Page 32 of Devious
When the door closes, I tap a button to stop the car. I grab her by the neck, squeezing, but not enough to close off her airway.
“Listen to me carefully, my little nymph.” I lean down. “I’m not trying to pull any bullshit with you. I’m trying to be a good husband, but you’re making it very hard with your immature bullshit. FYI, I’m not filling your head with empty lies. I never promised you anything, but I can promise you this: if you ever pull this bullshit again, I’ll punish you, I’ll lock you in the mansion, seclude you to your room.”
I let her go and press the Down button and the elevator descends, meanwhile she keeps her eyes straight ahead.
“I hate you,” she says calmly.
“As long as your pussy gets wet for me, I don’t care if you do.”
Roselyn
As soon as we get home, I head straight to the backyard to get fresh air and to get away from Devious.
I’m so sick of his bullshit, and I want to slap him. He says he’s trying to be a good husband, but how can I trust him when he put me through a lot of shit already? At the dinner table, I was hoping that I’d embarrass him enough that he wouldn’t take me out again, but my plan backfired. He played along with my bullshit, beating me at my own damn game, making me the one to look like a nutcase. Fuck Devious. I’m not letting my guard down with him, and I don’t trust him. I won’t allow him to mindfuck me.
Finally, I decide to stroll to the bedroom. With the day I’m having, I could use a long bath. I call Binx, because I need to snuggle up with him. I need his warm body next to mine. He’s the only friend that I truly care about. I check every room, and I know he’s not outside because he doesn’t like it.
I open the door and realize this is the room that Devious and I were supposed to share. Once I’m inside the room, I find Devious is nowhere in sight. I look under the bed but my cat’s not there.
Where are you, Binx?I just want to snuggle and lie down and watch TV.
As I stroll to the dresser, my eyes snag on to the nightstand, and Devious’s phone glows.
I can call my father and see if he can get me out of this god-awful situation. Maybe he can speak to Devious and pay him his money back so I can come home and get out of this toxic-ass marriage. After I call him, I can delete the recent call.
My heart goes haywire, my throat tightens, and a shiver snakes up my spine. My hand trembles like leaves as I grab the phone and swipe up.
I swipe up and dial my papa’s number, and he picks up on the second ring.
“Yeah, D.” His tone sounds annoyed.
I miss hearing his voice, and tears trickle down my cheeks.
“Papa?”
“Yes, Roselyn. Where is Devious?”
I expect him to ask how I’m doing or tell me he misses me, but he doesn’t. Papa never really expressed any concerns about me, and I haven’t seen him since my wedding. I know my father doesn’t love me in the way I need, but he’s still my father and I love him. My heart breaks.
“He’s not here. I want to come home—please come get me. Devious is cruel. He locked me in this mansion and never lets me go anywhere. This place feels like a prison. I want to be home with you.” I sigh. “Can you pay him the money you owe him so I can come home? We can act like none of this happened. I’ll even call up Nero and see if he still wants to marry me. We can get a quick divorce.”
There is a long pause before he answers. “Why haven’t you been behaving? I told you not to give him any trouble. You know we don’t do divorces. I can’t pay back his money.”
I’ve never felt so alone as I feel now. I should have known Papa wasn’t going to be on my side. Everything is my fault in his eyes.
As soon as the door opens, I tap the End button, delete the call log, and toss the phone to the nightstand, pretending I’m looking for Binx.
Devious makes his way inside. I stand up and dust off my dress. Devious undoes his dress shirt, hanging it on the corner of the door. Then he throws on a plaid pajama set and sits on the lounge chair beside the minibar he has here, staring at me with his leg across his thigh. He leans over and pours himself a glass of bourbon, then downs it fast.
“What were you doing before I walked into the room?” His tone is low and calm.
Did he figure out I called my father? Of course not—there is no possible way he could know. I made sure I left the phone in the exact same place. All the blood from my face drains, and it suddenly gets hot in here as I keep my eyes glued to him. I swallow thickly.
“N-nothing.”
“Roselyn, you’re lying, and I hate liars and thieves. This is my last time asking you what you did while I was gone.”
His face is wiped clean of emotions.
