Page 14 of Forfeit

“O-Okay.”

* * *

Hours later, Devin had a large stack of clothes with even more bundled up into garment bags to be tailored. Despite the fact she’d tried to be frugal about her choices, Rey kept piling more and more onto the hooks outside of the dressing room. His demands to see her in it more often than not resolved in a decree to add it to his purchase.

The expense was insane, but Devin couldn’t deny she felt amazing in the snug fitting pencil skirt and silky blouse in shades of charcoal. A thick cashmere coat, only a little too big, draped over her shoulders beautifully. The underwear alone cost more than any single outfit she’d ever purchased.

“I feel like a well-kept mistress,” Devin mumbled as she lowered herself into the already toasty passenger seat.

“You are my mate,” Rey growled, crouching beside the open door.

“I don’t know any mates who are this spoiled.” Devin’s lips tipped up to one side, a rueful grin as she caressed the hard line of Rey’s jaw. “Hell, I don’t know any mistresses, either, but they’re usually portrayed as living in luxury in the movies.”

“This isn’t a movie, Devin.” Rey latched the safety belt and closed her in before climbing behind the wheel. “It’s the real world, and you need to learn not to question me in front of others.”

“I did no such—”

“You do not tell me to stop and go away.” Rey sighed, pressing the button for the ignition. “I know you’ve become accustomed to things with just the three of us but saying things like that in public are dangerous.”

“She’s just a kid…”

“Her mother owns this place and works under Kahler.”

“That’s how you got her to shut everything down for me.”

“No, but don’t think she won’t go talking shit to her mother about Kahler’s people. That man does not suffer fools, sweetheart. He will end me in a heartbeat if he thinks I’m reflecting badly on him.”

“You don’t mean that. You and Beau—”

“Are only as valuable as we make ourselves.” Rey glanced at her, his hand closing over her thigh to give a comforting squeeze.

She found no solace in it, not with the troubled shadows glinting in his dark eyes. Inhaling a shaky breath, Devin nodded her understanding.

“I’m going to drop you off with Beau,” Rey said as he turned the sedan onto a main thoroughfare. “He’ll stay with you until I get back.”

“Back from where?”

“I have to go see Kahler.”

“What,” Devin demanded on a ragged breath, eyes widening as she clutched the hand he kept on her leg. Her first outing, and she’d already caused him trouble.

“No, everything is fine. It will be.”

She wasn’t convinced, and a discordant hum in the bond belied his conviction.

* * *

“You’re barely touching your food,” Beau murmured, though he was all smiles as he brought the wine glass up to his lips.

“It’s been hours,” she mumbled, fork dragging in sullen circles through the nest of thin pasta.

Beau had brought her to some fancy little Italian restaurant after taking her to another dress shop where he picked out several things for her, one Devin vaguely recalled seeing in the newspapers she’d scavenged when looking for a job. Carmela’s had a quiet sort of elegance, the mood lighting just right to make the dark wood and pristine tablecloths glow. The staff treated Beau like some prince as soon as they came in, the servers falling all over themselves to see him happy.

Rey wasn’t there. It should be his warmth along her side in the circular booth, his hands arranging her silverware just so before indulging her with a glass of expensive wine. The flickering candles should be romantic, but they just depressed Devin further.

“He’s fine,” Beau repeated for the hundredth time, adding a light pat to her fidgeting fingers.

“How do you know that?”

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