A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL : CHAPTER 41 – 50
LUCIFER ANGER
SELENE GASPED.
I came to a stop, gasping for breath as I clutched my chest. My lungs were on fire from running, and my heart pounded so violently it felt like it would break free from my ribcage. Slowly, I looked around and realized that I’d lost him. Lucien was nowhere in sight. I had gotten away.
I pressed my back against the cold stone wall of a nearby building, exhaling in relief. My hand trembled as I reached into my jacket pocket and pulled out the small stun gun I’d taken earlier.
My lips curved into a bitter smile as I turned it over in my hands. Who would have thought this thing would actually work? For all their talk of being the devil’s minions, it seemed they were just… normal. The devil bullshit had been all lies. Lucien and the others—they could be hurt.
“Liars,” I muttered under my breath, shoving the stun gun back into my pocket.
With that confirmation, I knew I had to be smart about what came next. I couldn’t go back home, not when Lucien knew where I lived. They could find me again, and I wouldn’t be so lucky next time. I needed somewhere safe, somewhere they wouldn’t expect. Maybe a hotel.
My legs felt heavy as I started walking again, my feet dragging against the cracked pavement. The streets were quieter now, the distant sounds of cars and nightlife fading into the background as I kept moving.
I didn’t have a plan, not really. I just knew I had to keep going, keep moving forward until I found a place to hide. My mind raced with possibilities, but every idea felt half-baked, like it wasn’t enough to protect me.
And then, before I even realized where I was going, I found myself standing outside Liam’s door.
I blinked, confused for a moment. How had I ended up here? I wasn’t even thinking about him—at least not consciously. But now that I was here… it felt right. He was my safe space, the only person I could trust. It wasn’t like I had anywhere else to go, anyway. A smile tugged at the corner of my lips as I lifted my hand and knocked on his door.
It only took a few moments before I heard the familiar shuffle of footsteps on the other side. The door creaked open, revealing Liam, standing shirtless in the dim light. His chest was bare, his skin a little flushed, and for some weird reason, my stomach turned—not in a disgusting way, though. More like… approval.
“Are you getting more muscles?” I teased, my voice lighter than I felt. My eyes lingered on his toned physique, tracing the definition of his arms and chest. It had been a while since I’d really looked at him like this.
Liam blushed, his face turning an adorable shade of pink as he ducked his head, rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment. “Uh, maybe a little,” he mumbled, clearly flustered.
I couldn’t help but grin. Seeing him like this, vulnerable and sweet, was a relief after everything I’d been through tonight.
“Come in, Selene,” he said, stepping aside to let me in. His voice was soft, inviting, and there was something about it that instantly put me at ease.
I slipped past him into the apartment, shutting the door quickly behind me. The warmth of his place enveloped me like a blanket, the familiar scent of his cologne mixed with the faint smell of coffee. It was comforting. Safe.
Liam watched me with concerned eyes as I stood there, taking in the sight of his small but cozy living room. It was neat and orderly, just like him, with a soft brown couch and a coffee table covered in books and a few scattered papers.
The walls were lined with shelves, holding everything from framed pictures to small knick-knacks he’d collected over the years. I’d been here so many times, but tonight it felt… different. More like a refuge.
“Why are you here?” Liam’s voice broke through my thoughts, his brows furrowed in worry. “At this time of night? What’s going on?”
I didn’t answer him right away. Instead, I stared around the room, trying to ignore the weight of his question. My mind was still racing, still trying to process everything that had happened. I wasn’t ready to talk about it—not yet. Not with him.
“I need to take a shower,” I said abruptly, my voice firmer than I intended. “I just… I need to clean up.”
Liam looked confused but didn’t argue. He nodded and pointed toward the bathroom down the hall. “Of course. Go ahead.”
Without another word, I hurried toward the bathroom, desperate for a moment to collect myself. Once inside, I locked the door behind me and leaned against it, letting out a long, shaky breath. The adrenaline that had been pumping through my veins was finally starting to wear off, leaving me feeling exhausted and overwhelmed.
I peeled off my clothes and stepped into the shower, turning the water on as hot as I could stand. The warmth soothed my aching muscles, washing away the grime and tension of the night. But no matter how hard I scrubbed, I couldn’t wash away the memories. The fear. The uncertainty.
I stayed in the shower longer than I probably should have, letting the steam cloud my thoughts. When I finally stepped out, my skin was flushed, and my hair was damp, clinging to my neck.
I found one of Liam’s oversized long-sleeve shirts and a pair of his boxers in the bathroom cabinet, slipping them on. They were too big on me, but that was part of why I loved them. His clothes always felt like a security blanket.
When I finally made my way back downstairs, Liam was in the kitchen, standing by the stove. He had thrown on a shirt by then, but the sight of him moving around so comfortably in his own space made me feel… grounded. Like everything was normal again, even if it wasn’t.
“Hey,” I called softly as I entered the kitchen.
Liam glanced over his shoulder at me and smiled, though I could still see the concern etched in his features. “Hey. I made some food. Figured you might be hungry.”
My stomach growled at the mention of food, and I realized just how long it had been since I’d eaten. “You’re a lifesaver,” I said, sliding into one of the chairs at the small kitchen table. The smell of whatever he was cooking filled the air, making my mouth water.
He set a plate of pasta in front of me and sat down across from me, his eyes never leaving my face. I could tell he wanted to ask me more questions, but he was holding back, giving me space. For now.
I picked up my fork and started eating, trying to focus on the food, the warmth of his presence, the safety of his home. But my mind kept drifting back to Lucien, to everything I had learned tonight.
The realization that they weren’t untouchable, that they weren’t as powerful as they made themselves out to be… It was both a comfort and a new source of fear.
“Selene,” Liam said gently, breaking the silence. “You don’t have to tell me everything. But if something’s wrong… I’m here. You know that, right?”
I looked up from my plate, meeting his concerned gaze. He had always been there for me, always cared. And tonight, I needed that more than ever.
“I know,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “Thank you, Liam.”
I wanted to tell him everything, but for now, I just needed the comfort of his company, the warmth of his home. Tomorrow, I would figure out the rest.
For tonight, I was safe. At least, I hoped I was.
A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL : CHAPTER 41 – 50
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