Page 18 of Perfect Sin

“Lucien and I had a disagreement, and he stopped answering my calls. You’ve since learned there were some threats against us due to my campaign, and I panicked. When you saw the news, you had your brother call me. I had just finally learned who Sin’s parents were and I reached out to reconnect them when you let me know the two of you eloped.”

“How do I explain the fact he’s been staying with his parents and I’ve been here?”

“You encouraged him to go so he could have some time alone to get to know his parents. You had no idea they wouldn’t let him leave, or that they’d drug and abduct him to keep the two of you apart.”

“Sounds like you thought of everything,” I tell him.

“I always do, Daughter, but now it’s up to you to sell it. Remember what’s at stake here. I’ve already had Lucien email the station a copy of the security footage. They’re having it authenticated and said they’ll air it with the interview.”

“How is this going to help us find him? I doubt the people holding him aren’t already aware he’s being held against his will.”

His expression reflects his boredom with my question. “I’m taking care of that in other ways. I’ll have his location by tomorrow. Sooner if Whitmore calls to check in after the broadcast. What you are doing is making sure they can’t try this again.”

“And helping you win an election,” Lucien comments.

Damien smirks. “There’s also that.”

One of his guards appears in the doorway. “Sir, the reporter has arrived.”

Rising, Damien straightens his suit jacket and tugs on his cuffs. “Good. Have all the guys make themselves scarce and tell the house staff to show him in here.”

A small crew filters into the room. Lights are set up and the producers start taking measurements of the lighting to make sure everything will look right as tripods are set up for filming.

The reporter is a well known veteran, known for being perpetually skeptical. He enters the room, and offers his hand. “Hello, Ms. Blackthorne.”

“It’s Mrs. Sinclair actually,” I correct him.

The corners of his mouth turn down slightly, and I sense he’s more interested in uncovering the potential brainwashing than an abduction.

“Mr. Blackthorne, would you mind if I interview your daughter without your presence? It’ll hardly serve to dispute the rumors you’ve engaged in persuasion if you are hovering while I speak to her.”

Damien shrugs nonchalantly. “She’s an adult. If she’s comfortable speaking to you alone, I have no issues with it.”

“Raven, may I call you Raven?” he asks.

I nod.

“Good. I’m Peter Collins, I’m with the Cable Broadcasting Network. We’re just going to act like we’re having a chat. Try and pretend the cameras aren’t present. Do you mind if your father isn’t present during the interview?”

“I don’t mind. Can Lucien stay?”

“Lucien, I was told Jackson is your best friend, is that correct?”

“Yes. We’ve been like brothers since we met. It’s still sinking in that he is actually my brother now.”

“Very well. I have some questions for you as well,” Peter agrees.

Peter takes the seat across from us. All three of us are in view of the camera. Once we’re settled, and Damien has left, he gives a nod to the cameraman, and a red light blinks on.

He faces the camera and addresses the audience who will watch this segment on his evening show in a couple of hours. “Tonight we are joined by Raven Sinclair and Lucien Blackthorne. The race for the governor’s seat of Illinois has heated up with each side throwing wild accusations. We’re here to get after the truth.”

Once his tagline is delivered, he turns back to face us. “Raven, it’s been alleged your marriage to Jackson Whitmore was brought about by your father’s influence. What do you say to that?”

I fight the urge to roll my eyes. “Honestly, it sounds like a crazy conspiracy theory. What purpose would it serve to brainwash someone into getting married? Setting aside the fantastical nature of how it would even be accomplished, we didn’t even know who Jackson’s parents were when we ran off together.”

I hate calling him Jackson. It’s his name, but it represents the person he feels he should have been. It’s the name he used as an alias. He’ll always be Sin to me.

“Please explain what you mean when you say you ran off together,” Peter urges.

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