Page 38 of Ravaged By a Devil

A woman steps gracefully into the room. She has warm olive skin, long dark hair falling over her shoulders, piercing dark eyes, and high, sharp cheekbones. She looks striking and undeniably elegant in a tailored tweed suit.

The shift in Malachi is instantaneous. He is on his feet before the door even clicks shut, his tough, cynical edge completely vanishing as his eyes light up like a hopeful puppy's. He struts straight over to her, wraps his arms firmly around her waist, and pulls her in for a deep, lingering kiss. The absolute devotion on his face is undeniable.

A collective groan echoes through the room.

"Get a room, guys, please," Elijah mutters, pinching the bridge of his nose without looking up from his tablet.

Levi shakes his head, resting his hands on his hips. "Have some decorum! Not in front of our guest, guys."

“Guest?” The woman pull back slightly from the kiss. Her sharp eyes sweep the office until they lock directly onto me, a warm, genuine curiosity sparkling in her expression alongside a subtle smile.

"Hello. I'm Jade," she says, stepping smoothly away from Malachi. "Malachi's wife."

I sit up a little straighter, returning her smile. "I'm Alexis."

Jade hums thoughtfully, her gaze flicking over to Cain, who is standing near the desk with an absurdly exaggerated scowl fixed on his face.

Malachi reaches out and smacks Cain upside the back of his head. "Don't ever look at my wife like that."

Cain just glares at him, but Jade bursts out laughing, casually stepping around her husband and coming over to sit on the wide arm of my chair. Without an ounce of hesitation, she pulls me into a brief, warm hug.

"You're Cain's friend, aren't you?" she asks, pulling back to look at me.

Well, that's certainly one way to put it.

"Yes," I say, nodding gently.

"It’s so nice to finally meet you," Jade says softly, sliding Cain another amused look. His scowl only deepens in response.

As the men gather around the huge desk, hunching over a laptop to dive into a serious strategy discussion, Jade shifts closer to me on the arm of the chair.

"I hear you're helping Cain keep an eye on Nolan," she murmurs.

I nod, taking another small sip of my juice. "I am."

"Just be careful, Alexis," she warns, her dark eyes filled with genuine concern.

I force a small, reassuring smile. "I know how dangerous Nolan is. I'll be careful, I promise."

Jade sighs, turning her head to look over at the table where Malachi is currently pointing at something on the glowing screen.

"Nolan became much worse after I chose Malachi," she confides quietly. "When I walked away, it publicly destroyed the alliance he expected to gain through my family name, completely humiliating him."

I gasp, the missing piece of the puzzle suddenly falling into place. The Moretti humiliation.

"So... you were supposed to be married to Nolan?" I ask, horrified.

Jade shudders, a visible chill running down her spine. "That was the plan."

I can't help but let out a soft laugh at her dramatic reaction, and she smiles back, looking over at her husband with soft eyes. "Malachi is the absolute best. I would have been completely miserable with Nolan."

"Alexis, come on," Cain’s low voice suddenly cuts through my thoughts. "I'm taking you home."

I look up to see him standing away from the desk, his car keys already resting in his palm.

Levi groans loudly, leaning against the wet bar with a disappointed frown. "Ah, come on, Cain! Can't she stay a little longer? I was going to take her upstairs to show her around and have some real fun."

Jade makes a face, shuddering again. "Eww. Alexis, don't do it. Levi's idea of 'fun' is total debauchery."