Page 28 of The Sweetest Devotion

“I’ll rip it out.”

A sob escaped from my mouth as my vision blurred. He was a monster. I couldn’t. I couldn’t go through with this.

Cain stood up and came and sat in the chair closest to me.

“Stop crying,” he demanded, watching me blankly. “I told you not to embarrass me.”

His cruelty drove the tears faster down my face.

Cain was so close to me I began to shake as I attempted to clean up. All the while he watched me.

“Where is your ring, Kennedy?” He’d noticed I wasn’t wearing it.

Honestly, I should’ve chucked the thing out the window when I was on the highway.

“I-In my purse at home,” I said.

There his finger went tapping the tabletop again. “The next time I see you, I want you wearing it.”

It wasn’t my style or desired type of ring. “And if I don’t, you’ll break my fingers?”

He chuckled and examined my hand until I snatched it away. “That would be a pity, wouldn’t it?”

“Abuse isn’t love,” I mumbled.

He reached out and touched my cheek. “You should write Hallmark cards.”

I closed my eyes at his sarcasm and bit back another cry. He wouldn’t get away with this. “My father will never let you hurt me.”

Cain barely registered the comment as he angled his head to regard me. “You mean the one that’s bedridden and dying? Stop, you’re scaring me.”

I glared at Cain, hating him more than I’d ever hated anyone in my entire life.

“Don’t pout, Wife,” he said dryly.

“I’m not your wife,” I ground out.

He smirked, a ghost of a smile on his face. Soon, he was leaning close, his dark eyes boring into me. “In case I haven’t made myself clear, you belong to me.” He rose from his seat and lifted his hand, signaling for Beans and the other man to get up as he stared down at me. “I intended to be good to you.You’remaking this hard.” He straightened out his suit and tossed me a pitying look. “Save your tears. I fucking hate seeing women cry.”

Without another word, he walked away with his demons trailing behind.

6

As tired asI was Monday night after staying until close at the garage, I knew better. I made sure to drive on over to my mother and grandmother’s to stop in for a visit.

Outside of Uncle Rod, my mother and grandmother were the only family I had. My father had died when I was a baby. After that, my mother lost contact with his side of the family. It was unfortunate, but it made me extra grateful for the family I did have.

I had a key to the house, but I always knocked or rang the bell out of respect.

It had barely been a minute since I’d rang the doorbell before my mother was coming and opening the door for me.

“Well, look who’s showin’ his face,” my mother remarked as she stood back, taking me in from head to toe.

These days, I was usually a hermit and made sure to stop by once a month at least. It was trash on my part, seeing how they only stayed a few blocks away from me.

“My fault.” I leaned down and engulfed my mother into a hug, pressing my face into the crook of her neck as she hugged me back. Nice and tight. I was her only child, and I had to do better on keepin’ in touch with her.

Deep into the house, I could smell the remains of the evening’s dinner.

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