Page 71 of Devious
“I don’t know. Maybe, if he would have done it the right way. Taken me out on a proper date and asked for my hand in marriage, but it wouldn’t be at this age. Maybe when I’m twenty-five years old. I want to see the world and live life on the edge, not be someone’s housewife, but I fall in love easily.” I shrug. “Who knows what would have happened if things were different?”
“It takes Devious a lot to fall in love, especially after Shelby, but when he does fall in love, the woman has him wrapped around his finger. He avoids people. I think he’s trying to fill a void because he didn’t get the proper love from Aunt Polina and Uncle Draco. I’ve read people who have been abused often seek ways to cope with trauma. Devious wants to be alone, and Aiden’s is hurting people.”
I never thought about it. Maybe mine is running away. Whenever I face chaos, I feel the need to escape. When things get tough, I have the urgency to run.
“Have you ever been abused?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “My parents never abused me. It was shocking when my mother learned her sister was neglectful, and for a while, my mother kept us away from them. When I turned twenty, I reached out to Devious, and he accepted me with open arms, but Aiden wouldn’t. Now, they are overprotective, so if a guy were to put his hands on me, then he would kill them. Like if anyone would try to harm you, Devious would kill them. He would have done it anyway, but now he wants you like a man wants a wife. So yeah, girl, my cousin is into you.”
I don’t believe Devious is into me, but whatever.
“You up for a horror film? I haven’t had a girls’ night in a while, so I’m sorry if it’s turning out lame.”
“It’s not. I’m over thirty and live at home with my cat. So, this is the most fun I ever have these days.”
I think I can be Marla’s friend. Though she runs her mouth, so I have to be careful about what I tell her so she doesn’t go back and tell Devious. I can’t confide in her too much because she’s still loyal to her cousin, but I like her a lot.
“Put it on Netflix. They are streaming the latest Michael Myers movie,” I tell her.
We watch the movie, and when her phone lights up and Devious’s name pops up, my heart dances with anticipation. She grabs it and reads the screen.
“Devious is asking if we’re okay. I told him he worries too much. He even had extra security tonight because he’s not home.” She exhales, not taking her eyes off the screen. “If Devious falls in love with you, don’t break his heart. If you break his heart, you’ll break him.”
Roselyn
Iwake up, and Devious is not in bed, though he’s usually up before I am. I haven’t slept so well in a long time. I swing my legs off the bed and grab my gray blouse and jeans with holes over the knees, then brush my teeth and hair and proceed to go downstairs to the dining room. My jaw drops at the view. Pink and purple balloons are tied to a bag on the marble table. I waltz to the bag, and next to it is a birthday cake with my name scribbled across it. I haven’t celebrated my birthday since I was fourteen years old. Papa stopped because he said I was too old, and Mama was in and out of the psychiatric ward, so she would lose a chunk of time. Tears wet my eyes as I take the gift out of the bag along with a note.
Nymph, Happy Twentieth Birthday. This day is all about you. We’re going to have lunch, then I’m going to take you shopping, then I have a big surprise for you later on. Look on the seat for your second gift.
D xo
I grab the short red dress and then pick up the box and unwrap it. It’s a pair of pink and black DC sneakers.
The door opens, and Devious is dressed in a navy suit with a black shirt and Italian loafers. His hair is cut short and he cleaned up his beard.
His eyes meet mine, and he holds out his arms. I rush up to him, wrapping my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist.
“Happy Birthday.”
I kiss him long and hard. “Thank you.”
“You like the opera?”
“Yes. My mother used to take me all the time.”
“It’s one of your birthday gifts. Now, go change into the dress I bought you, and wear your new shoes.”
I head to the bedroom. I put on a full face of makeup and wear the red dress. I straighten my hair, and it stops past the middle of my back.
He grabs my hand and leads me to the under garage. King and three other bodyguards get into the SUV, and Devious helps me into the seat and straps my seat belt. He sits next to me, holding my hand.
During the drive, I have butterflies in my stomach. Devious wraps his arms around my waist and kisses my forehead, and we pull up to the busy building.
After shopping for new clothes, we have lunch at a small café. We go to the opera then have dinner at a fancy restaurant, and at ten o’clock, we enter a fancy, high-end club. The club is elegant, and a lot of rich people are here, wearing masks. Devious gives me one in the shape of a butterfly before he puts his on, which is the shape of a skull.
I place mine over my face. “You’ve been here before?”
“I own this club. We’re still on my territory.”
