Page 49 of Vengeful Devotion
He searches my eyes and I pray to the God I’ve never believed in that he only sees honesty. “I’ll have the staff move your things for you. You aren’t leaving my side.”
“But—”
“Gemma, this is not a debate you’re coming with—”
“You’re smothering me!” I shout, cutting him off. And it’s not entirely a lie. Though he made it easy, I’ve still just revealed secrets to him that I’ve kept hidden away for my own sanity and I’m only hanging on to reality by a thread. Regardless of my true intentions, I need some time to put myself back together. If I can’t think clearly, I won’t be able to keep myself out of Lonny’s clutches. I have to be prepared for the worst. That starts by putting all the secrets back in their boxes where they belong. I can unpack them when I’m safe again. If I ever am.
“I should go get the room ready for you, too. I’ll come back in an hour?” He relents. Whether it’s because of my outburst or for fear of scaring me off, I’m not sure, but I’ll take it.
I nod my head. “Thank you.”
He kisses my cheek, stepping away slowly to keep me balanced. “See you soon.” I hear the hesitation in his voice as he backs away.
The moment he closes the door, I rush around my room. I have to get out of here now. My heart aches with every beat. Right now, pieces of me wish I never met Francine or Declan. That I never got to know this family. I wish they never accepted me like they have. I wish I didn’t have to leave. After feeling what a real family is like, it’s going to be hard to live without. Sure, they’re dysfunctional, and… bloody. But they love each other. Enough to do anything to save one another. That’s more than I’ve ever had.
After changing from my fancy work clothes back into the rags I showed up in, I zip my backpack up and wipe a tear off my cheek. It’s hard to breathe. I stand in the middle of the room, staring at the door. If I can make it to the kitchen, I can sneak out without anyone seeing me. But getting there will be a problem.
I walk over to the window. An escape from there will be tricky. The ledge is barely big enough to hold me. If I fall, that’d be it for me.
Knowing my only choice is the kitchen, I walk to my door. I take one last look around. I’m really going to miss it here. This place… these people have been tattooed on my soul. I turn the doorknob, taking a deep breath and walking out.
“When are you going to learn, Gemma? You’re a bad liar.”
I jump at the voice, coming face to face with the owner. “Declan.”
“Do we need to have another talk about honesty?”
The question doesn’t bring up the usual fear, instead I feel safe. Because I now know Declan wouldn’t hurt me. Not really. I shake my head.
“You sure?”
“I’m sure.” I sigh, wondering how I really thought I’d get out of here without him knowing. It was a fool's errand. Submitting to the realization that I’m staying comes easier than I would ever have expected.
I’m not surprised at the relief I feel. I really didn’t want to leave. But at some point, I have to face the music. My uncle is here, and it won’t be long before he realizes Declan lied to him. When that happens, I just hope I’ll be ready. Because this war is not one I’ll be walking away from. I would rather die than go back. Either by Lonny’s hand or my own, I’m not going back. I can’t.
CHAPTEREIGHTEEN
Declan
I sigh.My little wildflower tried to run. I knew she would. I don’t know why she thinks she can get away with lying. Those eyes of hers are incapable of telling anything but the truth. And right now, Gemma is scared. Scared of her uncle. Scared to trust me. Scared to leave. She’s too scared to see the truth right now.
But I meant what I said. I’m going after her uncle. If he was smart, he’d leave my city. Though it would give me great pleasure to hunt him down and make him pay.
I look at Gemma. She’s avoiding my eyes, her cheeks still pink from being caught. I let my gaze roam over her body. Even in just a simple tee shirt and jeans, she’s still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. She’s fucking perfect. Her perky breasts rise and fall with every breath. Having her in my bed is going to be a challenge. I’m having a hard enough time keeping my hands to myself as it is. But I didn’t ask her to move into my room to fuck her. Though, once she’s ready, I plan to do plenty of that.
Before I can take her bag from her shoulder and show her to our room, my phone buzzes.
“What is it?”
My voice gets Gemma’s attention. She finally turns those blue eyes back to me. I hold a finger up to stop her from speaking.
“We salvaged some video feed from the warehouse. You’re going to want to see this, boss,” Dean says on the other side of the call.
“Where are you?”
“In Juliette’s little hacking cave.”
I hear my sister muttering in the background. She hates being reduced down to a hacker. Truth is, Juliette is brilliant. With technology, with music, with almost everything.
