Page 45 of Perfect Sin

With my free hand, I cradle the back of her head and press our foreheads together. I hear the groan of the coffee table and see Lucien moving away out of the corner of my eye.

“It says you’re human. I can’t pretend to understand how you felt all alone at that school, vulnerable and preyed upon by a predator. I wish I had known, so I could have taken care of him for you. Don’t feel bad he’s gone. Now he’ll never hurt you or anyone else again.”

My heart starts to race as my own history plays in my mind. She pulls her face back, and I fall into the blue pools of her eyes. Her pain mirrors mine. “I understand,” I whisper.

She closes her eyes, but the connection between us swells. I’d love nothing better not to share this with her. I’d always felt alone in this trauma. Having someone use your body for their own pleasure to give them a sense of power, steals something from your soul. You can survive it, but there will always be a part of you that’s altered. It can make you stronger, but the cost of that strength is high.

I’d give anything to be alone in this again. If I were, she wouldn’t know what it was like to have to retreat into yourself to make it to the next moment. It doesn’t matter that this all happened before we knew each other.

Everyone gives us a moment to exist in our trauma. Silently, we absorb each other’s pain and offer wordless reassurance. After several heartbeats the corner of her lip curves up, and she leans forward again and kisses me. It’s a quick brush of her lips against mine, and then it’s over. We’re both reassured we have time to explore and live in this love I never thought I’d have. For now it’s enough.

She slides off my lap and sits pressed against me. “They’re all trying to use us for their own ends. I’m not naive. I don’t trust my father even a little bit, but right now his manipulations have worked in our favor. We’ve got to continue to search for any evidence we can find on him, but we’ve got to handle the immediate situation as well.”

Shane drops his head. “I can’t believe I’m going to say this. Normally, I’d want to do anything to stop someone who sells people. But we can’t stand back and let Whitmore keep trying to split you apart.”

“Your support means a lot,” I begin. “But you don’t have to be involved in this. It’s not going to be pretty, and we don’t know what Arthur is going to throw at us next.”

Ford and Shane share a look. Their long friendship evident in the way they communicate with one glance. “We’re in. You’re in our group now, and we look after our own.”

Footsteps shuffle down the hallway. “I hope you aren’t planning on keeping me out of this as well,” Ted says, alerting us to his presence.

“What are you doing up? You’re supposed to be in bed,” Lucien chastises.

He smirks. “Why, you going to play nurse?”

Lucien chuckles. “I’m always the doctor. Get Amber over here and we’ll nurse you back to health.”

Ford groans. “I can’t believe I keep learning more and more about you. How is there more to learn?”

Ted shrugs then winces when the movement stretches his abdomen. “I’m a deep well, my friend.”

“All right, deep well, have a seat and let’s strategize,” Ford says.

“Has anyone come up with anything yet?” Ted asks. He studies each of our faces. When no one offers any suggestions he continues. “Isn’t there a fundraiser Blackthorne is throwing?”

“Make a public appearance with Raven and Damien, is that what you’re suggesting?” I clarify.

“Will that work?” Lucien asks.

“It probably won’t be enough, but it’s a start,” Ted responds.

I look at the time on my phone. “Damien is never in bed at this time. I’ll give him a call.”

“Put him on speaker,” Lucien says while it’s ringing.

I do as he asks and set the phone on the table. It takes a few rings, but then we hear him answer.

“Sin, good to hear from you.”

“Arthur sent two guys after your daughter tonight.”

“I hope you took care of it.”

“I killed one of them,” Raven speaks up.

“You are so much more than I ever gave you credit for.” The pride is obvious in his voice. Too bad he’s proud of the wrong things.

“Is that why you’re calling? Do you need me to get to the other one, because I’ve trained both you and my son to handle these matters yourself.”

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