Page 92 of Devious
“Thanks.” I nod and keep my head down, and I tell Nonno to follow me.
“My poor boy. Where did I go wrong with you?” Nonno says, tears in his eyes. “I have failed you just as my father has failed me.”
I open the passenger door for Nonno, and he slides into the seat.
“Roselyn?” Marla says.
“Yeah?” I strap the seat belt over Nonno’s body.
“Devious is here.”
My eyes wander to the parking lot. King opens the back door to his expensive car, and Devious steps out, wearing a black three-piece suit and a slick black dress shirt. Damn, he’s fine as hell. His demeanor is composed and elegant, but his eyes are sad. Hope flares in my chest. I want him and still need him even though his lawyer keeps asking me if I signed the divorce paperwork. I’m not signing them until I know for sure that it’s completely over between us. I’ve never experienced this type of heartache. I can’t believe that he actually granted me my freedom. I realize that I love him more than I thought.
My heart thunders in my chest, and butterflies do cartwheels in my stomach. I clear my throat. He strides up to me, along with three other bodyguards.
“Why are you here?” My tone is harsher than intended.
“For moral support. I’m sorry for your loss.”
“Thanks.”
I notice that he has tattoos of snakes on his hand and a small portrait of me sitting on the rock on his other one.
“You got new tattoos.”
“Villainous talked me into getting some.” He runs his fingers through his hair. “I’m just here to make sure you’re okay.”
I nod. “I am.”
“Good.”
He turns on the heels of his Italian loafers, heading to his car.
“Wait,” I blurt out. He stops dead in his tracks and turns around.
“You want to come over? I want you to see my new apartment.”
“What time?”
Marla stands next to me. “Now. She can go now.”
“I have to get Nonno home,” I tell her.
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll take care of him,” Marla says.
“Okay, thank you.”
I slide into the back seat of his car, and Devious tells King to take him back to my apartment. I don’t know what to say to him. We don’t speak, and the air is awkward as fuck. I grab his hand and hold it, looking out the window, and he holds my hand tighter.
Once the car stops, I get out. I have a condo right down the road from Nonno’s. I wasn’t going to live far from him, and I spend most of my days at his place.
Realization hits me like a ton of bricks. I never told Devious my address.
“How long have you known where I lived?”
“The day you signed the lease. You live in one of the apartment buildings I own.”
“Is that why the manger upgraded my apartment to the biggest one with a balcony overlooking the city?”
