Page 51 of The Devil's Spawn

His powerful form brushed my back, and I sensed the rapid rise and fall of his chest. “Don’t go. She doesn’t matter.”

“If she didn’t matter she wouldn’t be standing between us.”

“The only thing standing between us is your doubt.”

Closing my eyes for a few moments, I sucked in a calming breath. “You kept her around, Gage. All of these years, she’s been working for you. Even after we married, you kept her on your payroll.”

“After today, she’s gone.”

“It’s too little, too late.”

“Don’t say that, baby.” He nuzzled my neck, breath hot on my skin. “I only kept her on because she threatened to to tell you shit I’d rather forget about.”

That somehow made it even worse. She’d blackmailed him to keep her job. “Why were you so afraid to tell me?”

“I knew you’d take it wrong.”

I turned the knob and pulled. He pushed.

“I’m taking it the way anyrationalwoman would.” Gritting my teeth, I yanked hard and got the door open by an inch. “Let me go, or I’ll scream for Simone.”

He backed away immediately, allowing me to slip into the hall. I rushed toward Simone, who would undoubtedly strengthen my resolve to put some distance between Gage and me. But with every stride of my trembling legs, I sensed him on my heels. The hold he had on me was undeniable, and it threatened to pull me back into that room and over his lap.

Hell, I’d probably spread my cheeks for him.

Simone rose from her perch near the edge of the living room, suitcase in hand. “Ready?”

To throw up? Maybe.

Unable to form words, I nodded.

Gage tangled our fingers together, holding me back while Simone escaped through the front door. “Watching you walk out that door is going to wreck me. You know that, right?”

I couldn’t look at him—if I did, I’d crumble. “I need some space. Please, just let me go.”

And I wondered how much it had cost him to let my fingers slip through his.

24. Reunions

“Hey, baby. Happy Thanksgiving! Are you having fun with gramps and gran?” Eve hadn’t seen them in a year or so, other than the time they’d come down for her sixth birthday, so even though I hated sharing her with them on a holiday, they were her grandparents—the only ones she had left.

“We had lots of fun. They took me to the Space Needle yesterday! Did you know it’s like the highest placeever?”

I closed my eyes, simultaneously cringing and celebrating how grown up she’d become. She was still my little girl, but she’d matured, possibly beyond her years, and she had opinions and ideas and dreams.

Thank God she hadn’t developed an interest in boys yet.

“Have you ever been there, Mom?”

“Nope. We’ll have to go sometime. I’m sure Gage—”

I shot a stricken look at Simone, who returned my stare with a sympathetic tilt of her mouth.

“Listen, I’m so happy you’re having fun, but I’m gonna let you go so you can spend some time with your grandparents. Tell them I said Happy Thanksgiving.”

“Okay! I love you,” she said.

“Love you too. See you on Sunday.”

---