Page 48 of The Devoted Husband

The seconds ticked by as Reggie considered Dante’s words. “Can you promise me that she didn’t do what she’s being accused of?”

For Sade, a lie would be nothing for Dante to tell. A sacrifice would be nothing for him to give. If he had to, Dante would confess to the crimes himself before letting her be found guilty.

“I promise. She did not kill those women.”

Reggie nodded and sat back in his seat. “All right. I’ll see what I can do.”

Dante’s jaw clenched as he watched the security footage that showed Jones entering Imani’s private hospital room. He’d been watching footage for hours, but this moment made it worth it. Jones walked to the side of her bed. He looked behind himself to ensure no one else was coming, then pulled a clear bag withEvidencewritten on it out of his pocket.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Dante muttered, watching Jones cut some bloody bandages from Imani. He also ran his fingers through her locs as if feeling for loose strands. Jones put the evidence he gathered in the bag, stuffed it in his pocket, and then discreetly walked out.

“Got you.”

A crisp laugh fell from his lips before he licked them. “You’re coming home, Smiley. You’re coming home.”

The Next Evening

The excitement Dante expected Ava and Barron to have wasn’t there. He’d just shared the news that Sade’s lawyer had taken the evidence to the prosecutor over her case, and he decided to drop the charges. She’d be released at any time that night, and Dante stopped to update her grandparents before heading to Vanzette to get her. Instead of a smile covering Ava’s face, it was covered with hesitance.

“Either of you can speak at any time,” Dante said lightly, looking from one to the other. “I just told you that my wifeis getting out of jail, and the charges have been dropped. Why aren’t you dancing around this room?”

“She’s not your wife,” Ava said. “That’s a lie you seem to be holding on to.”

“Sheismy wife. We’ll make it legal the moment we can put this craziness behind us.”

Barron chuckled as his hand slipped up and down his leg. “The two of you have unleashed a world of hell since your accident an—”

“The accident that was caused by Atlas, who was working with his cousin and your other granddaughter to have me framed and possibly killed. You two seem more upset by Sade and I finally being able to be together than you are upset over what Imani did. Why is that?”

Ava and Barron looked at each other but remained silent.

“I...think it would be best if you kept Sade away for a while,” Ava said. “The twins are here, and we don’t want anything to happen to them because of what the two of you have going on. Imani and Adam were toxic, but they are no longer present. I think it’s best if you and Sade aren’t either.”

“You think she did this, don’t you?” Dante asked.

“Whether she did it or didn’t, there’s been too much drama over the last eight months, and the two of you have been at the center of it. Is that Imani and Adam’s doing? Yes, but they’ve paid for their sins. Imani, by being arrested. Adam, by dying. But Sade? She doesn’t seem to have to atone for her sins, and that’s alarming,” Barron said, “The world is crashing down on her, and I fear until she admits to whatever the hell she did to keep your identity a secret, it will only get worse.”

“Wow.” Standing, Dante avoided their eyes. “I never thought I’d hear something like this coming from the two of you, and I pray you never say this to Sade. Y’all are all she has, and she cares too much about your opinions concerning her life if you’dask me. She risked her life when Atlas was stalking her to be close to you and the twins, and you want to send her away because of something she’s been proven innocent of?”

“She hasn’t been proven innocent,” Barron said, “Jones did some illegal things, but that doesn’t mean Sade is innocent. Even if he got the DNA illegally, it was Sade and Imani’s DNA nonetheless.”

“You don’t know that!” Dante seethed. “He could have forged the results just like he stole the damn blood.” He chuckled and took a step back. “I don’t know why I’m trying to convince you of something you should already know. Don’t worry, I’ll keep Sade away...and our baby too. If you don’t believe in my wife and trust us, you don’t deserve to be in our lives.”

Dante quickly left, trying to reel in his anger. He didn’t blame them for having reservations before, but he expected the charges being dropped would ease their minds. It didn’t seem like that would be the case, and as much as Sade wanted to stay in Memphis, he’d kidnap her and keep her away from them before he let anyone make her feel bad about what they thought she’d done.

Sade

Simone’s eyes watered as she stared at the picture Sade had drawn for her to send to her daughter. She held it to her chest, releasing a childlike giggle Sade had never heard come from her before.

“She’s going to love this, Sade. Thank you so much.”

“Of course. You have a beautiful little girl. I know she can’t wait for you to leave here.”

Simone’s expression saddened as she sat on her bunk next to Sade. “Yeah, but she won’t be a little girl anymore by then. God, I don’t regret killing his ass to protect us. I just can’t believe I’m being punished for it. He beat me nearly half to death just because I overcooked breakfast.” A bark of laughter escaped her as she briskly wiped a tear. “I made report after report, and theynevertook me seriously. When I finally took matters into my own hands, they dothisto me.”

“Who has your baby girl?” Sade asked, covering Simone’s hand with hers.

“His parents. I came here alone, and he used that to his advantage. I can only imagine what they are telling her about me.”

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