Page 20 of Cruel Devotion

“Dad owed money to these gangsters that own a casino here in Glory—”

“What the fuck?!”

“And they were talking about putting my sisters and me into prostitution to pay back the money—”

“Who the fuck are these guys?!”

“It doesn’t matter. In all of that situation was when I met Leo—”

“Moni, you cannot be around Leo. He is dangerous—”

“I know.” I pulled the sheet over my bare breasts and hugged myself. “Banks, a lot has happened but through it all Lei and his men have had my back and kept me protected.”

“But you never called me?”

“Banks, I was thinking that you were no longer aboutthat life. Maybe, if you didn’t keep that from me, I would have dialed you first. Instead, I was trying to keep you out of trouble.”

“So, this is my fault?”

“No. I’m just saying—”

“You call me when things go bad. Promise me that. Right now.”

“I will.”

“I mean it.”

“I mean it too. I will call you, Banks.”

“Okay.” He sighed. “We’re still in Glory. Give me the name of the casino, Moni. I can at least handle Unc’s shit while I’m here.”

“Uh. . .” I tensed. “No you can’t.”

“What do you mean I can’t?”

“Umm. . .” I closed my eyes. “So. . .uh. . .”

“Moni, what?”

“So. . .Dad is dead.” I opened my eyes.

There was a heavy pause. My confession hung in the air like a suffocating fog.

“Monique. . .are you serious? When?”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “A few days ago. He was. . .he was killed.”

Banks’ voice cracked; the tough facade momentarily broken. “How? Who?”

“Leo, Lei’s father. In some sick way, Leo thought he was helping me by killing Dad.”

Anger laced Banks’ voice. “That’s bullshit.”

“I-I know.” I was terrified with how Banks would take this.

“We might have had our differences, but. . .damn it, Unc didn’t deserve this.”

“No, he didn’t.” My eyes watered. “After that, I knew that I was involved in something messy. Dangerous. I decided not to call you. Instead, I thought it would be better for the girls to be safe in Paradise.”

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