Page 11 of Wicked Devotions: Part 2

“Ever consider knocking?” I ask primly, crossing my arms.

“Nope.” He prowls into my space. “Can’t say that I have.”

“I could have been doing something that required privacy.”

“You lost that privilege.” He holds up his hand, showing me a screwdriver. “That’s why I’m here to begin with.”

My brow furrows as he turns and closes the door, beginning to loosen the screws on the hinges. He works quickly, pocketing each loose screw. “You are quite literally unhinged.”

“Yep. Just like your door is about to be.” He doesn’t stop.

I was going to apologize to him. To take responsibility for running off and explain why I did it. But screw that and screw him.

“What are you trying to prove with this stunt?”

“I’m not trying to prove anything. I’m trying to keep you safe.”

“By eliminating my privacy?”

I catch a glimpse of Emerson through the crack in the door as he pauses to check out what’s going on. Thank goodness, someone to talk some sense into Declan right now. He needs to be checked.

“Emerson, stop,” I call out. I push the door open, squishing Declan between it and the wall. He doesn’t stop what he’s doing. “Tell him he’s being ridiculous.”

Emerson pokes his head around the door and looks down at Declan. “What are you doing?”

“Taking her door off.” He leans back and looks up at Emerson. “Will you hold it while I get this last screw out?”

Hope rises in my chest but quickly deflates when Emerson looks at me. “Sure.” His large hands wrap around the edge of the door, steadying it for Declan as finishes the last screw. “Where do you want me to put it?”

“Lock it in the attic storage.”

My mouth drops in shocked outrage. “You cannot be serious. Emerson.”

He looks at me and shrugs, taking off with the door in his hands.

“What is wrong with you?” I turn back to Declan.

He sets the screwdriver down. “What’s wrong with me?” Venom swirls in the dark green depths of his eyes. “I don’t know, Harper, let’s count my grievances.” He holds up a finger. “One, I woke up to find you not in bed beside me.” He adds another finger. “Two, I find out a video of us being intimate was shared over the internet.” Another finger. “Three, I go downstairs to find your phone on the floor and vomit in the sink.”

“I’m sorry about that,” I interrupt. “I should have cleaned it up myself. I wasn’t thinking.”

His eyes narrow as storm clouds gather in his eyes. “I don’t give a fuck about you getting sick in the sink. It could have been all over the walls and ceiling. The only thing I care about isyou.”He holds up a fourth finger. “Which leads us to number four. You left without your phone.”

“I had my purse.”

“Five, you drove Cy’s Ducati all the way to Athens.”

“He’s been giving me lessons, surely he told you that.”

He brackets my face with his palms. “I don’t care if fucking Evel Knievel taught you how to ride. I’d never not worry.”

“Why?” I look up into his eyes, not understanding why he’s so wound up. It’s so extreme.

“Six.” His voice is lowering in volume. “You choose to go to someone else for comfort you could have found from me, from us.”

“Stop.” How can he not understand that Banks has been my person for years? Before we were even together, Banks was my person.

He shakes his head. “Seven, and worst of all, you left without saying goodbye.”

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