Page 30 of Manacled Hearts

What did I hope to achieve?

All I got is confirmation that I’m a sick fuck.

I hoped that when it was just us two, when she was that close to me, when I could touch her, that I would see I’ve been imagining everything. Over-thinking the horrible thoughts I’ve been having about her.

There are many reasons why someone like me should not dare even think of someone like her, but to add our age difference on top of it all… it’s disgusting.

What the fuck is wrong with me?

I was wrong. I was so goddamn wrong. What I felt was worse than what I imagined. Even my name on her lips sounded a thousand times better than in my dreams.

I slam my hands on the vanity, barely able to gaze at myself in the mirror.

How could I? I fucked my way through every pussy in Queenscove. I’m all kinds of disgusting and dirty. But having Evelyn Shaw haunt me, is even fucking worse.

Turning the faucet on, I let it run cold for a minute before I splash some of the water on my face.

Okay. I can do this. I can stop.

There are ways to distract myself.

After all, she’s just a random girl we’re helping. I’ve had more women than I can count, and I barely remember their names or faces. Yet I’ve had them in so many memorable ways.

I’ve only ever looked at Evelyn. She’s not going to linger in my mind for long.

That’s it. I’ll focus only on helping her. She did say she doesn’t want to impose for too long. I’ll give her an incentive to leave quicker than planned.

She’s not going to refuse me. Not if she was serious about what she said.

I’ll offer her more if that will help convince her. I’ll fucking give her everything to get her out of Queenscove. Out of my goddamn sight.

I take a few extra minutes in the bathroom, and when I finally walk out, self-assured and with a brand new plan, I find the house completely empty. Shifting my gaze past the floor to ceiling windows, I notice Mamaw June outside, but there’s no little human with her. And no Evelyn either.

They left.

That’s what you wanted, you asshole. You wanted her gone.

Yeah… I did.

Movement stirs from the patio, and I curse the disappointment when Carter walks in, stepping toward me.

“What?” I ask when he doesn’t say anything.

His silence pisses me off sometimes.

“I’m asking The Ghost to come to Midnight tomorrow. I need to find out if he’s heard anything after that whole unsavory business with O’Rourke, Holt, and Boseman. Enough time has passed, and things might start to stir again.”

“Sounds good,” I agree.

Jonathan Reese, aka The Ghost, controls half of the docks and a very lucrative on-ground transport route. A few months ago, Liam O’Rourke, Morrigan’s father, and Holt, her ex-boyfriend, went into business together. They needed what only Jonathan could offer, and that’s where we came in. The man is a recluse, doesn’t do business with just anyone, and we put them in contact. For our own benefit, of course. Morrigan’s hand in marriage was also sold in this partnership between father and boyfriend. She’s Vincent’s first love, and The Serpent wanted her back. A lot of shit went down there. Plus, the containers they needed to shift were supposed to carry ammo and drugs. Some did, but then the children came… and along with them, Evelyn.

In their quest for power, the two men along with Boseman, thought they had what it takes to take down The Sanctum. It was rather funny. They didn’t even make a fucking dent. However, considering what Evelyn shared with us, we’ve concluded that the operation the trio started was part of a much larger partnership. They weren’t doing it alone.

“I think you should get in contact with someone else. Just in case word has spread,” Carter says.

“Who?”

“Your cousin.”

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