Page 49 of The Devoted Husband

Two Days Later

Mid-October

“I’m going to keep you updated,” Agent Foster said. “If anything pops up from us tracking the text messages and where the money was transferred, I’ll call you as soon as possible.”

They shook Foster’s hand and headed out of his office. “A part of me feels relieved that Jones went to such an extreme because now, someone is finally taking this seriously.”

“I agree,” Dante said, “I’ll put back the money he took, bae. You know you don’t have to worry about that.”

“Thank you.” She sighed, tightening her hand on his grip. “Do you think we still need to get a private investigator?”

“Let’s see what Agent Foster will be able to do first. I’d rather Jones suffer in prison before he dies anyway.”

As Dante opened the passenger door for her, Sade was briefly distracted by the feel of her phone vibrating. She waited until she was situated in his car before she pulled it out, smiling at the missed call from her grandmother.

She returned the call, and Ava’s first words were, “Baby, I am so sorry.”

Sade’s brows wrinkled as she sat up in her seat. “For what, Grandma?”

“That detective from Vanzette stopped by here. He tried to convince us that you’d killed those women and—”

“Wait...” Sade chuckled, but it immediately turned into a frown as her nostrils flared. “Jones came to your house ?”

Her words caused Dante to look in her direction.

“Yes, but it doesn’t matter. I know why he’s been harassing you. It’s not because you killed those people.”

Her heart palpitating, Sade swallowed hard. “Then why?”

“Jones...his first name is Terry. Terry Jones. That’s Tonya’s husband . Well, ex -husband.”

Sade’s shoulders went slack. “The woman who killed my parents...Jones is her ex-husband?”

“He is. I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s why he’s after you.”

“I get the connection, but that doesn’t make sense. Why would he want to punish me? It’s not like I had anything to do with his wife leaving him. Hell, if anything, it should be the other way around. I should have been going after him to get to her.”

“Some people don’t need a reason, but maybe one day you can ask him. My gut tells me he’s holding you responsible for your father’s actions. To him, maybe Martin is the reason he lost his wife and daughter, so he wants to make his daughter suffer.”

Sade massaged her temple as she sighed. “That would explain why he’s been hyperfocused on me. Thank you for telling me. This makes me feel a little better.”

They talked for a while longer before Sade ended the call and let Dante in on what her grandmother had shared.

“You know what?” Dante said. “I agree. That would explain why he’s obsessed with you.

I knew it couldn’t have been something as simple as him not wanting someone to get away with murder.

And that’s why we hadn’t been able to find information about him doing this to anyone else in the past. This isn’t normal behavior for him, which is why he wasn’t arrested and his captain wasn’t more helpful.

This is strictly because of his wife and daughter, and he’s seeking revenge. ”

“Son of a bitch,” she muttered through gritted teeth.

“If this is personal, he’s not gonna stop, baby.”

“I know. I’m hoping the FBI can find something.

It would serve him right to be in prison just like his wife.

I didn’t think anything could top finding out she killed my parents.

Now, I have to deal with her psycho ex-husband trying to exact his own unnecessary revenge.

” Dante chuckled, causing her to ask, “What?”

“I don’t know. It was different when I thought this was something random.

Knowing about his daughter committing suicide because of the bullying she sustained.

..I kind of get why Jones is going after you.

It’s not like he can go after your father.

If someone did something to you or our baby, I’d want revenge too, and I don’t think I’d care where and from whom I had to get it.

” He sucked his teeth as he shook his head, a clear representation of his inner conflict.

“Granted, this is all Tonya’s fault. But she’s already being punished, and he wouldn’t punish her for the daughter’s suicide anyway.

So, who’s better than the man who his wife cheated with? ”

“And he’s gone, which makes his children Jones’s next victim. Wow.”

Silence engulfed them, leaving Sade with the quietness it took to process the information she’d just received.

A Few Days Later

The goofy grin that had been on Dante’s face since the appointment made Sade laugh every time she looked at him.

He was happy and proud they were having a boy, and Sade was too.

They’d spent the last two hours looking at clothing and bouncing around ideas for the nursery now that they finally knew the sex of their baby.

“I can’t wait to start decorating now,” Sade cooed, wrapping her arms around him.

“I can’t believe we’re having a boy. I’m still stuck on that.

My dream girl is giving me my first child, a junior.

” Dante pushed her hair out of her face and off her shoulders before cupping her cheeks.

“I never thought this would be our reality. A part of me is glad Imani tried to frame me. It finally led me to you.”

“I don’t regret not one thing we’ve had to do to get to this moment, babe—at all.”

A low hum escaped him, but before he could connect his lips with hers, Dante was pulling out his phone. A frown quickly covered his face.

“He’s at the house,” Dante said, quickly grabbing her hand and leading her out of the store.

“Jones?”

“Yeah.”

Sade pulled up their camera app, but an incoming call from their neighbor kept her from opening the feed.

“Hello?”

“Sade, I wanted to let you know a man just kicked your door in. I had my husband to call the police. He’s wrapping up with them now.”

Relief filled her, knowing Jones couldn’t do too much damage before he was stopped. He’d better damn well hope the police got there before they did.

“I see him on the camera. Thank you for calling, and tell Yancy thank you for calling the police as well.”

“Of course.”

Felicia ended the call, and Sade opened the living room camera. She watched Jones spray paint their sofa before ripping paintings off the wall. Unable to watch anymore, she closed her eyes and tried to take some deep breaths.

Dante’s speed was so fast it seemed they made it home in no time.

When they arrived, the police were there; Jones was not.

Sade allowed Dante to handle the police report.

She was too jaded to talk to anyone. After they left, he joined her in their bedroom.

Dante sat on the edge of the bed next to her and took her hand into his.

“What do you want to do?” he asked. “I can clean up what he damaged in the living room and dining room. Thankfully, he couldn’t go further before he heard the sirens and fled. If you’re uncomfortable staying here, we can go to a hotel or one of the other houses.”

“I’m tired of hotels,” she whined. “I’m not scared. I don’t think it was a coincidence that he came while we were gone.”

“Yeah, he wouldn’t have done this if we were here. The good thing is, this now opens a case against him in Memphis.”

Sade nodded and palmed her face. “I need to go to my island. That’ll make me feel better.”

Dante kissed her temple. “Then that’s where we’ll go. I have something to handle real quick, so I will have Eric and Jessica come over. When I return, I’ll take care of the living room and dining room.”

“You don’t have to, baby, I will.”

“We can do it together before I leave then.”

“What’re you about to do?”

“Pay Jones a visit.”

Sade’s Audio Journal

“My mind has been so scattered, I haven’t been able to process a coherent thought or even record it.

I’ve never hated a person more than I hate Jones.

Well, maybe my sister when we were kids, but that’s another story.

This man is diabolical. What makes it so frustrating is he’s slippery.

He knows the law and how to evade it. He also knows how to mess with us without actually touching us.

Jones being so out of reach is driving me crazy.

I can’t wait for him to be caught. This needs to be over soon. ”