Read The Devil Inside for Free Online Page A

leave. I don’t spare Gavin a glance.  
    He can drink himself to death, for all I care.  

Adele

    The next day, I’m back at work. It’s the lunchtime rush. It’s as busy as it gets. There’s a line of customers trailing out the door and onto the sidewalk, waiting for a seat at the conveyor belt. I’m run off my feet serving drinks and counting plates.  
    I woke up this morning with a massive headache and a huge shiner around my left eye. After a handful of Aspirin and Tylenol and a large cup of strong black coffee, I managed to make myself look presentable by layering on the foundation.  
    I dropped off the money after that. Five thousand dollars. It’s almost all of my savings. I gave it to mom. I told her to make sure it gets to the right people. Gavin was still in bed. I was relieved about that.  
    Hopefully that will buy them some room to breathe.  
    I don’t think I’ve fooled anyone at work. Rei’s been sneaking glances at me all morning, but she’s too polite to say anything. Eiji, the manager, gave me a long, sympathetic stare as I greeted him today. But he didn’t say anything either.  
    I’m punching another order through the till when I see a familiar figure weaving through the crowd.  
    What the hell is Kaito doing here?
    He moves fluidly past the hungry customers, like a shark in a sea of darting fish. It’s hot outside, but he’s wearing a bomber jacket over a white t-shirt and jeans. Even dressed casually, he looks delicious.  
    He meets my gaze. Too late, I try to turn my face so he doesn’t see my poorly concealed black eye. I can tell by the slight narrowing of his eyes that he’s noticed.
    I’m busy with a customer, so I try to ignore him.  
    He corners Eiji and they start speaking in rapid Japanese. At first Eiji looks upset at what Kaito’s telling him. Whatever Kaito says next subdues him, because he goes quiet and still and does a quick little bow.  
    I hand the lady her change, flash a smile and clear some empty plates off the counter.  
    I try not to look in Kaito’s direction, but I’m acutely aware of his every movement, of the way he’s looking at me with dark eyes that seem to miss nothing.  
    He comes over and leans in near me, whispering in my ear. “See me out back for a moment, Adele.” His soft, potent words make the fine hairs on the back of my neck tingle.  
    I try to ignore the sensation.
    “It’s busy, Kaito.” I don’t want to talk about the bruise. I know he’s going to ask about the bruise. “See that line? Those customers aren’t going to go   away.”
    "No, they aren't. But they've waited long enough already. Do you think a few more minutes will matter?"
    "I don't have time for this, Kaito." I try to get around the counter, but Kaito's standing in the gap, blocking my path. He raises one eyebrow, his expression cool.  
    The restaurant echoes with the sound of chatter and clinking glasses and the kitchen staff yelling orders to one another in Japanese. It's noisy in here, but it all fades to a distant murmur as I take in Kaito, battered face and all. He has the most intense stare. His features are composed, but his eyes hold a storm of anger and something else I can't quite understand.  
    If I look into his eyes for too long, if I take in the strong lines of his face and the curve of his lips and the masculine column of his neck that disappears beneath the thin fabric of his shirt, where I can see the swell   of hard muscle, I might just become lost.  
    Steady, girl. Since when did this man-crush evolve from platonic admiration into full blown lust?
    I think Kaito's caught me checking him out, because his lips curve ever so slightly. Dammit. My irritation evaporates.
    That doesn't mean he's going to get to have that talk with me. I know the one. It's where he asks me what happened and I tell him, sobbing, that my own fucking father punched me in the face.
    That makes two black eyes in one night. One for me, one for Kaito. We make a