The Handsome Devil

Chapter 33 - Watch out for the customer

"What do you think you're doing?"

She quickly stepped away from the figure and looked up with eyes full of dread.

"P-Patrick.." In a sense, she was relieved it wasn't Max who caught her. She might have avoided punishment last time but the opportunity is unlikely to repeat.

"What are you doing here?" She managed to steady her voice a little, but the nervous edge to it remained.

"Guard duty" He growled in undertone scanning her from head to toes, and the girl internally scolded herself. Of course the devil wouldn't leave her without supervision.

Where did you think all the guys from the plane disappeared?

Her inner voice was mercilessly nagging her. If her escape plan is to succeed, she can't afford to make mistakes like this.

"Better question is, what are you doing here?" She thought she has long got used to his murderous looks. Yet, right now, in this abandoned Prague street, in the middle of the night, it frightened her to the core.

"I-I just needed some fresh air" She stuttered out and nervously bit her bottom lip. "I swear I was just about to go back"

At least the last part wasn't a lie. Nonetheless, the glare Patrick gave her let her know he's not convinced at all. Her body started to tremble when she thought about the millions of possible consequences, and her mind ultimately stopped at the most frightening one.

My dad.

"Please.." She whispered as she stared into his cold eyes. "Don't tell Max"

Despite the daily training sessions she had with Patrick since the devil took her, they rarely talked and there was very little she knew about him. His cold exterior never revealed what sympathies he might hold towards her, but it was clear they were far from calling each other friend.  Nonetheless, right now she hoped he has enough empathy to at least contemplate her words.

He DID go against Max's orders for you once..

Her inner voice reminded her of the heads up he gave her on her second mission. But does it mean he'll help her out now, when the stakes are much higher?

"My dad.." She breathed and shook her head in desperation, hoping he'll be able to read between the lines.

She intently watched each and every one of his muscles but they didn't even flinch as his eyes burned into her.

"Fine" Patrick sighed after a moment and crossed his arms.

"Get your ass back to your room." His voice was back to the one he used during training and she couldn't believe how glad she felt to hear it.

"There's five of us, so don't try anything stupid. Others wouldn't hesitate to rat you out."

She nodded her head hastily before storming into the hotel, too afraid he could change his mind. As she took the lift to her floor, she felt a mix of confusion and gratefulness. It goes without saying that telling Max about her escape attempt would get her deep in trouble. Nonetheless, didn't he risk to suffer part of the devil's wrath in case he found out they kept it a secret?

As she tucked into the comfy bed, her mind tried to find a single valid reason why would Patrick do it.

. . .

"Rise and shine!" James's voice woke her rather abruptly, making her groan in displeasure.

"What the hell?" Her muffled sleepy voice was heard from below the pile of blankets. She has never been an early bird, and she had no interest to become one.