DEVAN
It was very evident from the beginning that this marriage was going to cause a lot of trouble.
Not only on my side, but on Scarlet’s, too.
Does her father think she’s for sale?
That alone is enough to incur punishment.
I’ll spare him for today because Scarlet has been worried about him.
“Sweetheart, is he blackmailing you? Whatever he has on you we can work it out,” he tells Scarlet.
“No, dad. I willingly married him.”
He shakes his head.
“I don’t believe you.”
“Would you prefer she married that cheating fucker?” I ask.
The man glares at me like I’ve uttered a profanity.
“Don’t speak about Kelvin like that,” he says, making arch my brows as the only way to process his words.
He’s defending him?
Is he out of his mind?
If he loves his daughter, then Kelvin should be the last person he defends.
Unless, he isn’t the loving father I think he is, in which case, that would put him in my radar .
Anyone who treats Scarlet unfairly, deserves punishment.
“Are we talking about the same person? Because the Kelvin I’m talking about is the bastard who’s been lying to your daughter.”
“Kelvin hasn’t been lying to anyone,” he still defends.
“Dad, please,” Scarlet chips in.
“Is this the kind of lies he fed you? This man is manipulative, Scarlet. He kidnapped you before your wedding so he could feed you with lies,” he rants and then turns to me.
“What’s your angle? What do you get after destroying my daughter’s relationship?”
“Kelvin was lying to me, dad.” Scarlet informs him.
“That woman was just a stalker. You should find Kelvin and talk to him. Figure things out. All this was just a misunderstanding,” the man insists.
A soft laugh escapes my lips.
“You can’t be this…”
I don’t complete my statement out of respect for Scarlet.
But surely how foolish can a man be?
Kelvin told him that crap and he believed him?
“I have evidence that Kelvin was cheating on me all this time,” Scarlet breaks it.
“What evidence?” Asks her father.
Scarlet looks at me.
“Could you please give us a minute?” She asks.
My brows furrow.
I know he’s her father, but why am I suddenly hesitant to leave her alone with him?
I mean it’s not like anything bad might happen, right.
He wouldn’t hurt her, would he?
It’s only the fact that Kelvin clouded his judgement that’s annoying.
What if he kidnapped her to get her as far away from me as possible?
“I’ll be fine, I promise,” Scarlet assures me.
Oddly, that calms my thinking.
I head to the parking lot to wait for her in the car.
I’m about to open the door when a female voice suddenly calls me.
“Devan Galloway!”
I turn to the sight of Scarlet’s furious nanny, who I now know to be Karen.
She walks towards me with a stern face.
Like she wouldn’t hesitate to blow my brains if given the opportunity.
She stands before me and points a finger.
“You.”
“Yes, me,” I raise my brows in response.
“What did you do to Scarlet?” She asks.
“I married her.”
I cross my arms, tolerating her because she’s important to Scarlet, and also because I understand her worry.
“I know Scarlet. I raised her. She’s always dreamed of having the perfect wedding and marrying the perfect man.”
Uh huh.
“She totally got the second part.”
“Are you threatening her?” She purses her lips.
“No, I’m protecting her.”
“I don’t believe you.
Devan Galloway suddenly developed a heart?
Pigs might as well start flying. Follow the newest chapters on g.com.
Oh wow.
I didn’t know my reputation was this flowery.
I should decorate it more.
I open the door to get into the car, not willing to engage further.
“Not so fast.”
Just wow.
And just great.
Again, I remind myself she’s Scarlet’s nanny and she treasures this woman.
This time, she looks calmer than when she came.
“Just don’t…hurt her,” she says.
“All I want is for her to be okay.”
I nod.
“She will be okay. And I would never hurt her. She’s my wife, and I gave her my word. You can bet on that.”
The words seem to calm her down.
She was really scared for Scarlet, because of me.
Just great.
That’s what you get for being Devan Galloway.
I wait for a while in the car until Scarlet shows up.
“Hey,” she says, settling beside me.
“Is everything okay?” I ask.
“Uh huh?” She nods listlessly.
That’s a lie.
I take her hand and she looks at me.
I look straight into her eyes.
Her beautiful eyes.
I cup her cheeks.
“Talk to me.”
She lets out a loud exhale.
“I’m just so exhausted from all this.”
“I know, baby.” I pull her into my arms.
“Everything is going to be fine.”
After our brief embrace, I start the engine after ensuring she feels calmer than when she came.
“I hope Karen wasn’t hard on you,” she says with a smile that makes me feel better.
“Oh, we bonded a little. She said I could come over for a girl talk.” I wink.
“I told you, she likes me.”
She huffs.
“That’s a lie. The Karen I left is nowhere close to liking you. You really have a long way to go.”
“Then I’ll have to spend more time with her.”
She laughs.
“With the same woman who threatened to cut your balls?”
“Really? You just had to bring it up.”
“You started it, Mr. Galloway.”
“Do you know how much I love the sound of my name on your lips?”
I give her a brief glance.
That’s enough for me to see her cheeks flush pink.
I’d love to hear her say my name when I give her something sweeter.
When I slide into her.
Or when my tongue comes into contact with…
The fuck, Devan.
My mind is already going to all sorts of inappropriate places.
“You and your dirty mouth,” she comments.
“You love it though.”
She crosses her arms.
“No comment.”
“That’s not a complete no.”
“Let’s just go home,” she says, avoiding the topic.
Smart woman.
_______________
The women in my house prevent me from doing anything for the rest of the day.
It’s like I’m being held captive in my own bedroom.
Scarlet, Miranda and my mother alternate to bring me food and different types of snacks.
They claim it’s good for my recovery and forbid me from engaging in any stressful activities, AKA syndicate business.
Thank God he has a brain and I trust him, even though I would never admit it out loud.
The doctor comes to see me later in the evening and confirms everything is okay, which makes Scarlet feel better.
When he leaves, Scarlet is already on my neck.
“Just because you’re getting better doesn’t mean you’re allowed to endanger your life again.”
I’m a mafia king.
As long as I’m still breathing, my life will always be in danger.
“I’ll make you a smoothie, she says, and disappears before I can retaliate.
I’m lying in bed, tired of being in the same environment.
I’ve been alternating between the couch, bed and the balcony.
Scarlet comes back a few minutes later holding a glass of smoothie.
“Do I really have to drink that?” I ask.
“I’ve had enough for the day.”
“The day isn’t over. It helps with recovery,” she says, handing me the glass.
“You’re just saying that because you want me to drink it.”
“If I drink it, what do I get in return?”
She looks like she’s thinking deeply about it.
Then she says.
“A quick recovery.”
“I’ve already recovered. I want something else,” I try to coax.
Her eyes twitch which make me aware.
Something ran through that dirty mind.
And I don’t mind doing dirty things to her.
“You’ll tell me about Sonia.”
That’s the most unexpected response.
After the events of yesterday, I knew this was coming.
It just didn’t come soon enough.
“That’s not a reward for me,” I point out, but my wife is so nonchalant about it.
“Just trying to play fair. Because that’s what you get for failing to mention that your ex would be in that meeting.”
“She’s not…”
The look she gives me…I don’t complete the statement.
I’m about to explain when a knock sudden resounds on the door.
Scarlet lets out a loud breath.
“Wrong timing.”
“Come in. It’s open,” she says.
Matias peeks his head before he walks in.
“Sorry to interrupt.”
“No, you weren’t interrupting anything.”
Scarlet glances at me.
“We need to talk,” Matias says.
“Devan is not working today,” Scarlet jumps in.
“It’s important,” Matias insists.
“Oh, my God.” Scarlet massages her temples.
“Can’t a man just rest?”
“He will, after this.”
“Fine,” she says, albeit reluctantly.
“You have ten minutes. After that I’ll come back and kick you out myself,” she warns.
When she leaves, Matias starts laughing.
“Is this how marriage life looks like?”
“What happened?” I ask.
“I only came here because I knew how much agony you’re in. You owe me one,” he says, taking the couch.
I want to empty my gun to his head.
“You have a death wish don’t you?” I throw a pillow at him.
“What? Can’t a man save a brother?” He asks.
“You didn’t just come here to sit with me,” I say.
“You really know me well. I knew you were in love with me.”
“What happened?”
“I have tea. Really good tea.”
I swear I’m going to kill this man.
But I can’t believe I’m about to say this.
“Spill it.”
He shifts from the chair and leans forward like he’s about to whisper, but he doesn’t whisper.
“Remember Kelvin’s girlfriend? The blonde? I just found out she was cheating on Kelvin too. And that’s the biggest plot twist.”