Page 88 of Ink Deep Devotion

Instead, she flashes Dash an equally scary smile.“Yeah, I’m a cold-hearted bitch. Make no mistake.” She steps closer, abs clenching, biceps flexing.“But if I ever see you manhandling her again, you’ll be the dead one, little boy. Now, shoo, shoo.” She waves her hands in the air dismissively towards him.

I laugh, eyes wide, half dazed from lack of sleep.

Dash turns and glances at me, but for some reason, he doesn’t make a move against Nova.It was because I laughed. He’s happy to hear that sound coming from my lips again. I am, too.

“You knew about this?” He asks me.

I nod.“They told me on Monday. My dad approved of her file.”

He holds my eyes.“I need a friend.” I mouth.“Please.”

“She’s not your friend,” He whispers back.

My shoulders sink.“Are you staying?” I ask, hoping Nova can’t hear our conversation.

“No. You have a new roommate to fill my spot.”

“Dash.” I grab his arm, but he tugs it free.

“Be careful.” He warns both of us, then he leaves.

Chapter 30

Dash

“You woke me up at five in the morning to ask me about Mila’s new roommate?” Greg hisses into the phone. Sleep deepens his voice, giving him an older sound.

“No,” I reply. Red coats my vision, pumps through my veins, and clouds my thoughts. I hate that Greg still has control over Mila.

“I called because I want the wedding to happen at the end of the month.” The words calm me for a fraction of a second.

“What?” He coughs out the sleep from his lungs.

How fucking dare he approve of a roommate and not tell me! Who is the girl?

I don’t care if all the dorms at Empire are occupied. Nova could have been placed in a different room, not Mila’s. It’s bullshit!

I put Greg on speaker and open up the camera app that shows me Mila’s dorm.

“I said I want to marry Mila by the end of the month.” I hate repeating myself!

“Absolutely not.”

“She’s already mine,” I growl.

Mila and her new roommate, Nova, appear on the screen as they sit on the couch and talk. My chest drops slightly. I want Mila to have someone to talk to, someone who isn’t me. I need her attention not always orbiting my fire.

I want Mila to have that normal life she craves, but I want to control it so I know she’s safe.

Nova isn’t safe. One look could tell me that.

But…Nova made Mila laugh. It was genuine and so fucking beautiful I wanted to make it happen again so I could record it. I want to listen to it when I’m suffering in the depths of my despair. I want it to happen again and again because laughing isn’t just a sign of life; it's a sign of happiness. I want Mila to be happy in the cage I trap her in. I need it to happen.

Greg snorts,“No, she isn’t. Your family still has one part of the contract to fulfill.”

I need control of Mila’s safety. It’s been utter bullshit sharing the job with Greg’s guards. If something like this slipped through the communication channels, imagine what else could happen.

“What?”

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