Page 34 of Sinister

“What the fuck are you talking about? I’m not fucking sleeping with her. I haven’t fucking touched her and neither has Chaser. I don’t know what the fuck Sin is playing at but he’s trying to rile you up. Baby, look at me.” He cups my face in his hands and makes me look up at him. “I’m telling you the truth. We haven’t fucking touched her. Sin is a cunt for spreading bullshit.”

I want to believe him so badly but I don’t know who to believe anymore. Sin has buried himself in my head and I need to get him out before he drives a huge wedge between me Rome and Chaser.

“Come here.” He pulls me back into him, gripping me extra tightly. “Please believe me.”

Wrapping my arms around his waist, he feels safe and familiar, something I need right now. “Sin is a cunt,” I mumble into his t-shirt.

Gently rubbing my back, I feel Rome’s heart beating hard against his chest as he holds me against him. “I don’t know why he does this shit continuously but I’m sorry and no one is going to judge you for what he said before at breakfast.”

“What the fuck does it matter anyway, it’s not true. Let them all think whatever the fuck they want.” I run my finger over the bruising and redness hiding under my permanent rosary beads around my wrist.

He pulls me away from him as confusion washes over his features. “What do you mean?” A flash of anger or is it jealousy flits behind his eyes, disappearing as quickly as it appeared as he waits for me to elaborate.

“I lost my v-card. You’re off the hook.” Unwrapping my arms from around him, I pat him on the chest dismissively, because as much as I’ve come to terms with how I lost my virginity, I still would rather it have been Rome. Walking away from him back toward the house, I see the guys all heading to the garages, when Rome takes a few large strides and grabs my arm again to try to stop me.

“Monroe, what the fuck?”

I stop and turn to glance up at him, his beautiful features glowing in the sunlight. “I’m not talking about it right now. Just leave it, please.”

“No, I will not leave it.” He steps around in front of me to shield me from the guys and moves so his stomach brushes against me. He looks lost, unsure if he believes the words I just spluttered out so carelessly.

“Rome,” I whisper. Looking up into his intense stare, I feel a sudden heaviness as the reality of it not being him weighs on my heart. “Please, not now.” I shake my head before stepping around him and heading back to the house to grab my bag.

Alistair stands with my backpack held firmly in his hand on the bottom step. He winks as I approach and holds out my bag to me. “Thanks.” I smile at his generosity.

“Don’t take any notice of the shit that comes out of his mouth. If you want, you can ride with us today, I’ll make sure he keeps his mouth shut.” Alistair indicates toward the garages.

Draping the bag over my shoulder, I see Sin casually walking out of the front door with Charlotte beside him. He smirks at me as they pass, and I watch them saunter off to the garage and head to separate cars. “Thanks for the offer, but I think it will just cause more unnecessary tension.”

“My offers are always there if you need. Come find me on campus and I’ll show you where the best coffee is.” He throws me a genuine smile before he follows the other guys to his car.

Rome is still standing in the middle of the driveway, his hands entwined together behind his head, staring up at the blue sky. He’s still like a statue, only the up and down movement of his chest as he breathes shows he’s not turned to stone out there.

“Rome!” Chaser calls out from behind me. “What did you say to our boy?” Chaser drapes his arm around my shoulders and tows me toward the garage.

“Nothing important.” My tone implies differently, and Chaser squeezes me into him before letting go and jogging across the driveway to go get Rome.

Climbing into the car, Sin is already in the driver’s seat playing with his ear buds, drowning out the world that he causes so much chaos in. Ignorance is bliss in that thick skull of his. I flip him the finger because I know he wouldn’t hear me if I told him exactly what I thought of him right in this instance. I don’t know how he knows what I did but he returns the gesture before starting the car and revving it. The loud popping of the exhaust is unnecessary, and I roll my eyes at his immaturity.

Rome climbs into the front, obviously avoiding me and Chaser slides in beside me. Taking out my phone, I scroll aimlessly as we drive to campus in the cavalcade of black Range Rovers, passing fields of lush dense forest and heading toward our first official day of classes.

Chapter eighteen

Rome

Istalk after Sin as he casually walks to his first class, his asshole behavior not even on his radar anymore. He doesn’t acknowledge that I’m fucking pissed, to him I’m probably just in one of my moods again.

He stops abruptly and turns to look at me. “What’s up your ass?” He takes out one of his ear buds so he can hear me reply.

“Why the hell do you need to keep being a prick to her?” My nostrils flare as the anger in me simmers.

“Fuck, not this again.” Sin rolls his eyes, exasperated that I’ve interrupted his quiet walk to class.

“Yes, this again. Leave her the fuck alone already. Can’t you just try to play nice?.”

He narrows his eyes at me. “That’s not how this works and you know it. She needs to learn her place here at Sable Lakes. Gone is the free ride little miss princess has had all these years.”

“Free ride,” I interrupt, allowing myself to chuckle at his stupid description. “You’ve tortured her since she moved in with you.”

---