Devon Grant stood to the side of the dancefloor. He was at a function, Nadia, his wife had organized. He watched her flit around, oblivious to his presence and the absolute pain she inflicted on him a week ago. He recalled it as if in slow motion. They had been to dinner with James Conrad and his wife Cindy. Devon remembered picking up weird vibes from them at dinner, Nadia included. There had previously been signs that Nadia could be unfaithful, but she owned a tech firm worth tens of millions, so he would never find evidence on her electronics. But his gut knew, his life in the Marine Raiders taught him to read the signs of deception. He married her three years ago, they met when she was part of a demo group that displayed a new generation battlefield communications system. He fell in love immediately, she not long after, or so he thought.
Devon had realized he was her toy, her trophy. To her he was just a pretty soldier, she was the rich girl. He was required to make her look good because he was handsome with his dark hair and green eyes. A little over 6'2" with very good muscle definition. Last Friday evening they decided to go home for nightcaps after dinner with James and Cindy, then she shattered him.
"Devon, I am opening up our marriage, for me. James and Cindy are here for me. I require you to be faithful though."
"God Nadia, are you nuts?" he had responded, unable to believe what he heard.
"That is just the way it will be. You sleep in the pool house tonight, maybe for the weekend. Now vanish."
Devon was shocked at how harsh and cold she was. He could not respond, feeling the absolute pain and the rage. He decided to first gain control of himself to avoid killing somebody, but Nadia would eventually pay the price. During the week she was nice, cordial, even hugging him, but it did nothing to assuage Devon. He did his best to not engage her at all, knowing that he had almost no control of his anger. She was pissed that he moved into the pool house. She did try to soothe him by apologizing for the fact that he was hurt, but she kept demanding respect for her decision, or he could leave. Devon knew he would leave with nothing, there was a marriage contract in place and he had no proof of her infidelity. James and Cindy will never testify on his behalf.
None of that mattered, Devon was ready to just leave. Nadia started changing her attitude but refused to fully budge until Devon submitted. She knew she held all the cards.
***
Now he was standing at this fucking party, and he knew he was done. He did not care that he would essentially be a drifter if he left. He knew in ten minutes Nadia will come to him and show the world how deep her love for him was. He felt a presence next to him as he watched Nadia flitting between the guests. James and Cindy had joined him, and James was smug as he scrutinized Devon.
"Don't look so glum sport. We might throw you a bone, but for now, she is mine, and Cindy will attest to that," James boasted.
"Yes Devon, you might be sexy, but James has a nine-inch cock. I would also never want to come back to you," Cindy piped up with her screechy voice.
"She told me a year ago as Cindy guided my cock into her that you are revolting in bed. Do what you want, I will have her either way, and you never will without my permission," James grinned smugly, then folded in half as Devon gut-punched him. Then he lifted James and landed a knee to his groin. James collapsed, gasping for air to scream.
"I am a fucking soldier James. I will kill you in so many ways. But here's the rub, I just decided I am done. Fuck off to your whore, you too Cindy."
Devon saw the instant terror on her face, knowing not even Nadia can protect them if Devon attacked. Devon looked at Nadia, who shot him a cold look and he flipped her off, then walked out. He was waiting for the cab when she caught up with him.
"What the fuck was that, Devon?" She hissed.
"I flipped a cheap whore off. I have no idea what you were thinking Nadia, but I am not the guy you assumed I was. Go back inside to your new toys."
"I won't cut you off Devon, that was just stupid of me," Nadia was was not sounding too certain of her decision now.
"James gloated, saying I will never touch you. Get your surveillance team on me, because I am going to find me a proper fuck, not a dead fish."
"You are going to cheat?" Nadia could believe that Devon would even consider that, and her temper flared.
"It worked for you, a year ago when James fucked you with the help of Cindy. Yes, Nadia, he boasted."
"You have no proof, I will fuck you up in court."
"Doesn't matter, I have character Nadia, something money clearly cannot buy looking at you," He smirked, "And James already fucked you up so I don't care. Fuck Nadia, you have no idea what you did to me."
The cab came and he kissed the top of her head.
"And I still love you so much Nadia, but I will never submit to this."
She looked at him as he got in, and then she watched the cab left. Nadia felt as if everything was wrong. She was stuck on being the queen bee, but watching the cab drive away she knew she had fucked up. She knew she would have to work very hard to get him back.
After getting home Devon packed a duffel bag, he packed his Glock and some survival gear. He then loaded it into his ten-year-old Wrangler, the only thing he owned apart from his clothes and drove out of the gate.
Nadia missed him by minutes as she arrived home. She checked the house and it was evident that Devon was gone. She stood in the spot where his jeep was always parked and started to sob. She had seen at the party that Devon was broken by the cold looks he gave her. She had never in her life seen that, even in the last week. Nadia had already decided to dial it back, then he flipped her off. Now he was gone.
***
For the next week, Devon stayed at a campsite, three hundred miles away. He bought a disposable phone and called his parents, telling them what had happened. He hung up as they started to berate him, and then his mother screamed at what a bad son he was for leaving such a perfect wife. Devon had a feeling Nadia was with them as they spoke. He destroyed the phone and threw it away. By the time Nadia traced it, he would be gone. He was glad he used an internet café in a small town to sort out his finances. Devon did not want Nadia to find him. He also decided that he will cut contact with his family for the foreseeable future.
Devon drifted for three months, surviving on odd jobs. He became good at spotting her surveillance team, generally popping up about a week after he settled in a town. Devon could not believe it, it felt like he was in a surrealistic spy movie. There was no motivation for her to spy on him. But he still missed her, and knew had it been her that came after him directly she might have had a chance provided things changed.
He had no immediate financial needs if he lived frugally, and felt he did not need a plan yet as he took time to heal his emotions. He meandered south, finding himself in Los Angeles eventually.
Devon searched the local papers and managed to secure accommodation with three students. They were a likable bunch, and they appreciated his calm personality. Devon applied for a few jobs and did get some work contracting, nothing permanent. He was content as he managed to pay his rent easily, and was not burdened by an unbalanced marriage. Eight months had passed since Devon had left Nadia.
His roommates, Sam, Michael, and Andrew regularly dragged him out to clubs because he did not drink, and took care of their drunk asses when the evenings ended. In return, they took care of the cooking duties. It was at one of these outings his life took a new direction. He saw a beautiful raven-haired girl and smiled at her and she readily returned it. Devon noticed she had protection in the form of two tree-trunk-shaped guys.
This was normal in LA, so he thought nothing of it until he saw a thirty-something individual that set off a bad feeling. Devon moved closer and saw the man was fixated on the raven-haired girl. He noticed the glint of the blade and reacted, kicking out and connecting with the wrist of the hand holding the blade.
Devon heard the bones snapped and the knife went flying. Devon stepped closer and put the guy in a chokehold, relaxing the hold slightly as he felt the guy lose consciousness. Devon found himself manhandled off the guy, who was out like a light.
The music had stopped, and the bouncers had Devon pinned. The police arrived and found the knife. Devon explained what had happened, and they took his details then let him go, as he blew under the limit. The bouncers apologized, and the owner of the club arrived, giving Devon a lifetime membership.
"I could use another bouncer," he offered when he heard Devon was essentially unemployed.
"I will consider it, let me just finish my current contract. I have three weeks left."
Devon took his roommates home. The next morning Michael woke him.
"There is someone here for you Devon."
"Thanks, please ask them to wait." Devon got up and quickly showered, then put on shorts before walking into the lounge shirtless and barefoot. It was the raven-haired girl, browsing the bookshelf.
"Devon Grant?" she asked.
"Yes, uhm. Sorry, I will put on a shirt."
"No need. I am Tamara Grey. Thank you so much for what you did last night. I knew I had a stalker, and after watching the video footage I could see he would have gotten to me."
"I am just glad you are fine, Tamara."
"What do you do Devon?"
"Coffee first, Tamara, please," Devon begged and she laughed.
"Sure, black with four cubes."
