“We don’t have to small talk for you to be my pet, Roselyn. This marriage is not real. You’re a business traction.” His words sting and I thought I was getting on his good side but I’m not. He’s more stubborn than a mule.
I glare at him. “Is it wrong for us to talk?”
“Don’t you hate me for how I treated you?” His eyebrows shoot up.
“I’m stuck with you for the rest of my life so I’m trying to make my living situation better. I want you to be able to trust me, so I can have my freedom and live a peaceful life.” I bite my index fingernail.
“We’ll talk about them another time.”
“My Papa verbally abused me, and he slapped me across the face on our wedding day.”
He’s the only person I told. And if I had any real friends, he’ll probably be the only person I’d tell. Once I get out of this hellhole, I’ll make a few friends. Especially like the ones from Sex and The City. When I was in high school, I didn’t have a social bone in my body because I didn’t know how to. So, I would sit awkwardly at lunch.
“He did what?” Devious grits his teeth and his face turn the color of a tomato.
I swallow thickly before responding. “He slapped me and told me to not give you trouble.”
“He would never hit me when mother was alive, but ever since she passed away last year. He’s been taking his anger out on me.” I feel like a little kid telling on a bully.
“I have to deal with Lex for putting his hands on you. ”
“What are you going to do?”
“Don’t worry about it, Roselyn.”
Silence falls between us and I hope I didn’t sentence Papa to death.
“Please, don’t kill him,” I blurt out, but Devious only frowns. “Don’t hurt him, please.”
He gets up from the chair, crouches down, his jeans riding up his thigh. He grips my chin and his fingers strokes my chin.
“Don’t ever tell me what to do when it comes to protecting you. I’ll kill anyone who tries to harm you. I’ll burn down this city if it means keeping you safe.”
Roselyn
I WAIT FOR DEVIOUS BY the door like a good obedient pet. I dust off my flowery blouse and dark jeans. Marla has good taste in clothing. When the door opens, Devious walks in wearing an all-black suit. The thread in his clothing is fine and expensive and his perfectly dark hair is a mess. He has a five o’clock shadow.
He stares at me as if I’ll grow three heads.
“Can you take me to Nonno’s house? I haven’t seen him since we got married.” My tone is light as a feather.
Guilt eats at me and my throat goes dry. I feel so selfish for not being able to check on him, while I’ve been trapped here. Has he been getting his medication? Are the nurses doing their job? Who is his new nurse? Has someone been making sure he is taking him to his doctor’s appointment?
Devious strokes my cheeks and I flush. He nods then we head out of the door and get into the car.
“No, driver today?” I joke.
He hits the start button on the car. “I gave King the day off to go to his son’s baseball game.”
My hands jittery with excitement and nervousness as we pull into traffic. Devious is finally letting his guard down with me, but it’s too soon. Way too soon and I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s letting me believe what I want to believe because it’s what he did when I tried to kill him. He didn’t let on he knew I was going to kill him. He is a few steps ahead of me, so I need to be careful around him. The air is tight and stuffy in the car. Devious taps his thumb on the steering wheel while he hums a song.
We stop in front of the building at the old penthouse. Maybe he needs to stop by and get something then he’ll take me to my Nonno’s house.
He walks over to the passenger side and opens my door and we head inside the building. When we walk into the penthouse, my eyes damn near pop out of my socket, rolling onto the floor. Nonno is perched on a new brown recliner and his dull eyes land on us.
“It’s Draco’s son,” Nonno says, then he glances at me. “It’s Rose Bug.” A smile dances on his face. Nonno is always excited about seeing new people. He loves people.
“Sit. Sit.” He points to his new couch. Devious sits on the couch and I hug Nonno as tears rush down my face.
“What’s wrong with you?” Nonno asks as he uses his index finger to remove the tears from my eyes.
“I miss you,” I murmur.
“I miss you too. You need to visit more often. And your parents too.”
“He says this every time I visit him,” Devious murmurs, resting his leg on his tight.
Perching on the couch next to him, I shoot him a peculiar look. “You visit him?” I ask in disbelief.
He nods. “Three times a week.”
Shock swallows me whole. “Why? It doesn’t matter. You will not use him as a pawn to control me.”
“I wasn’t planning on, but if you try to tell me what to do again, I’ll lock your little ass back in the cell,” he snaps.
I sink into the couch, folding my arms across my chest.
A male nurse who I’ve never met comes up to Grandpa. “It’s time to get your diaper changed.”
“Who are you? What is your name? I don’t know you,” I tell the nurse and he frowns. I’m particular about who I want to take care of Nonno. He’s my best friend and I don’t want anyone thinking they can abuse him.
“Donald. Mr. Cayden hired me.” He frowns again, eyeing me suspiciously.
Nonno gets up from the couch, placing his
