Page 106 of Devious Love

Despite my better judgment, I step aside and wave her in.

She walks past me, her shoulders tense. Her unease is obvious, but I do nothing to help her feel welcome. Because she’s not. The venom she continuously spat at her daughter destroyed any sense of compassion I had for her.

For a moment, Monica doesn’t say anything. She just scans my place, eyes narrowed. The floral scent of her perfume reaches my nostrils, and it’s too strong. When she catches sight of the pile of motorcycle sketches, she purses her lips and finally focuses on me.

“Mia’s failing her classes.”

I tongue my cheek for a moment, ignoring the immediate sense of dread that rises in me. “And how do you know that?”

She wrings her hands and exhales loudly. “I overheard her talking to Jeff a couple of days ago. I wasn’t eavesdropping, just caught the tail end of a conversation while I was in the laundry room.”

“Of course,” I snipe. “What did you hear exactly?”

“Her grades are a mess, and she’s falling behind on assignments.”

The dam holding back my concerns breaks as I take in the worry in Monica’s eyes.

Why didn’t Mia tell me?

I blink. “That’s not my fault. With how busy she is, I barely see her.”

“Dominic.” She sighs, shaking her head. “I’m not saying it’s your fault. She’s burning herself out. She works, she studies, and”—she gestures at the pile of sketches on the table—“still finds time to make designs for you.”

My hackles rise. “I didn’t ask her to do that.”

“But youlether.”

I look away, swallowing back the bile clogging my throat. Of course, Monica’s here to point the finger at me. Her refusal togive Mia any pocket money or help pay for her trip to Italy is the real issue.

“You’re right. She’s working too hard. She should be studying and spending time with her friends, but because ofyou, because of your stubbornness and unwillingness to help her, she works as many hours at Luigi’s as she can. So if you want someone to blame, blame yourself.”

She flinches. “I know what my wrongdoings are, trust me. But you’re not as innocent as you think. Instead of studying and getting her assignments done on time, she’s here with you. Don’t you see? When she loves someone, she gives them everything, and you’re taking it all without even realizing it.”

Fuck her.

But I hate that there’s some truth behind her words.

Monica examines me, her lips pursed into a thin line. “Other than the news about her grades, nothing I’ve said surprised you, did it? You know she’s running herself into the ground, and you do nothing to stop her.”

“That’s not true. I asked her to quit the diner. I offered to help pay for her trip. She doesn’t want it. She wants to do everything on her own.”

“With as much power as you hold over her, I can’t imagine you couldn’t have persuaded her if you’d really tried.” She steps into me, her chin lifted in a way that reminds me of Mia. “You corrupted her. When she’s with you, she’s no longer the Mia I raised. No, she becomes a totally submissive young woman.”

My gut plummets. “It’s not like that between us.”

“Isn’t it?” Brow arched, Monica backs toward the door. With her hand on the knob, she locks eyes with me. “You probably think you love her, but if you did, you’d have seen how you’re hurting her.”

One moment,I was climbing into my car in the parking lot of my building. The next, I found myself parked outside Jeff’s dorm.

Mia doesn’t have class today, so I don’t have to worry about bumping into her. She’s coming over tonight after work, but before I see her, I need to know if Monica was telling the truth.

When Jeff steps out of the building with another guy, I climb out of my car and jog toward him.

“Hey,” I say as I stop in front of him. “Can we talk?”

He eyes me warily then tosses the basketball he’s holding to his friend. “Sure. Wanna head to the coffee shop?”

We’re quiet the whole way there. It isn’t until we’re sitting across from one another, each holding a paper cup, that he asks, “Why am I here?”