Page 40 of Vengeful Devotion
She releases a breath. “Thank god. I could understand Vivi getting us into some deep shit. But you? I was having a hard time believing it. Tell me what the hell is going on.”
My lips yearn to release the truth. Simone is closest with Warren. She should know how dangerous he is. But I just can’t find the courage to say it.
“Someone is attacking us.”
For such a powerful man, I’m a coward. How long can I even keep this up? Warren’s death will be an impossible thing to cover up.
“You don’t know who?”
“Not yet. We’re going through the event footage right now. Maybe we’ll get lucky.”
“Maybe. While I’m here, I have something I need you to sign off on.”
She pulls out a check and hands it to me. The amount is the part that has me raising my eyebrows.
“What the hell do you need thirty thousand dollars for?”
“You ruined my office.”
“Cleaning doesn’t cost this much, Simone.”
“I never said it was for a cleaning crew. It’s for a construction crew.”
“Seriously? You need a whole new office?”
“My whole being feels like I’m bathed in blood every time I go into that room.” She shivers to add a dramatic effect.
“And you say Vivi is a drama queen.”
“Theater drama is much better than her honey trap act.”
“Give the kid a break. We weren’t so hot in our early twenties, either.”
She tilts her head at me. “She’s twenty-four. It’s time she grows up. She should be married and giving mom grandchildren. Not all of us get to have that chance and she’s… she’s just throwing it away.”
“Simone.” I touch her shoulder. “She’ll do all those things when she’s ready. Relax, big red.”
She chuckles at her childhood nickname. I’m glad I could chase some of those ghosts from her eyes. But I understand that some ghosts never leave. Some mistakes we can’t take back. I take the check from her hands and sign it.
“Get more comfortable furniture this time, okay?”
“Oh, I will. I’ll buy a better lock, too.”
I roll my eyes. “There’s not one that I can’t break. Just saying.”
“Well, then I kindly ask you to use my old office for your bloodshed. Stay out of the new one.”
“Noted.”
“You’re going to find whoever hurt mom, right?”
“I’ll find him.”
“When you do, I want a piece too.”
I nod my head at my little sister. Knowing damn well that she will not get a piece of anyone. Warren is my problem. He’s my cross to bear. But soon, very soon, I’ll be free of him.
CHAPTERFIFTEEN
