I feel like skipping on the way to the door. I’m dreading dealing with Red and whatever his damage is, but in my head there’s this voice sing-songing.

“Devil cares for me. He really cares for me.”

I’ve never really had a man that I’ve liked this much—never had someone in my life that was necessary except for my father. Devil has been different from the beginning. My reactions to him and the way he makes me feel are unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. The simple truth here is that I care for him. I care… deeply for him, even if I shouldn’t.

“Try to leave my door hanging please,” I growl as I cinch the belt of my robe at my waist. I look over my shoulder nervously one last time to look for Devil. I don’t see him, and I guess right now that’s a good thing. Before I turn my deadbolt I take a deep breath and then force myself to look completely natural—and sleepy.

“About fucking time,” Red yells the second the door is open. I quickly jump in front of him when he’d come pushing his way inside.

“I was sleeping,” I lie. “Which, by the way, is what most sane people do at this hour. What do you want, Red?”

“Wolf called and said you weren’t answering your phone.”

I blink. I really hadn’t thought about my phone. I heard it ringing once, but I ignored it because I was enjoying spending time with Devil. I should feel guilty for worrying Wolf, I guess, but I don’t. I’m actually a little relieved I didn’t answer.

“My battery was down, so I turned it off and let it charge.”

“He wanted to talk to you,” he says stubbornly.

“Well, I’m sorry. There’s nothing I can do it about it now. I could call him?”

“He can’t talk now because he’s doing some business for the club tonight. He said to tell you he’ll call in the morning, but he’s going to have to be out of town for a couple of more days.”

“Oh. I hope everything is okay,” I murmur. I hope I sound upset, but inside I’m happy. That means I’ll have more time with Devil without the real world coming between us. I really am going to have to make some tough decisions—and soon—but for now I have this small reprieve and I’m glad.

“It’s fine. Wolf has everything under control. Your old man left things in a mess and Wolf has a lot of roads to repair,” he says and I immediately get pissed at his insinuation. “It’s club business,” he goes on. “Not your concern. Wolf has a big fucking headache to fix, but he will do it. Dodger burned a lot of fucking bridges, Tor.”

“I think maybe you better go,” I mutter, unable to even pretend to keep a cap on my anger.

“You make sure you keep your doors and windows locked,” he orders, watching me closely.

“I will, though no one bothers me unless you count men who bang on my door and wake me up—”

“I—” Red interrupts, but I speak over him because I want to get my point across.

“Waking me up,” I repeat, my tone annoyed. “Just so he can insult my father.”

“Make sure you lock your damn doors. I swear you’re a pain in the ass. I don’t know why Wolf fools with you,” Red mutters, turning and walking away. I slam the door loudly on him, wishing I could slam his face instead.

“Logan?” I ask when he doesn’t immediately come out of hiding. I retrace my steps going through the kitchen and hall. When I get to my bedroom he’s over by the window holding my broom—or what’s left of it. “What did my broom ever do to you?” I ask, wondering why he’s broken the wooden handle. I grimace when I think of the strength it must have taken to break it. That couldn’t have been easy.

“Hey, Angel. Get rid of the idiot that quickly?” he asks and I frown as I watch him put the largest pieces of my broom handle under the bed and wedge it so he can use that to help break off another piece.

“Yeah, I guess. What are you doing?”

“Securing your windows,” he says like that’s a perfectly natural reply. I watch as he wedges the piece of broom he broke into the top part of my window. Once he’s satisfied with the way he’s secured it, I watch as he tries to open the window. The handle of the broom makes that impossible and I have to say I’m kind of impressed at his ingenuity.

“That’s a really good idea,” I remark as he does the second window the same way.

“I’d rather they were safer, but this was the best I could do under the circumstances. We’ll try and do each window and then when I leave you can secure the window I use and—”

“I was… I mean…”

“Spit it out, Angel,” he urges and I struggle with my embarrassment. Still, I take a deep breath and try.

“I was hoping you’d stay the night. No sex or anything,” I say hurriedly, before Devil can get the wrong idea. “But, I’d really like to fall asleep in your arms tonight.”

He looks at me and for a minute I’m scared he’s going to turn me down. Then he grins a full smile, and that’s when I lose myself a little more to Devil.

“Then let’s get these windows secured. I want to hold my woman tonight.”

I really should correct him, but I don’t.

I want to belong to Devil.

So, like a fool, I help him secure windows and remain in my dream world where Devil is my man and we have a future.

I need to find a way to make that a reality.