Page 34 of Devotion

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I haven’t worn this dress in over a year. Mostly because I haven’t had any place to go that called for a gold, sequined dress that barely comes down past my ass. I inch the top up a bit and shimmy my boobs down inside it, with only the thin spaghetti straps standing between me and a nipple slip. But chances are, this dress will make me look like a nun compared to the other girls who’ll be out tonight.

I slip into a pair of gold heels, grab my clutch, then lock my apartment behind me. I’m on my tiptoes as I cross the driveway to the main house. Again, my father’s left the back door unlocked, which leads me to wonder if his warning to be more safety-conscious only applied to me.

His voice carries from the back of the house from the direction of his office, and I head that way, ignoring the fact that I’m being intentionally quiet. Intentionally eavesdropping.

I stop just outside his door and steer clear of the light filtering out through the crack where it’s not quite closed all the way. His back’s to me as he rocks in his desk chair, staring at his bookcase.

He sounds tense. Then again,allhiscalls I’ve overheard lately sound tense.

“We’ve already discussed this, Luther.”

Hearing him say his lawyer’s name, my shoulder settles against the wall, and I listen harder.

“I willnotbe bullied out of finishing this piece. Considering the years of work that went into it before I even knew there’dbea book, I have as much right to tell this story as anyone else.Moreright to tell it,” he adds before falling silent to listen to Luther’s response.

For weeks now, I’ve felt like he was keeping me in the dark, being cryptic and more anxious than usual. Now, I’m wondering if it all circles back to this.

Thatfucking,godforsaken book.

“There have only been the phone calls, empty threats. Nothing I’m taking too seriously.”

He pauses, and my heart races.

What threats?

“Of course. We’ll speak again soon.”

The call ends, and I ease the door open. When dad spins, facing forward again, his eyes widen with surprise.

“Sweetheart. I didn’t hear you standing there.”

Clearly.

He pauses, seeming to only now notice the full face of makeup, the beach waves in my dark hair that took quite some time to perfect, my dress.

“I suppose it’s safe to say you’re heading out tonight. Who with?”

“Friends from work. I was invited to a party.”

He smiles, but the expression never quite reaches his eyes. “Sounds fun.”

I shrug, still thinking I shouldn’t have agreed to this. “Maybe. Either way, you probably shouldn’t wait up.”

Dad smiles again, but this one is even more tense than the first. “Nah, it’s not a big deal. I’ve got plenty of work to keep me busy. These friends,” he adds, “are they coming to get you?”

I recall specifically telling Martinez I don’t want him here tonight as I shake my head. “Nope. I scheduled an Uber.”

Something flickers in his eyes.

Concern.

My gaze narrows in his direction. “Is… everything okay?”

I keep to myself that I overheard his call, that I’m aware someone’s made threats.

He seems to realize he’s not as convincing as he meant to be, then forces his eyes to soften, giving way to the easy-going expression I’m used to. Only, it’s too late to pull that off with any measure of believability.