Page 56 of Sinister

“I did.”

“It was a little note from Sin for the Marietto clan. A little warning you could say.”

“Why does he cause shit wherever he goes?” I stare out at the darkened lake and wonder if Sass is here yet.

“It’s more complicated than that. It’s family business and Sin doesn’t really get a say when his dad orders us to carry out tasks.”

“So, him upstairs right now has nothing to do with him being a cocky idiot?” I glance at Chaser not believing a word he says.

“No. Not everything Sin does is by choice. You should know this.” Chaser drinks his whiskey and looks at me.

I have been shielded from the mobster aspect of this family, never once was I made to feel like I was unsafe and never was I subjected to any details of their way of life outside the family home. So, learning that Sin’s behavior isn’t solely on him is jarring.

“I’m still not convinced he’s not eating this up.” I shake my head.

“Would I lie to you?”

“Monroe!” Our conversation is disrupted by someone calling my name.

Shifting in my chair, I see Saskia walking toward us with a jug of some sort of alcoholic beverage.

“Hey, baby,” I say as she approaches wearing a stunning azure blue mini dress that shows off her long legs. Her gaze automatically goes to Chaser and then back to me. I pull a chair around for her, so it faces us.

“Thanks. I thought it was you sitting out here by the lake.” She takes a seat and places the jug beside her. “They’re handing these out to everyone. I don’t even know what’s in it.”

Chaser checks his phone and stands up out of his chair. “Sorry, ladies, duty calls.” He leans down and nips at my ear lobe before stealing Saskia’s jug of alcohol and sauntering back into the main house. The feeling of his teeth on my skin makes my whole body come alive.

“Typical,” she scoffs. “Throw back your drink and let’s go get some shots.” She jumps up and holds her hand out for me.

Downing the rest of my drink, I grip her hands and let her haul me out of my chair to make our way back inside. The house is packed and we need to squeeze past dancing bodies to get to the bar.

“This is going to take too long. Let’s go dance.” Saskia drags me into the middle of the dance floor. “I love this song!”

Closing my eyes and letting the beat take over, I dance up against Sass to the deep sounds of Touch Me by Rui Da Silva, the effects of the strobe lights flickering behind my lids. I can feel the bass roll though my body and it’s the most free I’ve felt in a long time.

Arms wrap around my waist and I lean back into whoever is behind me, grinding my ass into them, not caring about anyone or anything. The haunting melody of the music sprinkles goosebumps over my skin and transports me into another world beyond this one. It’s pure magic and I’m feeling every beat in my mind and body when suddenly the person behind me is gone.

Opening my eyes to see the shocked look on Saskia’s face, she grabs me, pulling me away from whatever is going on behind me. I turn around to see Sin with his hand around a guy’s throat, pushing him backward through the crowd. I scan the crowd for Rome or Chaser, but I can’t see them anywhere.

“Fuck.” I turn to Sass, who is preoccupied texting someone on her phone, before I go and chase after Sin.

“Sin!” I shout after him, but the music is too loud for him to hear me. “Fuck.” He’s disappeared somewhere into the labyrinth of this giant fucking house.

I run down a long hallway and turn the corner to find another large lounge area full of people dancing and drinking. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. I need to find him before he does something stupid to that poor guy. My heart thuds inside my brain like a pounding meat cleaver and it's making me feel like I need to vomit.

Turning back down the hallway, I beeline for the end when Sin steps out of a door and stops me in my tracks.

“Where is he?” I try to push past him to get into the room.

“Who?” His hand snakes out, gripping me by the throat.

“Stop playing. Where the fuck did you take him?” I struggle in his tight grip, my hands pull at his fingers wrapped around my throat.

He chuckles, low and depraved like the vile human he is. “He should know not to touch what’s not his.” His voice lowers to a haunting whisper.

“Sin.”

“And who would have thought one dick would make you turn into such a whore.” His hand squeezes and my windpipe protests against his fingers.

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