Page 13 of Avenging Devil: Part 2

I’m still struggling to comprehend why it’s so important to him when he adds, “When you’re pregnant, you’ll stay right here, as I can’t trust you, can I, Sapphire?”

Of course he can’t. That goes without saying. The first chance I get to run, I’ll be taking it.

“Why bother, Duke? You don’t even like me.” I try to appeal to him. “We can get divorced. You could get another wife if you want a child so much.” That’s the reasonable approach, isn’t it?

He looks at me snidely. “Oh, there’ll be no divorce. I can’t dispose of you for a while, however much I want to. Another woman wouldn’t be you, would they, Sapphire?”

What difference does that make?He doesn’t even like me, he’s admitted as much.

He chuckles as he sees my look of confusion. “Another woman wouldn’t have the family connections you do.”

“My father disowned me,” I tell him flatly. But why did he allow Duke to use his plane? There must be more to it. Try as I might though, I can’t imagine my staid father in league with a man like Duke.

“Your father did what I told him to.”

What the hell?Uncurling myself, wincing as I do so, I draw myself up on my knees, my desire for information outweighing my concern for making myself a target for his fists.

“What are you talking about?”

“You’re your father’s heir, Sapphire. An heir to a fuckin’ fortune.”

“He wrote me out of his will when I married you.” I know he did, or at least, that’s what he threatened to do.

“Oh, my dear Sapphire.” He shakes his head as though he’s sad, but I don’t buy it for one minute. “It was all too easy to convince you that your father cut all ties with you. When actually, he’s been paying me to keep you safe. All the money he owns will go to your brat when he dies. My heir will inherit everything.”

My father’s been paying him?

“Perhaps it’s time you learned some facts of life,” he mutters, almost to himself. Then directly to me, he says, “See, Sapphire, your daddy dotes on you. Sure, he threatened to cut you off if you married me but having one of those fits of the rebellion you’re prone to, you became mine. It was then I took over communications. Your father’s been working with the MC for a very long time. We do most of his money laundering for him.”

My dad’s no criminal, he has to be wrong. My disbelief must show on my face.

“The idea of using you came when he refused me a loan. It was part how to get back at him, and part how to increase the money coming into the club. He knew to stay away from you. All I had to do was keep him updated with proof of life. Those photos you were gullible enough to model for me? Well, those were sent to your dear old dad.”

I gasp. Sure, there had been times he asked me to dress in all my finery, and of course I did so. To refuse would be inviting his fists. But I also did so in the hope Duke would treat me like a proper wife. I never dreamed there was an ulterior motive.

“I don’t believe you. If Dad cared enough, he’d have moved heaven and earth to get me back.”

“Now, now, be sensible, Sapphire. He cares about you, but he’d acted outside the law—a law we kept him breaking. All he needed was one hint we’d get the feds involved, and he was running for cover. Also, he’s got no fuckin’ army, and that’s what he’d need if he wanted to take you back. Why do you think I had you guarded so carefully?”

“What about over the last few months? You couldn’t prove I was alive during that time. You didn’t even know where I was. Did he know I was gone?” I ask, dying inside, wondering if all this time I’d believed my father would slam the door in my face, he would have welcomed me back with open arms, and helped me escape had I gone straight to him. Hid me and refused to give me back. Given me money to start a new life. Yet Duke had had me believe he’d totally washed his hands of me.

“He knew I was looking for you. We were watching him, too. That’s where I thought you’d run to be honest, but it seems I did my job convincing you too well. When your nigger boyfriend got me your location, I commandeered his plane.”

My gut twists at his mention of Niran, and hatred for him sweeps through me again. But I push that out of my mind, focusing on what’s more important. “I want to see my father.”

“That’s not part of the bargain. But, Sapphire, dearest, once your face is respectable again, we’ll have another photo session. By then, hopefully, your belly will be round with my baby.”

“I need time to recover, the doctors said…”

His hand slashes through the air. “No time, Sapphire. I want you pregnant as soon as I can.”

And I have to find some excuse to delay. The thought of Duke’s hands, or worse, his dick, near me makes me want to vomit, never mind any of the other Wolves. “What’s the rush?”

He grins as if he’s about to deliver good news. “Oh, I didn’t tell you, did I? Your dad was diagnosed with cancer last year. It’s become quite aggressive now. He’s got a year, maybe less, maybe a little more, and then he’ll be gone.”

I cover my mouth with my hand. I’d had no idea my dad was even ill, yet alone terminal. I swallow hard, trying to come to terms with conflicting thoughts—hopes that we’re not as estranged as I’d expected and that I might see him again, then having that chance whipped away by Duke’s cruel words. Knowing I’ll need to process that with my other numerous burdens later, I force myself to stay on track. I can’t follow Duke’s logic. “If he dies, everything goes to Mom.”

He shakes his head. “Your money’s old and tied up in red tape. The bulk of his inheritance is held in perpetual trust, and always goes to the next in line, not someone who’s married in. He may be able to leave her a sufficient amount to live on, but not all his assets, and that’s where his money is.”

---