Page 15 of Sick Little Devotion

Sam doesn’t smile, so I wave Carlos out. I hate dealing with assholes who can’t laugh at anything but their own jokes.

“The family will help you with your expansion, but you have to give us fifty percent of the profits. In addition to that, you let us choose who runs the product. The family doesn’t like trusting anyone to handle their shit.”

“I’ve been handling their shit just fine for years.” My voice is full of authority, and the atmosphere grows tense. “But if that’s what they want for this expansion, then that’s what they’ll get. You all already have boots on the ground in the city, anyway.”

“We do, but it’s always nice to have more. You’re efficient with your business, so we’re willing to change hands. Also, I’d love to meet your wife. Ben has spoken to me about how lovely she is.”

“Ah,” I nod, suddenly unable to hide my smile. “We’re not married yet, but we will be.”

I just have to sort of kill off whoever is standing in the way.

Chapter Seven

SAHARA

It’s been a long freaking day. The dream I had last night of Aiden is still plaguing my brain—and then to find out that he’s been spotted around town? Yeah, all I thought about at work was what I’d do if he showed up. He didn’t. But deep down, no matter how much I try to tell myself I hate him…

I wish he would’ve walked through those doors.

“Stupid, stupid.” I facepalm myself as fresh tears threaten to spill over my cheeks. I don’t want to be with him. I don’t want him in my life.

Liar. The word echoes in my head. I take a deep breath and push myself back up into a sitting position. There’s nothing I can do about Aiden. And besides, I haven’t heard any first-person accounts of seeing him. It’s all hearsay. So, there’s no point in dwelling on it. But here I am. Doing exactly that.

“Why can’t I just let you go?” I whisper toward the window for a reason I don’t understand. I get to my feet and walk over to the window, doublechecking that it’s locked. My head has been failing me, and the fact that I don’t remember opening it last night bothers me. But it is what it is.

As I click the levers forward to ensure that it’s locked, I hear something in the hallway outside. I freeze at the squeaking floorboards, and my stomach flips. I know that sound. It is the reason I always barricade my door shut. It’s the reason Aiden started sleeping in my room. It used to scare me and send a pulse of panic shooting down my spine.

However, I wasn’t afraid of him anymore. He only made me angry.

He's creeping after the girls.

I jump into action and rush to the door, whipping it open and seeing exactly what I thought I would. Uncle Ron lurking outside of the girls’ shared room.

“What the fuck are you doing in the house?” I sneer, stalking right up to him.

“You need to go back to bed. I have every right to be in here.” He pushes his glasses up, but I see the surprise on his face. We haven’t exchanged more than a handful of words since the night Aiden almost killed him, and he had always avoided me. I’m too old for him.

“Get out. You don’t belong in the house.” My voice is sharp, and my confidence shocks him. “Get out.”

He makes an amused face as he reaches for the doorknob despite my demands.

“What’re you gonna do, Sara?” The mocking tone makes me even more irate than I was before. However, as I lunge forward, my mother appears in the hallway. I can’t tell if she’s drunk or not. Her graying hair is pulled up into a bun on her head, and her expression is perplexed.

“What are you doing in the house, Ron?” Her voice is crisp. She’s not slurring her words as usual. My heart skips a beat.

“My water isn’t working out there,” he says flatly.

“That’s not the bathroom.” She takes a step forward, eyeing me as she does. “You need to get back out to the pool house. You know you’re not allowed in here. Get out.”

“Oh look, the Walker women are ganging up on me,” he moans, sliding his hand over the front of his pants. “I think I might like it.” Disgust rolls over my entire body as he breaks into an insidious cackle. He’s toying with us, but the look on my mom’s face is pure shock. I follow her gaze to the tent in the front of his pants.

“Get out,” my mother whispers, her voice shaking. “You’re not allowed in the house. I’m going to go get Will.”

“Oh, get him, please.” Ron grins wickedly.

My mother calls for him, but I already know this will be fruitless. If he comes, he won’t do anything substantial. At best, he’ll make him leave. Worst case scenario, he’ll let him stay in the house—and then I’ll stay with the girls.

“What the hell?” Will appears at the end of the hallway, his eyes narrowing at the three of us.