Page 113 of Devious Truth

Declan’s ring.

“Is there a note?” She takes the envelope from me, sticking her hand inside and retrieving a card. “Found this in Aunt Marie’s jewelry box with a Post-It note saying it was Derek’s. Thought you might want it.”

“Derek gave this to his mom?” I turn it around my fingers.

“What is it? A family heirloom or something?”

“Yeah.” I take the envelope back and drop the ring inside. “Something like that.”

“Max!” Loud banging in the hallway saves me from any more questions about the ring.

“My brothers. I better go.” She rolls her eyes. “Nicolette is coming over later; if you’re still on house arrest, we’ll come here and watch movies?”

I walk with her to the door.

“Yeah, I’d like that, but I don’t want to ruin your night out.”

She bats the air with her hand. “Don’t worry about that. Her brother has kept his promise to keep two men with her at all times after we went to the club. So, we’re just staying in.”

“Lev’s as overprotective as the rest of them.”

“He’s a pain in the ass is what he is.” She frowns as her brothers bellow for her again.

“I’m here! Stop all the yelling, my neighbors are going to complain again.” She hurries to her apartment with her key.

Her brothers glance my way just as they step inside. An uneasy sensation rushes through me. Max doesn’t talk much about them, but when she does, I get the feeling there’s trouble there.

The apartment door across the hall opens, and Vivek stands in the doorway. His dark expression falls on Max’s door before sweeping back to me.

“I wasn’t trying to leave.” I feel like sticking my tongue out at him but think better of it.

I’m sure everything I do or say to them gets reported to Ivan, and acting like a moping child isn’t going to help my case.

“There was yelling.”

“Just Max’s brothers.”

He glances toward her door again before giving me a firm nod and retreating back into his apartment.

I go inside my apartment and shut the door, taking a look around at my apartment. It’s the cleanest it’s ever been. Having nothing but time on my hands, I have organized and scrubbed every inch of this place. Short of repainting it, it’s practically new.

I’m not sure how much longer I can take this silence. What happened at Obsidian was my fault, I take the blame for it. But how long does he get to punish me for it? Forever?

The longer I think on it, the hotter the embers of anger burn. Why do I have to stay locked away like some misbehaving child? I’m an adult, and he’s acting like a spoiled brat by ghosting me. If he can’t be a grown ass man and face me then I don’t need to follow his stupid instructions.

I quickly shower and throw on a pair of jeans and a sweater. My fridge is almost empty. I’ll walk down to the grocery store and get a few things.

Having worked myself into a proper frenzy, I snatch up my purse and throw my phone inside. Maybe I’ll even walk over to the bookstore a few blocks down and pick up a new book. I have the money now.

Ivan, in his true do-whatever-the-hell-he-wants way, paid off all my debts before he deposited the fifty thousand into my account. So, I have plenty of money to spare.

Maybe tomorrow I’ll even start looking for a new apartment, in a new part of town. I’m going to need a new job, and it’s probably best to start over fresh.

Resolved in my decision, I yank open my door.

“Vee.” Ivan’s brows shoot up.

I scream, surprised to find him standing there. Pressing my hand to my heart to keep it inside my chest, I jump back a step.

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