Page 64 of These Deadly Vows

Laying a hand on each of my shoulders, he massages the tight muscles. Lolling my head back, I rest it on his chest. “Don’t think you’re getting laid tonight.”

He kisses my forehead. “Wouldn’t dream of it. Did you take the test?”

My blood runs cold. “That’s the last thing I can think about right now. I’m deciding which method of torture will be appropriate for punishing your whore.”

“Let me worry about Boo.”

“This is between her and me. I don’t need you to handle her. I want her gone.”

“I’ll make sure she’s punished, but she’s been loyal to the club.”

“And what about your loyalty to me as your wife?” I shake my head and exit the elevator. “Spending the night with Axe isn’t a punishment.”

“What the fuck does that mean?” He stomps up the stairs behind me.

I slam the bathroom door in his face, locking it before he can barge in.

The knob twists and jiggles. I ignore him. Leaving him to wonder what I meant by the statement. My reflection stares back at me from the mirror. I don’t recognize myself and I don’t even mean my hair. I’m harder yet more vulnerable.

Then again, I have nothing to lose. This whole relationship with Lorenzo is a façade. Like a house of cards and one wrong move will send it all tumbling down. “Open the door, Adeline.”

“Piss off.”

He slaps the door, but I hear him walking away.

I rip open the box for the pregnancy test. This tiny plastic stick is all my husband cares about.

I don’t know why I’m bothering to entertain this as I read the instructions.

“This is stupid,” I mutter, pulling my shorts down and sitting on the toilet. I already know the results are going to read negative. This is a waste of time, yet I do it anyway to appease him.

Stick peed on, check.

I place the test on the edge of the sink and wash my hands. There’s no point in waiting for the word I dread to pop up. So, I don’t wait to see the result. I brush my teeth and leave the test there for Lorenzo.

“Oh, damn girl. Don’t worry. Alfonso has you. I got you.” The stylist purses his lips, then snaps his fingers across my face.

Lorenzo wasn’t lying when he said he knew a guy. I’ve tried in the past to get in with Alfonso and was always wait listed.

“How bad is it?”

“Good news is your hair is healthy.”

“And the bad?”

“We have a few options.”

“Which are?”

“I can try to reverse the damage by stripping the color out over several appointments to maintain the integrity of your hair or I can touch up the color that’s there now, by matching the shade as close as possible. What do you want to do?”

Boo thinks she’s won this round, but I’ll win the war.

“Touch up the color.”

“You sure? Your man made it sound like getting you back to blonde was dire.”

“I’m sure.”

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