Chapter Forty-Six
Roselyn
I stand in front of my father’s gray coffin with the brown ribbons and spider lilies. There’s just me, Nonno, a few of his staff, Emma, and Marla here. The preacher reads a few passages from the Bible and speaks about good people. My mother and I are finally free from him. No one from the mob showed up to his funeral. Word got out that he sold Devious out to the Irish mob, and they don’t respect traitors. I even had to pay for his funeral myself because he didn’t have any life insurance. I ended up paying his final debts. I sold the penthouse and all of his little assets.
“Do any of you want to say a word?” the preacher asks.
With tears in my eyes, I stand next to the coffin, and I debate on what I want to say. It’s hard to speak kind words about someone who treated you awfully throughout your entire life.
I inhale deeply then exhale.
“As you know, I’m Lex’s only child.” I pause for a few seconds, trying to catch my breath. “Papa, if you can hear me, I want you to know I love you no matter how awful you were. You were abusive toward my mother and me, but I forgive you. No one deserves to die knowing someone didn’t love them because everyone deserves love and kindness. I hope your soul rests in peace, and you have dealt with the demons that were haunting you. Everyone has demons that they are dealing with, but you allowed yours to overtake you and control you. You controlled people, and manipulated them, and you didn’t show any kindness to others, but no matter how cruel you were to me, I always loved you, and I still do. So, I guess, this is a goodbye.”
I let the tears fall freely from my eyes, and I look down at the casket as it’s lowered to the ground. Marla wraps her hands around me and hugs me. “I’m so glad to call you my best friend. You are a wonderful person.”
“Thanks.” I nod and keep my head down, and I tell Nonno to follow me.
“My poor boy. Where did I go wrong with you?” Nonno says, tears in his eyes. “I have failed you just as my father has failed me.”
I open the passenger door for Nonno, and he slides into the seat.
“Roselyn?” Marla says.
“Yeah?” I strap the seat belt over Nonno’s body.
“Devious is here.”
My eyes wander to the parking lot. King opens the back door to his expensive car, and Devious steps out, wearing a black three-piece suit and a slick black dress shirt. Damn, he’s fine as hell. His demeanor is composed and elegant, but his eyes are sad. Hope flares in my chest. I want him and still need him even though his lawyer keeps asking me if I signed the divorce paperwork. I’m not signing them until I know for sure that it’s completely over between us. I’ve never experienced this type of heartache. I can’t believe that he actually granted me my freedom. I realize that I love him more than I thought.
My heart thunders in my chest, and butterflies do cartwheels in my stomach. I clear my throat. He strides up to me, along with three other bodyguards.
“Why are you here?” My tone is harsher than intended.
“For moral support. I’m sorry for your loss.”
“Thanks.”
I notice that he has tattoos of snakes on his hand and a small portrait of me sitting on the rock on his other one.
“You got new tattoos.”
“Villainous talked me into getting some.” He runs his fingers through his hair. “I’m just here to make sure you’re okay.”
I nod. “I am.”
“Good.”
He turns on the heels of his Italian loafers, heading to his car.
“Wait,” I blurt out. He stops dead in his tracks and turns around.
“You want to come over? I want you to see my new apartment.”
“What time?”
Marla stands next to me. “Now. She can go now.”
“I have to get Nonno home,” I tell her.
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll take care of him,” Marla says.
“Okay, thank you.”
I slide into the back seat of his car, and Devious tells King to take him back to my apartment. I don’t know what to say to him. We don’t speak, and the air is awkward as fuck. I grab his hand and hold it, looking out the window, and he holds my hand tighter.
Once the car stops, I get out. I have a condo right down the road from Nonno’s. I wasn’t going to live far from him, and I spend most of my days at his place.
Realization hits me like a ton of bricks. I never told Devious my address.
“How long have you known where I lived?”
“The day you signed the lease. You live in one of the apartment buildings I own.”
“Is that why the manger upgraded my apartment to the biggest one with a balcony overlooking the city?”
He nods. “He recognized your last name and called me up to see if we’re related. I told him that you’re my wife and to give you the best apartment in the building.”
I note he referred me as his wife, and not ex-wife. My heart flutters in my chest.
King opens my door, and I step out onto the concrete. As we walk to the front entrance, the doorman nods his head in my direction.
Once we’re in my condo, Devious glances around. I don’t have any furniture yet. They will be delivered tomorrow afternoon. I only have a king-sized bed and a flat-screen TV.
I can’t believe he’s here in my space. He stares at me with sadness. I have never seen him this sad since Enzo passed away. Is he sad because of our breakup or because of Cashel? Is he hurting the way I am?
Devious removes his coat and lays it on a chair at the breakfast nook.
“You want anything? Something to drink or eat?” I offer. “I can make you a sandwich.”
He leaves me and I offer him food? What the hell is wrong with me?
He shakes his head, and we stare at each other.
“What now?” I ask.
Devious grabs me by my waist and sets me on the breakfast nook, and his lips slam into mine. He kisses down my neck, all the way to my chest. Before I know it, our clothes are off. Arousal dampens my panties, and my pulse jumps out of my skin. We’re at each other like animals.
“On your knees.”
My knees hit the wooden floor.
“Suck,” he orders.
I suck on the head of his dick, tasting pre-cum. He strokes himself hard, and the sound of me sucking him fills the air. My jaw aches, but I don’t care—I missed him, and I missed us. He grabs a fistful of my hair, pushing me down on his shaft. I gag and choke, but he keeps going. Several moments later, I taste his cum, and some of it drips down my chin.
“Swallow, nymph.”
I do what he says and wipe my chin. Then I lick the remaining bit of his cum as a smile tugs at the corners of my mouth.
He leads me to my bedroom, laying me down. He gently kisses me, and then he makes his way to my clit, licking me viciously, and I come in a matter of minutes. He slides inside of me, and I let out a groan as he fucks me without a condom. I needed him. I needed this. He keeps thrusting inside of me, and I claw at his back. He goes slow, slightly out of breath, but I think it has something to do with the stitches over his chest. The only thing I hear is the sounds of his breaths and me moaning his name.
“Devious, I miss you. I love you.”
“I love you too,” he whispers against my ear.
He does one last thrust, then pulls out, and hot ropes of cum spray on my core.
He gets up and disappears from the bedroom, and comes back with a rag, wiping up his cum, then he yanks his pants over his hips, zipping it. Regret settles in my chest. I shouldn’t have ever invited him up here. He broke up with me, and I used him to get off. I wanted to feel loved and needed.
He leans down, kisses my forehead, then grabs my palm, kissing it gently. A lump forms in my throat, and I swallow thickly.
“Devious I… You broke up with me.”
He strokes the side of my cheek, longing in his eyes. “I know. I can’t stop thinking about you, nymph.”
Me not being able to come home and be with him hurts. Everything about our relationship hurts.
I pull away from him, bringing my knees to my chest and resting my chin on my knees. “I need time to think and process everything. Can you leave, please?”
He nods, kissing my forehead one last time, then I hear the front door shut.