Page 7 of The Devoted Husband

Who the hell is blowing up her phone?

“Who keeps texting you?” he asked, calmer than he actually felt.

“Hmm?”

Chuckling, he looked over at Sade as he cut off the car. “I said, who keeps texting you?”

“I-I’m not sure.”

“Then let me see.” As he reached for her phone, which was in the cup holder, Sade did the same.

“Atlas, no—”

“Get the fuck back.” His hand wrapped around her neck, and he pressed her body into the window. Holding her in place, he unlocked her phone. “Why do you make stuff so difficult, Sade?”

“Let me go.” The more she wiggled underneath his grasp, the tighter he pinned her to the window.

“Nah. You must want me to handle you like this because you don’t know how to tell the truth.”

His brows wrinkled, and his heart stopped beating when he saw several text messages from someone named “Do Not Answer.” Atlas looked over at her, not swayed by the sight of her watery eyes.

“Who is Do Not Answer? Dante?” When she didn’t respond, Atlas released a low laugh and began to read the messages he’d sent.

Do Not Answer: Hello, Smiley.

Do Not Answer: You changed your mind about talking to me?

Do Not Answer: That’s okay. I’ll still wait for you. I miss you.

Do Not Answer: Tell me when you’re ready for me to come get you. I’ll always come.

“What does he mean ‘tell him when you’re ready for him to come get you’? You been talking to this man?”

Sade clawed his hand from around her neck. “No. I accidentally sent him some pictures earlier. As you can see, I didn’t text him back.”

“But you sent him pictures of you. Pictures that you took before going to spend time with my family.”

“It wasn’t on purpose,” she muttered, causing Atlas to laugh. The mechanism of laughter usually calmed him down. That day, it wasn’t working.

“How do you accidentally send someone pictures of you?”

“I was trying to put them on Facebook, but I was thinking about Dante and...wasn’t paying attention.”

While Atlas appreciated her honesty, he didn’t like how the honesty made him feel.

Why was she thinking about him? They agreed that she wouldn’t talk to him anymore.

He knew he couldn’t control her thoughts and feelings, but based on what Sade said, she was detached from Dante and didn’t want to be with him. Something wasn’t adding up.

Deciding that wasn’t the time to address it, Atlas tossed her phone onto her lap. “We’ll talk about this later.”

Her head bobbed softly, and her hand wrapped around her neck as she looked away. Regret immediately filled Atlas. His shoulders slouched as he gently grabbed her thigh.

“I’m sorry, Day.”

“If you ever put your hands on me again...I’ll kill you.”

Sade got out of the car, not bothering to wait for him.

If it were any other woman from his past, Atlas would have assumed she was playing.

But this was Sade—the woman who had proven she had no problem taking a life for the right reason.

And Atlas didn’t want to find out if the next reason would be his abuse.

Nibbling his bottom lip, he stared her down as he headed toward his parents’ front door.

Maybe she only killed for Dante. Was he even special enough?

Chuckling, he tried to reel his emotions in because he was losing his fucking mind.

To think...He wanted to question her about his worthiness through something as toxic and evil as a kill.

“I can’t touch you at all?” he asked softly, stepping directly in front of her on the porch.

Atlas allowed his fingers to glide gently down her arm.

She shivered, and her nostrils flared. “You’re driving me crazy, Sade.

” Entangling his fingers with hers, Atlas lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it.

“Just the thought of you cheating and being with another man takes me to the edge.” When she tried to lower her head, he lifted it.

“I gave you to him for months. I’m never sharing you again.

” He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. “Tell me you understand that, baby.”

Atlas hadn’t told Sade because he didn’t want to appear weak, but the whole time she was with Dante, his insecurities and paranoia began to brew.

Though she kept telling him the ploy was in play to keep him safe, Atlas was aware of their bond and how tight it had been.

Imani had often made jokes about how she took Dante from Sade.

Every night, the thought of another man touching his woman plagued him, causing him to lose sleep from those images.

Sade returning to him pregnant was his biggest fear.

The only thing that made it easy for him to accept was her agreeing to never see or talk to him again.

Now...It didn’t appear that it had been the truth.

“Sade,” he pleaded.

“I understand,” she replied quickly—crisply.

“Tell me no one else can have you.”

Releasing a shaky breath as her eyes fluttered, Sade put her hand on his heart. “You accepted me and saw me when my past forced me to hide myself. No one else can have me, Atlas.”

He stared into her low, underturned eyes, needing the truth to be there. He became so hypnotized by her beauty he no longer cared. As he stroked her cheek, he confessed, “God, you’re so beautiful. These eyes...your smile. I can never get enough of you.”

He hadn’t given the compliment to soften her toward him, but it worked. She cupped the back of his neck and gave him a sweet kiss.

“I want to validate you, but I also need you to know I’m not cheating on you. Please, don’t do this again. If I feel like me and my baby won’t be safe with you—”

“You both are. It’ll never happen again. I swear.”

Satisfied with his answer, Sade nodded and put some space between them.

Atlas knocked, then opened the already unlocked door.

Immediately, the smell of soul food assaulted his nostrils in the best way.

He hadn’t had his mother’s cooking in a month, and though he enjoyed being on the island, he missed the morsels and his people.

Initially, the plan was to lie low on the island until they were sure Dante wouldn’t try to come after them for taking his money.

Sade being pregnant changed their plans.

She would have to travel regularly for doctor’s appointments, so they agreed to leave the island indefinitely.

Memphis was the last place she wanted to return to, but because her family was there, she agreed.

Sade feared people would think she was a horrible person because Dante was with her in Vanzette.

Memphis was a small, big city. It felt like everyone knew everyone.

In this instance, people were more grateful that Dante was alive and well than anything else.

Unless they were a part of the sisters’ or Dante’s family, they didn’t know the personal details about his time away.

So far, no one had an idea of Sade’s temporary kidnapping of her best friend.

..even if it was with the good intention to keep him safe.

“Wassup, y’all?” Atlas greeted his mother, Vanessa, and his father, Clay, as they moved from one side of the kitchen to the other.

Vanessa’s eyes lit up at the sight of him. She dropped the spoon in her hand and rushed over to him. Atlas released hearty laughter as he spun her around.

“I’m so glad you’re home!” she cheered.

“That island food don’ made you lose a li’l weight,” Clay noticed, shaking Atlas’s hand and using it to pull him in for a hug.

“Nah, it wasn’t the food. It was all the working out I was doing in the sun. That was probably the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen. I never wanted to be inside.”

Vanessa’s eyes slowly scanned Sade’s frame. Her smile dimmed as she crossed her arms over her chest. “Sade.”

“Vanessa,” Sade replied curtly, stepping closer to Atlas’s side.

Since Atlas had always been a mama’s boy, the women had never been close.

His father and the rest of his family were more accepting of Sade.

That changed a little when Adam was killed.

They didn’t just blame Sade; they blamed Imani too.

The difference was that Imani had twins with their DNA, and because of that, she got a pass.

They also held Sade more responsible because of Atlas’s loyalty to her.

To his mother and her sister, Adam’s mother, it was Atlas telling Sade about Adam’s plan that made everything worse.

If he’d been more loyal to his family and kept her out of it, Dante wouldn’t have sought asylum with Sade, and Adam wouldn’t have had to go after him.

“Hey, Sade,” Clay spoke. “You look well. My son must be taking good care of you.”

“He is, thank you,” Sade replied as they briefly hugged.

“I didn’t know you were bringing a guest, Atlas,” Vanessa said, returning her attention to her marinara sauce.

“She’s not a guest. She’s my woman.”

“Still...The family is in the backyard, and I don’t know how comfortable she’ll be. She can sit in the dining room, I guess.”

Chuckling, Sade lifted her hands in surrender. “I’m just gonna go, baby.”

“Nah, stay.”

“If she wants to leave, let her leave,” Vanessa said.

“Vanessa, be nice,” Clay ordered.

“No, really, I’ll go. I’ll take the car. If you want, I’ll just come and get you later.”

“His family is here. Someone will bring him to you later,” Vanessa replied before Atlas could.

“Fine,” Sade agreed.

As she tried to walk away, Atlas grabbed her hand and pulled her close. “You want me to bring you and the baby back something to eat?”

“The baby!” Vanessa yelled. “Don’t tell me you got her pregnant!”

Sucking his teeth, Atlas led Sade out of the kitchen.

“That woman would probably poison or spit in my food. Don’t bring me anything out of her kitchen.”

Atlas couldn’t tell by Sade’s expression if she was playing. “I’m sorry about that. I thought with more time passing, she’d ease up.”

Sighing, Sade stroked his hand with her thumb. “I just don’t get why she hates me so much. Her nephew tried to rape me. It’s not my fault he died. His death was declared suicide by cop because he didn’t want to go back to prison and reached for his gun. How am I being blamed for that?”

When her chin trembled and her eyes watered, it broke Atlas’s heart. He remained silent until they were outside by the car, where he pulled her into his arms.

“Look, my cousin was wrong. Imani was like gasoline to his greed and bad habits. When he got out and started up with her again, he became a version of himself even I didn’t recognize. I don’t blame you for that, and that’s all that should matter.”

“But it’s not,” Sade chuckled as she wiped away a tear. “I know how much your family means to you. Eventually, them not liking me is going to become an issue. And on the off chance it doesn’t, I’m not dealing with this every time I come around.”

With a frown, Atlas crossed his arms over his chest as she leaned against the driver’s side of his car. “What you saying?”

“I’m saying unless she starts treating me better, I’m not coming around.”

“Come on, Day. You know I’ll never let things get out of hand...”

“Out of hand? You shouldn’t want me to be in a position where I’m uncomfortable or being disrespected. I don’t care who it is.”

Atlas rubbed his hands down his face, releasing a defeated sigh. “Just...Go back to the hotel and rest. I’ll Zelle you some money for food.” Not bothering to respond, Sade turned and allowed him to open the door for her. “Text me when you get there. I love you.”

Atlas had grown used to Sade not returning the sentiment.

He tried to convince himself his love for her wasn’t dependent upon her love for him.

While a part of him admired how cautious she was with his feelings and not wanting to lie to him or move too fast, the other part of him questioned how she could fake love for Dante for months.

What about him made Atlas unworthy of the lie of love? At least it would have made him happy.

He watched until she drove away, then made his way back into his parents’ home. Before going outside to see the rest of his family, Atlas stopped to tell his mother, “You gotta ease up on Sade.”

“Did you get that woman pregnant?”

“No, it’s not my baby, but I’m raising it.”

Vanessa chuckled as she leaned against the counter. Her eyes stared outside toward his father.

“Seeing as she’s not showing yet, I assume she’s still in her first trimester.” Vanessa pushed herself off the counter and walked over to him. “So that means whatever she had with that other man is still fresh.” Her head tilted as she thought about it. “It’s Dante...isn’t it?”

“As far as the world knows, that baby will be mine. I don’t need you telling anyone otherwise.”

“I don’t trust this, Atlas. I think you should let her be with Dante. Whatever the two of you had before that plan was made, that’s over. She can tell you she wants to be with you, but seeing as she was having sex with him and is pregnant with his child...That’s a lie.”

“Ma, please. Of course, they had sex. She had to make him believe they were married.”

Vanessa’s tongue rolled over her cheek. “And that’s all you think it was? Her pretending ?”

“That’s what I know it was. She doesn’t love or want to be with him. She wants to be with me.”

Their eyes remained locked for a while before Vanessa lifted her hands in surrender. “Whatever you say.”

Atlas hugged his mother and kissed the top of her head before going outside.

As normal as he tried to act with his family, Vanessa’s words had him paranoid.

It didn’t help that Sade had been thinking about Dante and texted him.

Was he a fool to believe they could have a healthy relationship?

Would the day come when Dante and Sade decide to be together?

Seeing as Atlas had gone against his cousin to be with her and tolerated his family’s disappointment, there was no way in hell he’d let her leave him to be with another man— especially Dante.