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"You need to slow down, Avonte," I said, and loosened my tie. "You need to tell me everything."
For the next hour, Avonte told me the truth about—about everything. How her husband told her that he was seeing another woman, and that’s why she went to Puerto Rico.
Avonte said she came home to find the other woman in her house, and she moved out after that. She told me that the entire time we were together, she was separated and getting a healthily check every month. "Why didn’t you tell me all this then?"
"I was confused and hurt after Tyrone did that to me. The things he said made me feel worthless. I wanted you to want me for me. Not because I had money."
"I understand you feeling that way, but I thought we had gotten past that, but I guess I was wrong. For a while I thought I was in love with you, Avonte. But I was just something for you to do; something to ease your pain."
"I’m sorry, Devin."
"You don’t have to apologize."
She went on to explain that her husband had hired a private detective, and she showed me the pictures that he had taken of us together. "Where’d you get these?"
"Qianna got them the night she killed him."
"Are you a suspect?"
"No. I told you that I didn’t have anything to do with any of that."
"So what’s the problem?"
"I’m scared to death of her!" Avonte yelled, and started to cry.
"So what do you want me to do about it?"
"I’m sorry, Devin. I shouldn’t have bothered you with this. It’s my problem, and I’ll have to work it out for myself."
Just then, I heard what sounded like a key hitting the lock. I looked at Avonte; her eyes were wide open in terror.
The door opened and Qianna walked in. She stopped in her tracks when she saw me. "What you doin’ here?"
* * *
Chapter Thirty-three
Avonte
"Hello, Qianna," Devin said, and stood up. Just the sight of Qianna standing there had me scared. "I just came to say hello."
"I thought you said that he didn’t know where you lived?" Qianna asked me.
"I—I asked him to come by. I needed somebody to talk to." I said. I wanted to run out of there, and put all this behind me. But once again, I was frozen by my
fear; unable to move, and barely able to speak.
"Talk about what?" Qianna demanded to know.
"Nothing in particular," I said softly. "I just needed to talk to somebody, that’s all."
"Why you shakin’?"
I wanted to say something. Tell her the truth—that I was afraid of her, and that I didn’t want to see her anymore. But I couldn’t.
Devin started moving toward the door. "Look, Avonte, I’m outta here. Call me if you need to talk some more."
"No, Devin. Please don’t go."