Page 168 of Awakened by Sin

Lyla bit her lip. “How do you think your mom’s doing with her?”

“She’s fine. Besides, she has Marv and Maddie there too.”

“Right.” Lyla blew out a breath. “It’s still hard to leave her. It’s been almost four months, and I still wake up, thinking that fuck is still out there.”

“Me too,” she admitted.

“What do you do about it?”

“Fuck Marcus’s brains out.”

Thank God for Marcus. She didn’t know how she would have survived the past three months without him. Some days were harder than most, but he had been there for each bump in the road. On the nights when she couldn’t bear to be alone, she went to him on The Strip and worked her demons out in his suite. Since the night of her purge, he had become more dominant and demanding in bed, which suited her just fine.

“I do that to Gavin, but he’s not home in the mornings, that ass,” Lyla said.

“What do you do?”

“I’ve started running on the treadmill.”

“It shows. You look great.”

Lyla smiled and ran her hand though her shiny blond locks. “Gavin thinks we’re ridiculous for throwing a dinner party just because we feel like it.”

“We’re celebrating that fucker’s three-month death anniversary.” It was a struggle for all of them. No one could survive years of death and uncertainty and shrug it off so easily. It was important to regroup and celebrate the small victories. “Although I’m not surprised Gavin made a fuss. He doesn’t have a social gene in his body.” She steered Lyla into a jewelry shop. “I haven’t bought bling in a while.”

They peered in the glass cases and acknowledged the eager saleswoman with polite smiles.

“You should ask Gavin for something,” she said.

“We’re going to Bora Bora in two days,” Lyla said.

“So? He’s a billionaire. He has cash to burn.”

Lyla laughed. “If I start asking him for jewelry, he might get me something daily.”

She bumped her cousin with her hip. “And what’s wrong with that? You need to train him.”

“Train him,” Lyla repeated dubiously. “Do younotknow my husband?”

Carmen grinned. “I’m just saying. He’d do anything for you.”

“He’s nervous about leaving Angel,” Lyla confessed, “but we need a break. Mom’s out of the hospital and wants to be in a home by herself with just her nurses.”

“Your mom is …” She bit back her harsh words.

“I took Nora to see her, but she still turned us away.” Lyla sighed. “I need a break. He does too; he just doesn’t know it. It’ll be great, our first family trip. I hope we can relax and recharge.”

“Bora Bora is just what you guys need, and Mom and Marv will take care of the dogs.” She brought the dogs to Marcus’s house, but it had been a disaster. Beau and Honey were like two giddy elephants. They knocked over tables, vases, and they freaked out about the small yard. Mom and Marv offered to take the dogs, and it had been a much better fit. “They’re going have fun at Marv’s cabin in Utah. They’re leaving for their mini trip right after you.”

“I’m actually looking forward to this,” Lyla said.

“You should. I’d go with you if …”

“If Marcus could come too?” Lyla asked. “Sounds like you’re a couple.”

“Shut up. You know he’s never left Nevada?”

“So you keep telling me.”

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