Page 52 of Smoke

“Excuse you!” I said, jumping to my feet. “You can’t?—”

He snapped his fingers, silencing me. “Yeah. I need that ASAP. Everything from the past week. If you see something suspicious, send it to me. Thanks, sis.”

He hung up the phone and shoved it back into his pocket. Rounding the desk, he grabbed my hand and pulled me to my feet. I wasn’t sure what he was doing until he began to examine me. He started with my arms, gently running his hands along my flesh as though he were searching for any imperfection.

Slowly, he lifted the front of my shirt and checked my sides. When his hand lightly caressed my pudge, my breath caught in my throat.

“The little one okay?” he asked, peering up at me.

“Yes,” I answered in a faint whisper.

He nodded as he turned me around and lifted the back of my shirt. Again, his hands traced my flesh as though he were reading braille. Pulling the shirt down, he gathered my locs in his hand.

“Devin, please,” I begged, trying to pull away from him.

His arm came around me, and he pulled me against him.

“Be still,” he commanded.

Tears slipped down my face as he lifted my locs to look at the back of my neck. Bruises from where Patrick had grabbed the back of my neck were still visible. He inhaled sharply. A deep growl rumbled in his throat as he touched the bruises.

“He do this to you?” he asked.

I nodded.

“Here?”

Again, I nodded. He released me and turned me to face him. Upon seeing the tears on my face, he wiped them away with the pads of his thumbs.

“I’m not gonna make you relive that by asking you to speak on it out loud. I’ll see it for myself. Are you okay? Mentally?”

I shook my head no.

“Get your things. You’re coming with me.”

“I can’t. I have appointments?—”

“Have your assistant reschedule them. As a matter of fact, I’ll tell her while you gather your stuff and meet me out front.”

He walked toward the door, then stopped and came back to me. He peered down at me with serious eyes as his hand came to my chin. Cupping it, he tilted my head up, leaned in, and pressed his lips to mine. The act shocked me. I gasped as he pulled away and left the room without another word.

I stood there for a moment, gathering myself before I could will my feet to move. After grabbing my purse, I left the office and locked it up before heading out front. Laurel sat at her desk, watching Devin like a hawk with a frown on her face. Her gaze drifted over to me as I became visible.

“You’re leaving?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“With him?”

“We got a problem, love?” Devin asked, looking over at her.

“I just want to make sure she’s good,” Laurel shot at him.

“The safest place she can be is with me. Come on, Romi.”

I sighed as I looked over at my receptionist. “I’m good, girl. Please make sure you reschedule my appointments for as early as possible, and give them my apologies. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

She nodded reluctantly. “Okay.”

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