Page 154 of Devil Mine

Violent nausea twists my stomach when I let my mind roam to thoughts of where he could have spent last night and ofwhohe might have spent it with. I run to the bathroom and fall to my knees, dry heaving painfully into the toilet as I clutch the bowl for both physical and emotional support.

Could he have cheated on me?

A painful pang stabs my belly once more.

I’d have no one to blame but myself if he did.

But, God, I really,reallyhope he didn’t.

It would destroy me to hear he’s been with another woman. I’m disgusted by the mere thought of another man touching me and I’d hope he would feel the same, but I just don’t know.

He wassoangry when he left.

“I’m done.”

My stomach churns at the painful memory, but another emotion pokes out from behind it. It starts out small, then progressively grows until it steels my spine.

Stubbornness. Determination.

What am I doing here, just waiting for him to maybe come home?

He’s notallowedto be done with me, actually.

I won’t let him.

He’s the one who married me, he has to own that decision until the very end.

I’m not going to wait and see if he makes the decision I want him to tonight, if he chooses to continue things with me.

Our story started with him chasing me down and it’s my turn to go after him now. I’m going to find him myself and bring him back. And just like he did with me, I won’t be giving him a choice.

I press a number in my contacts and bring my phone up to my ear.

“Where is he?” I ask.

A relieved sigh comes through the line.

“It’s about time you called. He’s atTanta,” Arturo answers, rattling off the address without hesitation. I think I hear the hint of a smile in his voice. It’s more pronounced when he adds, “Sounds like you’ve made your decision.”

???

When I arrive atTantaless than thirty minutes later, Arturo is waiting for me outside the club.

“Did you take a taxi here?”

“Yes.”

He groans. “He’s going to have mycojonesfor that. Maybe don’t mention it to him.”

“He’s still here?”

“In his office. I’ll take you to him.”

I follow him inside, the noise of the club immediately overwhelming me. It’s almost midnight now and the party is raging. There are girls everywhere, every one of them more beautiful than the next. My belly flips in anxious agony.

We climb a set of stairs and head towards the back of the building where Arturo points to an unmarked thick black door.

“He’s in there.”

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