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I shrug but don’t comment. I’m done talking. I am now being held prisoner in a gilded cage. I want out. When I glance at Sully, I notice that he is staring at his phone.
“It looks like ten more minutes,” he says. “Then, I am out of your hair.”
I nod but remain silent. My jaw hurts from all the pressure I am putting on it. I try not to focus on time passing, but the longer we wait, the ten minutes he mentioned might as well be ten hours.
Finally, we hear a door opening and closing. I am so much into my own head, I about jump out of my skin when Devereaux walks into the large space we occupy.
“Miss Santiago.” He gives me a warm smile. “I didn’t expect you to be up. I’m glad I had the forethought of asking Mr. Sully to come and sit here while me and Malone tended to business.”
I stare at him like he fell from the sky. I have no idea why he is going so much out of his way to explain things to me. He did the same thing last night, too, or at least I assume this is the morning after.
Clearing my dry throat, I try to speak.
“I don’t really care about any of this, sir. I just want to leave,” I sob. “I want to be away from this place. I want to be free for once. I want to be able to keep all the money I’ve worked so hard to save.”
Both Devereaux and Sully stare at me, one with understanding and the other with a blank look. Then again, Sully doesn’t strike me as the type of person who would show any type of emotion. He seems to be comfortable with sitting in silence for hours at a time.
“Miss Santiago,” Devereaux addresses me. “I have come to the conclusion that you are misunderstanding the reason why I looked you up.”
I sniffle into my sleeve before attempting to wipe my nose with it. It’s gross, but I don’t care. The only thing that depresses me about it is that I will have to wash it at some point, which means I’ll be washing Hawk’s scent off it.
“Mr. Devereaux, I think it’s safe to say that I am not smart enough to understand anything anymore.”
For a second, I am scared that I offended him, although, I really shouldn’t care. But then, he surprises me when he bursts into laughter. It is the first time I see him showing genuine emotion. Usually, he is so extremely polite.
“Sully,” he addresses the biker in the room who looks impassive. He doesn’t care about being here, and he is not scared to show it. “I like this girl.”
He then turns back to look at me.
“My daughter should have a friend like you. The current friend she has is just getting her into trouble,” he declares, suddenly not looking as jolly as before.
I am so confused by the change in topic, I don’t know how to answer.
“Ruby is not exactly trouble free,” Sully decides to speak, his tone dry and monotone.
Unfortunately, he is correct. It seems like everywhere I go, trouble just follows me. I can’t catch a break to save my life. Ironic that I actually needed my life to be saved this time around.
“Mr. Sully, you are correct.”
Sully stands up from the couch. “Does that mean I can be released of my duties now?”
The sarcasm is obvious, and he is already halfway out of the room, but Devereaux doesn’t seem to mind.
“Before you go,” Devereaux stops him. “I just want you to know that I am indebted to you. There will come a time when you will need me,” he declares, making Sully lift a sardonic eyebrow. “And you will come calling. I will have your back and give you my support.”
Sully nods and gives him a two-finger salute before disappearing. Within seconds, I hear a door opening and closing, and he is out.
“Now, Miss Santiago.” Devereaux goes to sit on the couch that Sully just vacated. “Where were we?”
I shake my head at him. “I have no idea whatsoever.”
“Ah, but I do,” he declares. “I was about to tell you how I am going to change your life for the better. I love making people’s wishes come true. It’s a good thing I can afford it, don’t you think?”
I am more confused than ever. And a little scared.
TWENTY-FIVE
Hawk
