52. Ravenna
Ravenna
“ W hat’s going on, Devlin? My boss said you needed me for a project of some kind?” I enter his office. Since I last worked here, he’s also been promoted and now has his own space. It’s quite the upgrade from the main office with all its cubicles.
“Yes. Please come in. Close the door behind you.”
I quickly peek back at the hallway. It’s after hours and the place is pretty much empty. Even my boss, who usually stays late, grabbed her coat and left a few minutes ago.
Closing the door, I approach Devlin’s desk. “Tell me about this project.”
“It’s quite simple actually.” His head bowed, he shuffles papers around as if he’s stalling or distracted. “Have a seat.”
“Will we be here long?”
“I’m not sure yet.” Finally, he glances at me. “It depends on how quickly we can get through this.”
“Okay.” I take the vacant chair and make myself as comfortable as possible.
Honestly, I’d rather be home. This time of year it gets dark early. Today has been especially gloomy and drizzly outside. All I want to do is curl up with a warm cup of tea and a book until Cian gets home. Then we have to head out to Blake’s party, but there’s no need to stay long.
Devlin rounds the desk, coming closer until he’s standing in front of me. His features aren’t as relaxed as usual. He’s devoid of his carefree, boyish attitude. Whatever he wants to talk about must be serious.
I straighten up, just as he leans down and places his hands on the arms of the chair, trapping me. My breath hitches. The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. My gaze snaps to meet his.
He’s much too close.
“What are you doing?” I demand.
“Stop playing with me, Ravenna. I love the cat and mouse game, the playing hard to get, but I’ve had enough of it,” he growls, his tone completely unlike him.
I blink at him, bewildered. “What are you talking about? I assure you, I haven’t been playing any games with you.”
“Yes you have.” His breath heats my face.
I jerk back, but I can’t go far. How am I going to get out of this? If I scream for help, no one’s going to hear me. They all left.
I swallow thickly. “What do you want?”
“ You .”
“If you touch me, my husband will kill you.” I hope that danger’s enough to warn him off.
He smirks, a very strange expression for Devlin. “We’ll see.”
My pulse spikes with alarm. What is he going to do to me? My mind swims with depraved images. We are all alone in his office, and he has me trapped. No one will hear my screams. By the time Cian finds me it will be too late.
Then, two things happen almost simultaneously.
The office door bangs open.
Devlin grabs me around the neck and presses his lips to mine.
I struggle against him, but it’s like pushing against a brick wall. He hauls me to my feet, and shoves his tongue halfway down my throat, as I try to fight him off.
With a chuckle, he finally removes his mouth from mine. “I know you like a little rape fantasy role play, mo stór , but we have company.”
“Wh—” I gaze over my shoulder. My pulse flutters. He’s come for me.
Cian stands in the doorway, frozen. Gun in hand. He’s obviously stunned, even though his expression’s guarded, unreadable.
“Cian!” I spin around and try to go to him, but Devlin wraps his arm painfully around my waist. He pulls my back to his chest.
“Don’t play all innocent, mo stór . Your husband can clearly see what’s going on between us.”
“There’s nothing going on between us,” I snarl at him. “Let me go!”
He fists my hair. “Not in a million years. You promised to leave your husband for me. Don’t back down now. Tell him about us. Confess.”
I gawk at Devlin. Why is he lying? Why is he making up a past between us that we don’t have?
“I’m not leaving?—”
Cian cuts me off. “How long has this been going on?” His voice sounds hollow.
“A few months now,” Devlin answers.
“No! That’s not true. He’s lying, Cian. This is all a lie .” My voice breaks on that last word. I need my husband to believe me, to see through whatever Devlin’s trying to do to us.
But with each passing second the fissure between my husband and I grows wider, deeper. I can feel it in my soul.
“You’re such a good actress,” Devlin murmurs.
“I guess you’d have to be to string Cian along for so long.
Though was it really that hard to do? I mean, you’re gorgeous.
He must know that he doesn’t deserve you.
Just look at him and those nasty scars.” He sneers. “You deserve someone easy on the eyes.”
Cian’s expression shifts from unreadable to rage in a millisecond. He trains his gun on us. My stomach drops. Fear curls around my ribcage.
“Cian. Amore mio , you have to believe me,” I beg.
The rage vanishes, replaced with something that breaks my heart. Defeat. Loss. He harshly shakes his head, as if trying to clear it, then takes a step toward us.
“Believe me,” I plead. “This is a trick. You know it is.”
Devlin pulls me flush against him. “Do you know how many times I’ve fucked her on this desk, Cian?”
“He’s lying!” I cry. “Don’t listen to him.”
Devlin chuckles. “Are you really going to believe her after all the lies she’s told you? I know about her trading places with her twin sister. She told me all about it.”
I’ve never told him, or anyone at work, about that, so how does he know? How does he have that information?
He continues, “She’s been lying to you since day one and she never stopped.”
“Cian, don’t listen to him,” I beg again. He has to believe me. Why is he just standing there? “Please, put the gun down. Get me out of here. I want to go home.”
His gaze dances back and forth between me and Devlin. He seems torn. He doesn’t know who to believe, and that’s crushing my soul into tiny shards. After everything we’ve been through, I thought he completely trusted me.
But Devlin somehow knows his weak points. He’s opening up old wounds. Playing on my husband’s fears. Twisting everything around in his mind.
How is this happening? Who the fuck is this snake and why is he trying to destroy my marriage?