Page 63 of The Devoted Husband

She shook her head and gave him a dismissive wave of her hand. “Nothing. You’re home! How did this happen?” She hugged his neck, andthatwas the greeting he’d hoped for.

After he ran down what happened in court, Sade said, “Is he playing a game we’re unaware of? What reason would he possibly have to drop the charges? You don’t think he has something worse up his sleeve, do you?”

“I considered that. Or, he could want me to owe him. I know his target has been on you, and that’s mainly because he doesn’t know I killed Willow. Maybe he thinks that because he didn’t send me to jail, I will help him with you. Either way, letting me out will be an error in judgment for him before it ever becomes an issue for us.”

“I hope you’re right about that, but I’m just so glad you’re home!”

As she straddled him and began to cover his face with kisses, Dante laughed as he confessed, “I’m glad to be home too.”

Sade

Two Days Later

Mid-October

The feel of Dante’s hand on Sade’s thigh soothed her. After Jones’s last stunt, they decided to go to their local FBI office. Jones had somehow maxed out her credit cards and emptied every one of her bank accounts except the offshore one with the money she’d taken from Dante. He’d texted her and said the money would be given to the families of her victims. That made Sade hesitate to go to the FBI. She didn’t want to risk them looking into why Jones was on a rampage. After Dante assured her she didn’t have to worry about that, she agreed.

“I’m going to keep you updated,” Agent Foster said. “If anything pops up from us tracking the text messages and where the money was transferred, I’ll call you as soon as possible.”

“Thank you,” Sade replied as she and Dante stood.

They shook Foster’s hand and headed out of his office. “A part of me feels relieved that Jones went to such an extreme because now, someone is finally taking this seriously.”

“I agree,” Dante said, “I’ll put back the money he took, bae. You know you don’t have to worry about that.”

“Thank you.” She sighed, tightening her hand on his grip. “Do you think we still need to get a private investigator?”

“Let’s see what Agent Foster will be able to do first. I’d rather Jones suffer in prison before he dies anyway.”

As Dante opened the passenger door for her, Sade was briefly distracted by the feel of her phone vibrating. She waited until she was situated in his car before she pulled it out, smiling at the missed call from her grandmother.

She returned the call, and Ava’s first words were, “Baby, I amsosorry.”

Sade’s brows wrinkled as she sat up in her seat. “For what, Grandma?”

“That detective from Vanzette stopped by here. He tried to convince us that you’d killed those women and—”

“Wait...” Sade chuckled, but it immediately turned into a frown as her nostrils flared. “Jones came to yourhouse?”

Her words caused Dante to look in her direction.

“Yes, but it doesn’t matter. I know why he’s been harassing you. It’s not because you killed those people.”

Her heart palpitating, Sade swallowed hard. “Then why?”

“Jones...his first name is Terry. Terry Jones. That’sTonya’s husband. Well,ex-husband.”

Sade’s shoulders went slack. “The woman who killed my parents...Jones is her ex-husband?”

“He is. I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s why he’s after you.”

“I get the connection, but that doesn’t make sense. Why would he want to punish me? It’s not like I had anything to do with his wife leaving him. Hell, if anything, it should be the other way around. I should have been going after him to get to her.”

“Some people don’t need a reason, but maybe one day you can ask him. My gut tells me he’s holding you responsible for your father’s actions. To him, maybe Martin is the reason he lost his wife and daughter, so he wants to makehisdaughter suffer.”

Sade massaged her temple as she sighed. “That would explain why he’s been hyperfocused on me. Thank you for telling me. This makes me feel a little better.”

They talked for a while longer before Sade ended the call and let Dante in on what her grandmother had shared.

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