My head whips to him. “What? I’m not quitting.”
“Then, I’ll fire you.”
I step closer. “Look, I know you’re upset, but having me quit won’t change anything. Whoever’s doing the killings is a psycho. Changing our lives to accommodate him isn’t an option.”
Devereaux stares at me like I’m speaking in tongues. “Another one of my girls is dead. Another one I couldn’t save. I think I should close the club for a while.”
I rest my hand on his arm, ignoring the sinful jolt of awareness that careens through my body when I feel the strength beneath his suit jacket. “You can’t do that.”
“Says who?”
“Me.” Because my entire investigation will be down the toilet and I’ll never figure out who the murderer is so he can spend the rest of his days in prison. Shutting the doors won’t solve anything. It’ll only chart the murderer on an alternative course. Right now, he’s got a routine, and eventually, like most murderers, he’s going to mess up. If we close the club, then we’ll take the chance of him changing up his M.O.
He chuckles a little at my response, staring at me like I’m a rare gem. “I don’t remember putting you in charge.”
“You can’t let him win.”
“This isn’t a game, Swan.”
I loathe and love that he calls me by this name. It makes my heart flutter faster, and fluttering shouldn’t happen in his presence. “Why did you name me that?” I ask to get his mind off closing the club.
He blinks, and I can tell by the thick swallow he wasn’t expecting the subject to change. Well, touché. Because I’m certainly not expecting what he says next.
“Let’s go for a ride, and I’ll tell you.”
Chapter 17
Devereaux
* * *
Grief is getting to me. It’s the only explanation I have for what just came out of my mouth. Seeing Swan standing here, her eyes red-rimmed from the tears she shed over Luna made something inside my chest snap. I need to get her out of my club. Fire her.
Make her want to quit.
Something.
I didn’t even know Luna had died until the cops pounded on my door and dragged me down to the station. Greer was called immediately, and when they didn’t have enough to charge me, I left.
I’m getting really sick of this killer asshole, and wish he’d come after me. I’d be ready for him.
I can’t let one more girl die.
As of now, they’re all fired.
The club’s closed until we catch this asshole.
Swan rolls her lips inward, taking too long to answer me, making my heart bleed with some sort of emotion I can’t identify. Some sort of emotion I can’t handle.