Page 56 of The Devoted Husband

Sade told her everything about her parents and Tonya, and Imani followed up with, “Are you fucking kidding me?” as she leaped from her seat. The guard yelling her name caused herto sit back down. “Our parents were murdered, and theydidn’t thinkthat was something we needed to know?”

“That was my thing. I can understand why they wouldn’t have told us immediately, but there was no reason for them not to tell us by now. I know they meant well and didn’t want us to hurt over what happened even more, but that could have been a lesson for us to learn from.”

“I agree. I’m not telling the twins about what I did to get me in here until they’re at an age where they can process and make sense of it. So, I get them not telling us while we were still in high school. But let’s be honest—you and I were a hell of a lot like Mama and this Tonya lady. Now, I don’t think we would have actually ever killed each other, but you did threaten to kill me a time or two.”

Sade smirked. “That was a heat-of-the-moment threat, Imani.”

“I don’t know now. After what happened in Vanzette...”

“Anyway,” Sade stretched with a wave of her hand, causing Imani to laugh. “I feel like if we would have known about that, then we would have been more aware of how we treated each other. I spent a lot of time being resentful because they gave me a harder time about Dante than you, and you were the one who did wrong to me. If I would have known they feared I’d snap like Tonya, it would have made things make sense.”

“Well, there’s nothing we can do about it now. Tonya is in prison, right?”

“Right. I didn’t look up her and her husband, though I was really tempted to. But I felt like that would send me down a rabbit hole, and I’d want to punish her even though she’s already being punished.”

“Same. She’s lucky I’m serving fed time. Otherwise, I’d find and handle her if we were in the same place.”

Sade chuckled, though she knew her sister was serious. “Does this...change anything for you?”

Imani’s mouth twisted to the side as she thought it over. With a shrug, she hummed. “It makes me feel a little bad about what I did, how I baited you over the years. It shows me how serious and deadly things could have turned out. I would have never wanted things to get to that point. I can’t imagine how what I did over the years made you feel mentally and emotionally. What if I had made you snap?”

Sade scratched and tugged her ear. “I’d like to think I wouldn’t have given you that much power over my emotions. That’s why I stayed away and moved to Vanzette. But I honestly don’t know. I’m just glad we’ll never have to find out.”

Imani licked her lips as her eyes watered. “I know I’ve said it before, but I really am sorry. Being here has caused me to do a lot of reflection, and I’m becoming more self-aware. I’ve always been selfish and uncaring when it came to the feelings of others. I never cared how my actions affected them..... I want you to be happy with Dante and my little niece or nephew. You deserve it.”

The sisters continued to talk, and by the time Sade left, she felt lighter.

After spending time behind bars herself, Sade decided to put together a care package for her sister. She remembered how good it felt to not only have Dante put time on the phone and on her books but also to order her food as well. So, she did the same for Imani. When she finished adding the funds online and ordering her food to be delivered for the next three weeks, Sade decided to write her sister a letter. It was crazy how their relationship was being strengthened while they were apart, butSade was grateful for it, and she hoped by the time Imani was out, they could treat each other like normal sisters.

Dante

The smile on Sade’s face made the effort Dante put into their home date worth it. Since she mentioned being in a creative slump, Dante tried to think of what they could do to pull her out of it. There was an unfurnished room in their five-bedroom home. It was supposed to be a guest room, but Dante used its emptiness to his advantage. He covered the hardwood floor and taped canvases to the walls and in the corner of the room.

Dante undressed Sade and covered her body with paint. She made art with her body, and it was the most unique, sexy, and intimate thing he’d ever seen. Though he insisted it was her moment, she undressed him as well. Unlike her, he used only his hands and feet, amused at his creations. Sade told him they were beautiful.

After they made love, they dressed and prepared to do a grocery store run when Dante got a camera alert on his phone. The doorbell sounded shortly after. He headed down the hall to open it while Sade grabbed her purse.

Dante eyed the deliveryman skeptically.

“Hello. I have a package for...” He looked down at his clipboard. “Sade Griffin?”

“Williams,” Dante corrected, though they weren’t technically married yet.

“Oh. Apologies.”

“I’ll sign for it,” Dante offered, extending his hands for the pen and clipboard.

The deliveryman gave him the box, and Dante was curious about what was inside. He stepped back outside when he saw the name “Atlas” written on top of the box. There was no reason for Sade to be getting a package from a dead man.

“Day!” he called, setting the box on the ground. After grabbing a pair of scissors from the kitchen, he met her in the hallway. “Someone just dropped a package off for you. ‘Atlas’ is written on the top. Have you heard from anyone in his family lately?”

She shook her head as she stood at the door and looked down at the box. “No, I haven’t. I’m not sure why anyone would be sending me something in his name.”

“Do you mind if I open it just to be safe?”

“Not at all.”

Dante opened the box, revealing a card on top of a smaller box. He lifted the card and read it aloud.“Such a pity. The lives lost because of you. Atlas was the last...How long will that be true? You’ve kept your hands clean, and now, it seems Dante is doing your dirty work. Who will be the next person he hurts?”

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