Page 62 of Devoted

Having Father offer to help me with anything dance-related is unexpected. “Oh?”

“I took the liberty of sending you the contact information for the law office I use for the company. They’re a large firm and will have a professional—or professionals—who can work with you on closing out the Hughes estate.”

“Nothing’s in my name.” I am happy to be free of Roman. I will earn my own money like my parents wanted me to.

“That might be true, but you need to make sure his people don’t shut you out entirely. You were his wife for five years.”

“He hurt so many people. I don’t want his money.”

“Then make sure any loose ends he’s left go to help others.”

A sense of purpose wells inside me. I was ready to hunker down and let Roman’s estate fall like dominoes. If I do that, it will be another way he screwed people over. Instead, if there’s even one dollar left unaccounted for, I can make sure it goes to someone who needs that dollar. “Thank you, Father.”

“You know you can come to me anytime.”

“I will. Can you tell me what their rates—”

“Don’t worry about the legal fees.”

“No, I can’t let someone else foot the bill.” I can’t add more debt to what I owe Cannon—I still plan to pay him for his work, even if I send Jacobi the money to get to him—and the divorce lawyer I no longer need.

“You can let your father help. I haven’t done much for you, Penni. My attitude was ‘sink or swim.’ I didn’t have family to help me, and I thought my kid should learn the hard way too. But I was wrong. Maybe if I had family to help, then maybe I would still be married. Maybe I would’ve built up my business earlier. Maybe I would’ve been able to grow without a man like Roman using my hard work to hurt innocent people.” He blows out a hard breath. “Look, just let me do something.”

He never shows emotion. This is the most he’s said to me at one time. I can’t turn him down. “Thanks. I really appreciate it.”

I finish the call with Father. My friends are digging into the bag of cheddar-flavored popcorn.

I’ll miss Cannon. If he never returns, I’ll spend my life wishing I could find what we had, but I won’t go looking for it. Because I’m not alone. I have my parents, and I have amazing friends. For the first time in a long time, I know I’m going to be okay.

Cannon

“What the helldo you think you’re doing?”

I spin around. I just parked outside the office building of the team I contracted with overseas. I’m going in to sign a new contract, and I’ll be gone by the end of the week. No one else knows I’m here.

So why the hell am I looking at Kase? “Did you follow me?”

He saunters toward me. Did he get here before me?

“I didn’t have to. As soon as London told Jacobi and Jacobi told me that you fucking ditched Penni, I figured this is where you were going to run to.”

It’s been two days since I left the bedside of my swan. Two of the longest days of my life. But I’ve committed. I haven’t wavered. This is the best decision for her. “I would’ve sent you a message or something.”

His flat look makes me want to squirm like I’m a kid again. “That’s nothing like telling us to our face, jackass. I can’t imagine how Penni feels.”

I shoot him a glare. “She’ll get over me. I’m doing this for her, anyway.”

“If you were doing this for her, you would take her thoughts and opinions into consideration. From where I’m standing, you’re looking more like a selfish asshole.”

“You’ve read everything about what happened.” I don’t wait for him to confirm. It’s Kase. He and Jacobi probably found out everything before the media did. “You gonna tell me it’s not going to make it hard for her to recruit kids to a dance studio?”

He lifts a shoulder. “It might give a few parents pause. She’s going to have families decide not to go to her studio no matter what. It’s her choice whether she wants to forge ahead, and it sounds like she decided to.” He spreads his hands apart. “So, what are you doing here?”

“I’m making the decision easier for her.”

“I think you’re making it easier for yourself. I think you’re doing what you always do—running. You flash into someone’s life, play the hero, and dart back out.” He shoves his hands into the pockets of his black jeans. “I know you and Jacobi wonder why I keep working for my parents when I hate the business.”

I’ve never said it out loud, but I have wondered, and I’m curious what it has to do with me.

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