Page 17 of Devious
“Let him go!” I scream.
Devious yanks down my shorts and smacks my ass cheeks. Tears trail down my face as I rub my delicate flesh.
Devious bashes Tommy in the face. “This is what happens if anyone tries to help you escape me.”
My legs knock together as I press my palms over my mouth. “Please don’t hurt him anymore. He’s innocent. It’s my fault.”
Devious points to the cot. “Sit on the bed.”
Slowly, pull my shorts up I sit on the stiff, thin mattress.
Tommy lifts his head up and mumbles something.
“You’re going to watch me slit his throat,” he says. “If you try to get someone to help escape me, then I’m going to make you kill them. You’re my property. Do you understand?”
I sob uncontrollably as I shake my head.
“Answer me, Roselyn Vitali.”
I put my head down. “Y-yes, sir.”
“Look at me. You’re going to watch.”
My eyes stay glued to Tommy as Devious yanks him by the hair, pushes his neck back, and slices his golden skin. His throat cuts like leather, and blood drips down his neck as his head falls back. My stomach empties out on the dark concrete.
“You psychopath!” I scream at the top of my lungs as I watch Tommy’s lifeless eyes. “You’re so fucking cruel!” I stand up, start beating him with my fists, and he grabs my wrists, holding them above my head, using his fingers to grip my chin. My cheeks throb, and the pain slithers around the crown of my forehead.
“You caused this yourself, Roselyn.”
He cleans his knife with Tommy’s shirt. “Cruel is killing you and Lex. Instead, I spared you and him. Someone had to die for your actions.” Devious snatches me by the arm once more and we head back to the elevator as my heart beats in anticipation.
“What are you going to do with me?”
Once we’re out of the elevator, I glance at a door, and he opens it, shoving me inside a bedroom. He takes one last look at me before he slams the door. I lie in bed in the fetal position until I pass out.
Roselyn
My eyes flutter open, and my head hurts so bad my brain feels like it’s been fried and scrambled in a pan.
I sit up on the fluffy bed and glance around the bedroom. There is a floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the manicured lawn. I watch as staff move in and out of the mansion and I gaze around the room, and it’s beautiful. Beautiful paintings and a flat-screen TV hang on the wall, and there’s an oak dresser in the corner.
Closing my eyes, memories of Tommy getting his throat slit burn in my mind. The way his eyes rolled to the back of his head makes me want to empty out my stomach on the cream carpet all over again. I can’t get the sound of his flesh being cut out of my head, nor the smell of copper out of my nose. I open my eyes. This is all my fault. He would still be alive if it wasn’t for me. How stupid could I be to think about protecting myself from Devious? I should have known better that he knew I was plotting to kill him. I should have been a lot more careful when it came to my stupid plan.
Tears trickle down my cheeks hard and fast. A lump forms in the back of my throat, and the room spins, so I lie back on the bed. Staring at the dim light hanging from the ceiling, I want my momma. I need her more than ever. If she were alive, she wouldn’t allow Papa to marry me off for his convenience. Even though their marriage was arranged, she still loved me—even though I’m the product of rape. Mama told me when I was eighteen years old, Papa used to force himself on her repeatedly. She didn’t hate me; in fact, she loved me more than life itself. She told me she wanted me out of the vicious cycle of being trapped in an abusive marriage, yet here I am, following in her footsteps. Maybe if I had gone to Vegas with Nero, then I wouldn’t be in this situation. But if Devious spares my life, I’ll do everything he says. I won’t disobey him or act out. I’ll be his good little wife that he bought me for. Until I plan my escape. I’m not spending my life with him.
There is a knock on the door, and a woman pokes her head inside, dressed in all black, placing a tray of food on the dresser, then she leaves the room.
I don’t have an appetite, so instead, I walk into the spacious bathroom, where I do my business, and I notice a fresh set of clothes are sitting on the counter. I change into them. They aren’t my style but I don’t want to wear the clothes I wore last night.
Normally, with Papa, I could bullshit my way out of trouble, but Devious is a different kind of man from my papa. He’s far worse. I’m dealing with the devil. I’m the one who tried to kill Devious without thinking about the consequences. I’m the one who thought it was a great idea to protect myself from the monster. And now, my fate dangles in his hands. I slap my forehead with my palm three times.
“Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.”
I fall asleep, wake up again, and I look out of the window and the sky is inky black. The stars shine, and the maid strides in with another tray. She eyes the uneaten food then me, shaking her head. This is my opportunity to try to get her to get Devious to talk to me.
“Hey, what’s your name?”
I tap her on the shoulder, but she won’t even look me.
