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“If you’re wondering if Connor did anything other than what you can see--he didn’t.” I took a sip of my drink. “He wanted my name on a contract first.”
“He’s still going to die.” Devlin gritted his teeth. “What he did is enough for me to watch him bleed out.”
“I feel like we should talk about why I left…” I looked down and sighed. “Before Georgia gets here.”
I’m going to keep telling myself she will walk through that door safe and sound until I have a reason to believe otherwise.
“You were lied to.” Devlin waved off my concern. “I get it.”
“That wasn’t the only reason.” I shook my head. “I overheard you on the phone. You were making a deal to sell me--I got scared.”
“Oh god.” Devlin raised his hand to his forehead. “No, never--not in a million years, princess. I swear to you!”
“Then what did I hear?” I felt like I needed to ask--it was uncleared air and I didn’t want it hanging there.
“I was laying a trap.” Devlin ground out. “I assumed the person who went after your father would bite--and obviously they did--it was Peterson.”
“Connor swore he didn’t put my father in prison.” I exhaled sharply. “But your mother may be the one…”
“She’s not capable of that.” He waved his hand in the air. “No fucking way. She’s a bitch and she hates your family, but whoever is behind your father’s arrest needed resources--the kind of resources Peterson has--had.”
“We have to consider the possibility that there’s someone else involved…” I took another sip of my drink.
“Who? Who else could…” Devlin shook his head.
We didn’t get a chance to finish our conversation. There was a commotion outside and a second later the front door opened. Dominic walked in first with a stoic expression on his face. I had never been able to read the elder Windsor--I didn’t know if he was about to deliver bad news or the best news. That conundrum was answered when he took a step to the side and Georgia came running towards me.
“Violet! Oh my god!” She nearly tackled me with a hug. “You’re--her eyes drifted to my wounds. Did he do that to you?”
“Georgia, I…” I put my hand on her check and saw bruises along the edge of her eye. “Did he do that to you?
Neither question had to be answered. We both knew the truth. Connor Peterson was a monster. My sister must have figure that out at some point, but she was too wrapped up in it by then. I looked into Georgia’s eyes and for the first time in what felt like ages, I saw my sister looking back at me. She wasn’t under Connor’s spell anymore. She was back.
“I’m so sorry, Violet.” Tears began to stream down Georgia’s face. “I didn’t want to lie to you, but he forced me to do it. He swore he wouldn’t hurt you--I… I was so stupid to believe him.”
“There’s nothing to apologize for.” I hugged her. “You’re free of him. I’ll wear these marks with pride if they bought your freedom.”
“They’re last ones he’ll ever put on you--either of you.” Devlin walked up and put a hand on each of us. “I swear it--stake my fucking life on it.”
“Do we have a room for Georgia to stay in?” I glanced at Devlin.
“Yes.” Devlin nodded. “I’ll make the arrangements. Give me a few minutes.”
Devlin went over to talk to Dominic, then chatted with Belle. She immediately walked off to make the arrangements for Georgia. There was a lot for me to discuss with my sister, but like much of what I need to say to Devlin, it could wait. It was a happy time--as happy as it could be.
Now all of our efforts can be focused on getting my father out of prison--just like they should have been this whole time.FifteenDevlinI'd never been in love.
But this felt the closest to it I'd ever gotten.
Holding Violet's frail body in my arms awakened the savior inside me. That night, I carried her to my bedroom and gently lay her down on my bed. She was obviously nervous, but my princess tried to hide it so hard. She trembled on the bed, her eyes fearfully finding mine as she whispered, "Are you going to hurt me?"
"Not today," I grunted, locking the door behind us. "I don't think you should be hurt tonight, princess. Do you disagree?"
Swallowing, she shook her head no. She seemed at a loss for words, unable to reply to me. She was probably still processing everything that had happened. I needed to be careful. The last thing I wanted was to push her into something that didn't feel right.
With a start, I realized that hadn't mattered to me before.
My pleasure had always come first. But with Violet, everything was getting turned on its head.
