Page 26 of Perfect Sin

I shake my head emphatically. “No, we take care of each other.”

Male pride is a fragile thing. It isn’t like we have another choice, we let our apartment go after it was broken into by my father’s goon squad.

I slump back against the seat, a worry I hadn’t given much thought to creeps in to join my still over-anxious mind. With all the concern about getting Sin back and dealing with Damien’s mood swings, I’d somehow forgotten we took out an entire team of my father’s soldiers when they came for us. That didn’t seem like the kind of infraction he’d ignore forever.

Then there were the anonymous texts I’d been receiving. I decided to block the sender after Sin went to sleep last night. He’d suffered enough in the last few days, and sharing this with him would only be a burden. Since we were heading out of state, I hoped to put it behind us and never have to bother him with a past I can’t seem to outrun.

For a long time I’ve been able to lie to myself, I don’t think I can handle having Sin know the truth. I know he would understand, but then I’d have to acknowledge it myself. I’m not ready to do that.

“What caused that line to appear between your eyes?” Sin asks, smoothing my furrowed brow with his finger.

I grab onto the first problem my mind is trying to unravel. “Why hasn’t Damien done anything about the guards we took out?”

He exchanges a look with Lucien. “We’ve been talking about that actually. It’s hard to say what he’s thinking. On one hand he doesn’t really care about the men who do his dirty work. Other than Lucien and I, the others have always been treated as disposable. But we can’t let our guard down. It’s likely he’s just trying to make us complacent and will act when he no longer needs any of us.”

“He constantly underestimates us,” Lucien adds. “We will never trust him and let him close enough to stab us in the back.”

“Does he know where this house is?” I ask.

Lucien shrugs. “Probably. This time we’re going to play the same game he is. Keep your enemies close, as they say.”

“Are we going straight to the house, or would you like to make a stop at the hospital?” Holbrook asks.

“Hospital,” Lucien decides for all of us.

* * *

Agent Marks dropsus off in front of the hospital, and Holbrook accompanies us inside. Inside the elevator he pushes the button for the third floor. The three of us follow him down a mint green corridor, as he clearly knows what room Teddy is in.

Teddy is sitting with the bed elevated slightly. There are wires crisscrossing him hooked to several monitors. Lucien moves quickly across the room and takes the hand without the IV inserted.

“I’m glad to see you’re still alive,” Teddy says.

“Me? You were the one dumb enough to get shot. Don’t do that shit again,” Lucien admonishes.

“Well, there go my plans for the weekend,” Teddy jokes.

“I’m glad you haven’t lost your sense of humor. Where is everyone else?” I ask him.

“Class. I had to kick them out when I woke up a few days ago. They all looked like they’d been here the entire time. Hovering isn’t going to get me out of here faster. How are you all back?”

“Long story, but the CliffsNotes version is that my biological parents are assholes and tried to end my marriage by locking me in an institution,” Sin says.

“And Blackthorne?” he directs to Lucien.

“He’s acting like all is forgiven.”

Teddy shudders. “Well, that’s terrifying.”

Shoes squeak on the linoleum, and Shane walks in the room. He holds up a styrofoam cup. “I brought you a shake.”

“Can you have that?” I ask, worrying about him.

“Yeah, none of my vital organs were hit, but I haven’t had much solid food since I’ve been in a coma. They say I’ve got to take it slow.”

“I’m so sorry, Teddy. I hate that you were hurt. How can you look at us, knowing it was my father who shot you?” I ask him.

His teasing expression slips away. Here is the serious Teddy we only recently got to know. “Because your father did this, not you. Believe me, I understand the misplaced guilt, but I don’t want to be judged for all the vile things my father did. I don’t hold any of this against you.” He gestures to the machines surrounding him.

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