Page 30 of The Devoted Husband

Three Days Later

“Ah!” Atlas groaned, rolling over and grabbing his side.

“His family is going to blame me for this too,” Sade said as she paced.

“He broke into my parents’ home and tried to strangle me. It was clearly self-defense.”

She shook her head. “That won’t matter to them. They blame me for Adam’s death, and they will blame me for this too.”

“Come here,” Dante demanded, gripping her hand and pulling her onto his lap on the bed. Her fingers slid across his bruised neck, but they stopped when he asked, “Are you pregnant with his baby?”

Her body stiffened as her eyes flickered. “He said that?” she asked quietly.

“Yeah, he did.”

“I’m not pregnant with his baby, Dante.” Relief instantly filled him, but before he could fully bask in that moment, she added, “I’m pregnant with yours.

” For a moment, Dante’s heart stopped, and he forgot how to breathe.

“ That’s what I wanted to tell you. I’d told Atlas I wanted you and me to get back to our friendship and have a healthy, coparenting relationship.

I guess he felt like if you knew I’d been with him, that would get you out of the way.

” Her chuckle was bitter as she looked toward the ceiling.

“He wanted to help me raise this baby, and I didn’t realize just how serious he was about that until now. ”

Dante’s hand lowered to her stomach as his forehead rested on hers. “You’re having my baby?”

Sade giggled. “Yes. I wanted to wait until a special time to tell you, but...”

“Smiley, I don’t care about that. You’re having my baby. That’s all that matters to me.”

“Are you . . . really okay with that?”

Dante laughed lightly and released a shaky breath as his eyes watered. “I raised a set of twins that weren’t mine, and now the woman of my dreams is giving me a baby of my own. I’m perfectly okay with that. Are you?”

Hesitantly, Sade nibbled her bottom lip and nodded. “I am. I admit that at first, I was nervous and worried about what people would think, but I don’t care about that anymore. I love you, Tay, and I’m happy to be the mother of your child.”

“Mm.” Cupping the back of her neck, Dante planted a kiss on her lips. “You’ll be the only one too.” They kissed again. “I need to get us a home. Is the baby why you wanted to stay here?”

“Yeah, plus I wanted to be close to the little family I have. I got an apartment. I just can’t move in until the first of September.”

“Are you sure that’s what you want? You can have whatever you want.”

“I’m sure. It’s a three-bedroom, so the baby will have a room, and I’ll have an office. Plus, I need a break from everything that comes from having a big home.”

“I feel you. Well, let me know how much the rent will be, and of course, I’ll cover it. If you want that to be for you and the baby until we get married, I’m cool with that, but we will be together, Sade, and I’m firm about that.”

She grinned and opened her mouth to respond, but heavy banging on the door silenced her.

Gently, Dante sat her on the bed next to him and stood.

Even though he was at her grandparents’ house, he couldn’t allow Barron to answer.

Those types of knocks never had a positive or pleasant ending behind them.

“Who the hell is that banging on my door like that?” Barron called out, shuffling out of his room. Dante chuckled at the sight of him closing his robe.

“I’ll find out.”

After looking through the peephole, a frown covered his face as he peered at two police officers. Did they have more questions for him? How did they know where he was?

Dante opened the door and asked, “Can I help y’all?”

“Is Sade Griffin here?”

His head tilted as he looked from one to the other. “What’s this about?”

“Is she here?” the taller, buffer one asked.

“Do you have a warrant?”

After pressing the paper into Dante’s chest, the tall officer stepped inside.

“Sade Griffin,” he called.

Dante’s heart raced as he looked over the warrant. This had Jones’s name plastered all over it—and these being Vanzette PD police officers was further proof.

“Yes?” Sade asked quietly, twiddling her thumbs.

“You’re under arrest for the murders of Patrice Baker and Trina Roe. You’re also wanted for questioning in the disappearance of Willow Frank.”

“Oh my God,” Ava cried as Barron wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his side.

“Dante,” Sade called, tears filling her eyes.

As the officer read Sade her rights, Dante kissed her forehead and said, “I promise I’m going to get you out.”