Page 101 of Fearless Sinner

“Morgulis septum stasis,” Cillian starts. The words sound like he’s chanting some sort of magical spell.

“What does that mean?”

“It means you’re in danger. It’s a secret language made up by the Creed. If something happens to me, find any of the guys—Seamus, Dante, Virgo, Jaxon—and speak those words.”

“Cillian, you’re scaring the shit out of me. Just tell me what’s going on.”

“Say the words, Chloe. I need to hear you say them so I know you’ll remember them. Morgulis septum stasis.”

“Morgulis septum stasis.” I don’t even know if I’m saying it right but I try, and feel relieved when he nods.

“Good. Anyone you speak those words to is bound by the blood oath to help you and protect you and your family.” He gives my hand a gentle squeeze, then he places a hand at his head and pauses for a moment before he looks back at me. “All of this started with my parents' murder.”

At the mention of his parents, I realize why he wanted to wait to talk to me here. “Your parents?”

“Yes.”

“Even the stuff with Harlan?”

“Harlan was a pawn used to screw with me.”

Cillian continues by explaining what happened to his parents.

He tells me about how Lance attacked his home while Cillian was away. All the staff there were massacred. He explained how his father was shot and butchered, and even though his mother and Olivia managed to escape, they were tracked down too. Then his mother suffered the same fate as his father.

Olivia on the other hand, got into a car accident while she was trying to escape and lost her memory. She didn’t know who she or anyone was and no one could find her for over two years.

By the time Cillian finishes giving me the rundown of what took place, I see exactly how the past broke him. And that he doesn’t talk about his parents because it’s too painful. I understand that so much better now.

I lost my father, and that was painful, but his parents were slaughtered. I’ve never known anyone who’s lost people they love that way.

Cillian then tells me about Lance Polinsky. The faceless man who no one has seen. I had a feeling there was someone seriously dangerous in the background. I was right.

Cillian finishes by filling in the blanks about how Mom and Harlan got mixed up in the tangled web of deceit, lies and corruption.

Harlan has been working with Lance. Then Lance turned around and killed Harlan. The question of why now pulls at the walls of my mind.

Mom is coming out of hospital on Friday. She was worried that Harlan would find out and go to the house. Now she doesn’t have to worry, but I know her. Despite how terrible Harlan was, she’ll feel something when she hears he’s dead. He was her husband for two years.

Cillian sighs, looking haggard, as if the conversation drained some of his life. I wouldn’t be surprised if it did.

“I’m so sorry about your parents.” My voice sounds rough, as if I’ve just woken up.

“Thank you. I was hoping I would never have to share that story with you, but things have taken a turn for the worse.”

I understand what he’s saying and the thinking behind it, but it reminds me again that I’m temporary. “If something hurts you, I want to know about it. I should know no matter how long I’m to be with you.”

He reaches out to cup my face and nods. “You’re right. That’s not what I meant.

“I don’t want you to keep me in the dark.”

“I don’t mean to hurt you.” He sounds like he’s talking about last night.

He must have known I was hurt then, too. I haven’t been able to shake the feeling or that funk. The same funk is messing with my head now and making me think he’s being protective because he feels responsible for me. Not because he loves me.

Then I look into his eyes and I see love. It’s confusing and complicated.

“What’s going to happen now?” Better to change the subject to more pressing matters than my feelings.

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