Page 20 of Devoted
Stepping closer, I try to keep my footsteps light in my attempt to see what book she’s taken off the shelf. Iloveknowing these little things about her. The food she likes and the books she’s interested in are precious facts I shelve away in my mental library.
From my hiding spot behind the door, I can see it’s an intricate edition ofThe Phantom of the Opera.
Vivian’s fingers caress the artwork. Long maroon nails trail across the lettering on the front, then down the spine in a way that leaves my head spinning. Suddenly, her expression changes. Her eyebrows pinch together, and a small frown forms on her beautiful lips.
So enthralled by her, I don’t notice the misstep of my left foot, which causes the door shielding me to creak loudly and break her spell on me.
Vivian’s eyes land on me immediately. Although half of my face is hidden behind the door, she must know it’s me. I’m expecting a hint of surprise or some sort of exasperation from her, yet all she does is smirk with those red-stained lips of hers. It only lasts a moment before she gives her attention back to the bookshelves, effectively dismissing me entirely.
That one twitch of her lips leaves me feeling like I’m the prey when I thought myself the predator only moments ago.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
VIVIAN
What ghosts around comes around.
Fall is my favorite season for a lot of different reasons. One, I love all the spooky shit. Two, this is the time of year I get a ton of commissions for custom-made costumes. Not only am I gratefully distracted from the whirlwind my life has become these last few weeks, but I’m making bank, too.
My phone vibrates on my desk as I pack away the final costume. I want to get the Betty Boop outfit put away before checking my phone. My client is scheduled to pick it up in about fifteen minutes, so it’s probably them giving me a heads-up. After this gets into their hands, I’ll have plenty of time to finish the final details of my costume for the Halloween party at The Garden of Eden tonight.
The anticipation of what tonight can bring has my skin buzzing.
I haven’t seen Knight since last weekend. Sitting next to him as we were surrounded by all our friends and family was more pleasant than awkward, like I assumed it was going to be. WhenI caught him staring at me in the library… Well, I can’t explain exactly what I was feeling. There’s this element of control I feel from knowing he’s watching me, knowing he’s so struck by me that he has to keep his eyes on me at all times.
Another text notification pops up on my phone. As soon as I finish tying the bow on the package, I pick up my phone and open up my text app.
Unsaved Number
I’m sure you heard your father paid a visit to Alek.
We will be visiting together in a month. I expect a warmer reception from you, sweetheart.
Even now, my mother still won’t refer to Alek as a member of our family. I should have seen the signs of my parents’ narcissism earlier. I was too young to understand what was happening within our family until Alek left and then with their falling-out with Thomas. When my two older brothers were gone, there was only me. I didn’t know how good I had it, feeling like the invisible child for so long, until they turned their sights on me.
I block this number, too, even though I know she’ll text or call me again in a few weeks. I’ve been out of their lives since I left to put myself through design school three years ago, and I still feel the presence of their control around my throat like a physical rope. Believe it or not, this is probably the nicest of the messages Julie has sent me after I left. At least this one isn’t calling me a disappointment for joining my brothers in their ‘sinful lifestyles,’ as she puts it.
Not to mention the ones condemning me for coming out as bisexual. Julie layers on the compliments when she wantssomeone to follow her orders, but she’s vicious as soon as you deviate from what she considers conventional.
My brothers don’t know the extent of how much our parents have been contacting me, and I refuse to tell them. They carried so much of the burden during our childhoods. I can deal with it now for the three of us.
The ringing of the doorbell is a welcome distraction. I grab the box and head down the small steps from my office to my bedroom. Answering the door, I’m relieved to see the smiling face of my client as she bounces excitedly on the steps of our apartment. Our conversation is short and sweet before we part ways, each of us having parties to get ready for.
Though I highly doubt her plans involve a little revenge.
For it being the first staff, friends, and family party I’ve attended at the club, it has been fucking wild, and it’s only just begun. Drinks and food are catered, so the staff is free to let loose without any of our normal work responsibilities. The stage has become a dance floor for everyone in attendance, when it usually holds our hunky dancers and performers.
I’ve been looking for Knight since the party started, but I haven’t been able to catch him. There’s a shiver that runs down my body every couple of minutes, though, so I know he’s watching me even when I can’t see him in the huge crowd of people.
Not going to lie, the feeling of having his eyes on me is turning me on as much as it is pissing me off. I want to find him and play into this little game we’ve got going on. It’s about time he lost the upper hand here.
Making my way to the front doors to catch some air and hopefully calm these fucking hormones down, I step out, only to see Alek and Ezekiel making their way to the entrance.
Waving them over, the friendly smile I greet them with suddenly falls as I see Alek’s costume is torn up. The costume I spenthourscustomizing for his huge ass.
“Alek! Is there a reason you decided to butcher your cape?” I ask, my tone exasperated. Taking a few steps toward him, I attempt to grab onto the tattered cape, but he swats my hand away with a slap.
“Chill, Viv. Just had an accident. Trust me, you don’t want to touch that.” My brother’s expression is disgustingly smug, his naughty smirk giving him away.
