Page 10 of Ruined By a Devil

Maybe I can have a bite or two.

“I told you I wasn’t hungry,” I say once he turns the engine.

“And I told you you are no use to me dead,” he says, keeping his eyes on the road. “Eat. Don’t make me force you.”

“Aren’t you worried I might stain your spotless car?” I raise an eyebrow, but my hand is already half-way in the bag, aiming for the burger.

“Fun fact about cars, they can be cleaned.”

“Right,” I pull out the burger with one hand and then the fries. “What’s in the other bag?” I realize late that I should have checked the other bag before getting both of my hands full.

“Soda, water, and dessert.”

The realization hits me like a truck. He is incredibly considerate for someone of his reputation.

“Just eat the food,” he says coldly.

I don’t need to be told twice to dive into my totally unhealthy meal. “God, it’s delicious!”

It might be the first time I allow myself to eat like nobody is watching, after spending a lifetime following proper etiquette, as Mamma always insisted, and being side-eyed every time I would indulge in something Mamma considers unhealthy. And it feels good.

Before I even realize, my attention fully on devouring the burger and the fries, we arrive at what I assume is Malachi’s home. I don’t know what would be worse; that he brought me to a place where he lives with his brothers. Or the thought of being completely alone with him in the house, which makes me a little more self-aware than I would like to admit.

“Where are we?” I ask, cleaning myself up with a napkin

“Let’s go.”Hhe opens the door for me.

“So, to recap tonight’s events,” I follow him, carrying the paper bags with me. “You basically show up at my party, eavesdrop, propose, then kiss me to make Nolan react, and then abduct me?”

“This not an abduction, Jade.”

I follow him inside into a large open concept living room, surprised at how homey and beautiful everything is. Even though the house where I live with my parents is luxurious and filled with designer objects, it always lacked the homey feeling. Malachi’s house is a lot smaller than what I’d have expected from him and judging by the lack of servants and security, I’m starting to wonder if he really lives here or if it’s one of the many properties his family owns.

“Then what do you call a situation where you created danger with the purpose to control me and keep me locked up in your house?”

“First of all,” he takes a deep breath, turning to face me. “You’re not being locked up in my house. And secondly, even if I had never showed up in your life, you would be in danger simply in Nolan’s presence.”

“And I’m not in danger with you?”

He doesn’t answer. He’s close enough for me to feel the warmth of his minty breath on my skin, making me realize that my breath probably smells like fast food, and I instantly look away.

“You’re bleeding,” my eyes land on his shirt drenched in blood. I was too busy sulking and then eating, to even realize that his wound had never stopped bleeding.

“It’s fine,” he pulls away.

“Let me take a look at it,” I insist. “You got shot because you were protecting me,” I say, determined.

“Have you ever stitched a wound before?” he asks, not bothering to hide his suspicion.

“Plenty of times,” I shrug. “I wouldn’t call myself a pro, but my cousins have a tendency to get into gun fights as if it’s a normal Tuesday afternoon activity, and I learned by watching them do it. “Just tell me where you keep the medical supplies,” I leave my paper bags on the coffee table.

“In the bathroom, second door on the right.”

I head down the hallway to the bathroom and quickly find the first aid kit. When I return to the living room, I find Malachi seated on the sofa, his suit jacket draped over the back. The blood stain on his elegant shirt looks even worse now.

“That’s nasty,” I set the kit on the coffee table and join him on the sofa. “If you had only kept to yourself without butting in into my life, you wouldn’t be bleeding right now.”

“It’s hardly the first time I got shot.”