The Husband Beside Me (The Devil Trilogy Book 2) (12 page)

“Where the hell are you going?” Daimon asked as I stood up to clear off the table.

“To clean, your majesty.” I curtsied.

“Sit your sexy ass down,” he ordered. I sat back down and waited. “There, behind the tree, there’s a box. It’s yours.” He pointed. I reached and found a box that was lavishly wrapped.

“I thought you don’t do gifts?”

“Shut up and open it,” he snapped.

I ripped it open and looked inside. It was a lacey black demi-bra with a matching thong that had tiny little bows on them.

“You got me lingerie?” I asked, shocked.

“Yes,” he smiled.

“You’re an asshole.”

“It’s expensive, French made. I wouldn’t get you anything cheap,” he teased. I had to admit it was pretty. It was a shame I had no one to wear it for and there was no way I would wear it for him.

“Learn to take a joke, Addie. Look inside.” I pushed the tissue paper aside and found a small folder.

“What’s this?”

“It’s an itinerary for you to visit your sister next week. I’ll be going to England next week so I figured you could see her while I’m out of the country.”

“Thank you,” I said breathlessly.

“You’re welcome.”

Like he promised, Daimon drove us to my father’s home and we celebrated Christmas together. I had asked him about his family, but he grunted and told me to mind my own business. I knew there was something there, something he wasn’t telling me, but also knowing Daimon, it was best I didn’t push. I was preparing a simple pork roast and watched as Daimon and my father were watching a movie my father loved so much called,
Il Mercenario
.

“This is it! This is the scene between Paco and Curly. The music is what makes it an amazing showdown,” my father said, excitedly, edging forward on his armchair.

“It’s pretty intense,” Daimon said, completely taken in.

“I know,” my father murmured.

Leave two men alone with a classic spaghetti western and they’ll end up bonding.
My father seemed to have forgotten what Daimon had done as they sat, mesmerized by the 1968 classic. I’d watched it so many times that I was catching myself quoting it as it played in the background.

Studs
: Polack! You play around with me. I’ll see that you’re gonna get murdered. You play with fire, you’re gonna get burned!
Kowalski
: I wear gloves.
Studs
: I don’t see them. I don’t see them!
Kowalski
: I took them off, because without gloves, I shoot better.

I played out this whole scene only because my father would have Sofia and I act it out for him.

“I see you like these movies too.” Daimon surprised me as he wrapped his arms around my waist.

“Do you mind?” I said, through my teeth.

“Not really,” he murmured with his rough low voice.

“My father might see us,” I hissed.

“That’s the point, my beloved. We’re in love, remember?” he teased quietly in my ear, his deep voice making me wither.

“Your father pressed play again. I think he wants to re-watch it,” Daimon said as he finally released his arms from my waist.

“He does that,” I said as I turned around still holding my butcher knife.

“Are you threatening your husband on Christmas Day?” Daimon laughed.

“Think of it as an incentive,” I smiled.

Daimon’s eyes shifted; he must have heard my father getting up. He reached out and took my hand that held the knife and pulled me in for a kiss. I struggled, but his lips latched on tightly.

“Sorry kids,” my father said as he stood at the door of the kitchen. Daimon pulled back and grinned. I swear he was Lucifer himself.

“It’s okay, Dad, Daimon was just playing,” I gritted out.

“Sorry,” Daimon said, not really meaning it. My father turned around and headed back into the living room.

“You want to kill me now, don’t you?” He wiggled his eyebrows and left to join my father. I was left in the kitchen still holding onto my knife. I reached up unknowingly and felt my lips. His heat still lingered.
Bastard!

I served dinner, which my father ate happily. I sat watching him eat and actually enjoying his food; it was the first time I saw him do this since my mother had died. My father was no longer sick and he could finally live a full life. Seeing him healthy and happy made what I had done feel like the right decision. I knew in the end all that mattered was my family’s happiness and Daimon provided that. Yes, he needed me too, but because of his money, I was able to finally make right what I had done wrong all those years ago.

“Are you going to eat?” my father asked, holding onto his bread.

“I’m eating.” I smiled.

“You look like you’ve lost weight. I want to see you eat all the food on your plate,” my father grunted.

“I told you. You lost weight. You better be eating,” Daimon bit out.

“Listen, you two. I'm fine,” I said, taking a mouthful of pork roast.

Once we ate, I cleaned up, and then finally sat down and readied my gift for my father. Daimon had given me a credit card with my name on it, which I could use as I pleased. I felt uncomfortable every time I used it, but I had no other choice. It wasn’t like I had money of my own to spend. Every dollar I made, I paid bills, either for the house or for Sofia. Before Sofia had left, I gave her a few thousand dollars to help her through her time at Yale. I knew it wasn’t enough, but I still wanted her to have her own money.

My father sat down in his armchair and smiled; actually, he giggled as he opened up his gift. It was the sweater he wanted. I watched as his eyes twinkled. It never took much to make my father happy.

“Thank you, Addie,” he said as he rose up to kiss me.

“That’s not all,” Daimon said as he reached into his jacket and took out an envelope.

My father looked at it skeptically. He then turned his gaze at me. I shrugged, not really knowing what Daimon had planned. My father slowly opened it and looked at the contents carefully.

“What did you get him?” I leaned back and asked Daimon, but Daimon only smiled at me.

“It’s a ticket to go back home,” my father murmured.

“What?” I said taken aback.

“I got you an open ticket. You can leave when you want and come back when you feel like it,” Daimon stated.

“It’s been years since I’ve been able to go back home,” my father lamented. I knew how much he had wanted all these years to go back, but he couldn’t. I struggled in vain to save up money for him to go, but something always came up.

“Thank you, son,” my father breathed, as he looked over his ticket, not once looking at either one of us.

Daimon’s breath hitched the moment my father thanked him. I looked up to see an expression I had never seen Daimon have; he was touched. Daimon was affected by my father’s simple words.
Jesus, what happened to him to make him so jaded?
It was Daimon after all. Nothing had ever affected him before.

Daimon coughed and finally spoke. “I'm glad…you like it,” Daimon said awkwardly. “Don’t you think we should go now?” He turned to me, his sky-blue eyes not asking but telling me.

“I guess,” I muttered.

“Okay, kids, you go and enjoy the rest of your night and thank you for spending Christmas with me.” My dad stood up to walk us to the door.

“Dad, there’s no other place I’d rather be.” I smiled and hugged him.

“You know you’d rather be in our bed,” Daimon whispered to me as I put on my winter coat. I turned and glared at him, but all he did was wink at me.

I left Daimon in the house as I marched out, annoyed at his behavior. The asshole knew exactly how to goad me and he loved it. To be honest, it was really my fault since I let him get to me.

“Joke! A joke!” he shouted out as I stood by his car. Daimon beeped the car and the door unlocked. I slid in not acknowledging him. “Come on. Don’t be like that. It’s Christmas,” he mocked.

“Why did you do that for him?” I asked without realizing.

“What? The ticket?”

“Yes, the ticket,” I murmured.

“Why not? Your dad worked hard and I just thought he deserved to go back home.” He shrugged as he started the car.

“Thank you for doing that for him.” I smiled as I felt my heart well up.

“I didn’t do it for him. You did. I figured you’ll play nice tomorrow since it’s our first real outing as a married couple,” he taunted.

The very moment I felt my heart grow for him, it shriveled into nothing the instant he spoke. “Yeah, I’ll play nice,” I bit out coldly.

I stood in my overstocked closet, filled to capacity with clothes Daimon had prepared for me. He deemed it Addie-worthy. One side was filled with casual clothes like jeans and shirts, while the other was filled with evening-wear such as cocktail dresses and evening gowns. He told me I would need them since I was married to such a big shot. Not to mention the entire corner of my side of the closet was filled with expensive lingerie. I mean the type that cost a mortgage payment.

I walked over to my dresses and thumbed through them. I noticed each dress was just at the right height to hide my scar. I kept searching, finally stopping at one I thought was just right. The color was ivory and the corset underneath was nude. It was a beautiful dress with a fitted bodice made of lace and a ruffled skirt of various lengths. I matched them with a stunning pair of ivory sling backs. After following the YouTube instructions of how to create a smoky eye effect, and was convinced I looked presentable, I emerged from the closet. But this time, I wasn’t seeking Daimon’s approval. I learned not to do that anymore. I smiled, happy with my efforts as I looked into the full-length mirror that was just outside of the closet.

“Are you coming?” shouted Daimon from downstairs.

Drako barked. I pretended he was telling him not to rush me. Drako came running to my side and wagged his tail at me as he walked me down the stairs. Daimon was on the phone, speaking angrily to someone on the other end. I shrugged it off. It was normal to see him that way. I walked around to the kitchen wanting some water. I figured at the rate he was arguing on the phone, it would take a while.

“I said that the merger will happen next week in England. Don’t even try to push it back again,” he shouted. He turned around and finally found me as I stood in the kitchen. His face dropped and his eyes went liquid blue. “I’ll call you back,” he said and hung up.

“What?” I hesitated and took a step back, looking down at myself.

“Addie…you look…” He stopped and inched closer.

“If the dress is too much, just tell me and I’ll change.” I instantly felt uncomfortable, not knowing if I was dressed correctly.

I played with my dress, straightening out the various layers that made up the bottom half. Daimon surprised me by lifting my chin and kissing me softly. I put my hand on his chest and pushed him back.

“What the hell do you think you are doing?” I cried out.

“I couldn’t help it. You look beautiful.” He smiled his devilish grin.

“Just don’t do it again,” I said stiffly. I hated how much each kiss he planted on me made me want more, pushing me deeper into a world, I knew logically, I could never be a part of.

“I can’t help it if my lips seek you out.” He smiled, amused at my behavior.

“Well, help it and stop.” I walked past him, but he stopped me, placing his hand onto the cabinet to block my path.

“It’s only a matter of time,” he whispered slowly in my ear, taunting me.

“We’ll see,” I said grimly.

God! He was infuriating thinking he knew me. The thing was, the more he acted like that, the more I wanted to prove him wrong.
Daimon did not control my body or my mind, let alone my heart.

“Move your arm,” I seethed.

“Sure thing, Addie. Whatever you want.” Daimon moved his arm in an exaggerated way and laughed. “Come on. The driver is waiting downstairs for us.”

***

We stopped in front of Gotham Hall. The tall Corinthian columns were lit up with a pale purple, contrasting with the dark sky around us. Daimon stepped out of the car and held out his hand waiting for me. I couldn’t help but think this was all part of his orchestrated plan. He always got out first and always held out his hand for me waiting. He beckoned with his fingers. I guessed I was taking too long. Finally relenting, I took his hand. He helped me out of the car and intertwined our fingers together.

“Earn your keep, my beloved Addie.” He brushed his other hand across my cheek; he then leaned in and kissed me on my forehead. I stifled the feeling of being a whore. Daimon ruled his world with money and was the only thing that ever made any sense to him.

“Daimon?” We heard through the crowd as we walked to the large golden doors of the hall.

“Hey, Rafe.” Daimon took him by the shoulder and squeezed it.

“What? No handshake?” Rafe laughed.

“I can’t let go of my wifie’s hand. We’re still in the honeymoon stage,” he said as I tried to yank it away, but Daimon held on tightly, not letting me go.