Page 12 of We Are All Sinners

“I’m going to put her in the trunk of her car and take her to Jeffs house, who she has apparently been fucking for a while. Then I’m going to take them both out to the bayou and feed them to my gators. Still wanna help, Thor?” I laugh, using the nickname I gave Liam at fifteen, telling them the truth even though they think I’m joking.

“Ahh, my little pipsqueak. I’ve missed you!” Liam bellows, spreading his arms wide, only to be met with a death glare from me. He lets out an exaggerated huff, rolling his eyes. “You’re obviously not as much fun anymore.”

“Oh, I’m sure she’s still a blast. I’m all in for some bayou shenanigans—how about you guys?” Noah grins, glancing back at his friends as my jaw practically hits the floor. “Remember those epic nights when we’d get plastered while the little witches played with their crystals and gators?”

These mother fuckers don’t even look deterred in the least by my admission. It’s been at least ten years since I have laid eyes on any of them, and it’s like I still know them. It’s as if what I just saw in my vision was yesterday.

Jinx moves over to Brixon and starts moving back and forth over the front of his legs. He bends down, picks him up, and starts petting him. “He loves me, huh little buddy?” he asks my cat, surprising the shit out of me. Jinx hates everyone except me.

“Don’t get used to it.” I say as I stick my tongue out at Jinx. Little fucking traitor. That’s the guy that’s going to get me killed cat! Familiar my ass. I grumble to myself in my head.

He is also the man that I am supposed to have been with all this time. He was… Is the love of my life. I chew on that thought for a moment, trying to still make sense of what just happened.

My head hurts from all the images that keep popping in without warning. Images that are memories of us. How could I forget him?

“Fine, load her up in the trunk of the Tesla out back while I gather a few things I will need to keep them sedated. Oh, leave your cell phones here. We don’t want to be traced today.” I sigh as I move towards the front of the store.

I turn back to look at my old friends as they place their phones on my desk and snatch up Brook’s lifeless body off the floor, like she weighs nothing for the two of them.

Noah helps Liam toss her over his shoulder, as she lets out a slight groan getting thrown around like a sack of potatoes.

They move out of eye and ear shot so I move to grab what I need quickly as Brixon follows me around, watching my every move.

Why did I agree to let them come to the bayou with me? I never let anyone go there unless I plan to kill them, except Emily.

For some reason, I know I can trust Brix. I loved him and trusted him with my life back then. I feel the love I felt then, only stronger now. Apparently, I feel enough for this man to die for him.

I felt his anguish at my death as he clung to my body, I hung limp in his arms as I tried to give him one last smile.

Fuck it’s been ten years? Really?

“So, were you spelled to, or were you in on it, and left me willingly?” I look back at him, not able to control my voice as it cracks slightly.

Not knowing is what is killing my soul at the moment. Could he have just left me?

“The spell lost its power the moment I locked eyes with you the first day we moved into the house next door,” he says, his gaze dropping as he picks up a black tourmaline crystal. I can’t help but smirk at his choice. “This is your favorite. You gave me one for my nineteenth birthday, made into a keychain. I didn’t realize why until I saw you again, but I’ve carried it with me ever since.”

He sets the crystal down and pulls out his keys from his pocket, dangling the beautiful stone from a fleur-de-lis attached to the silver key ring.

“I remember making that for you. I added my own protection spell specifically for you on the fleur-de-lis that I made to matchthe Saint symbol. I saw your dad’s tattoo and remembered your mom telling me what the symbol meant to the Saint getting it before their wedding night. I wanted you to have a symbol for our first time to make it as special for you as it was for me.” I swear his eyes light up at my revelation, remembering the most special night of my life.

A night I forgot about for ten years.

Now I know why I felt the way I did about what I thought was my first time back in college. Now that I have the memory of my first time, I don’t know what to think or how I feel about the other people I have been with over the years. I didn’t even have feelings for that guy or any of them, not that there are many. I was such a different person with Brixon than I have been without him.

“I remember that night too,” he says, his voice softening. “Honestly, I haven’t thought about anything else since I saw you. I’ve been trying to get your attention ever since, Evie. It’s like you were completely oblivious to everything around you. I followed you home every night, watched you through your bedroom window—reading, dancing, scribbling your naughty little thoughts in that pretty leather journal of yours. You’re obviously not in a relationship, though even if you were, it wouldn’t have mattered. We both know you’re mine. You always have been, and you always will be.” He gives me a smoldering look that I remember all too well.

“Heart and soul, till we are ghosts.” His eyes lock with mine again and I start to melt. I remember our vows to each other that night, the night it all fell apart. The guys were there, withCami and Charlie. We were all getting drunk in the cemetery and decided to take the party down to my gran’s childhood home in the bayou to give us a makeshift kind of wedding.

The bayou is where my mama and gran were able to continue to practice and carry on our traditions. I grow all of my herbs down there and take care of that area of the gator conservation that has been in our family for generations.

“Come on let’s go before the chick wakes up.” He offers, letting out a sigh. I wish I knew what he was thinking.

Do I trust him after all this time? Is this my destiny that I’m somehow supposed to blindly fulfill without question?

“Wait!” I grab a blank piece of paper and sharpie, writing in big letters, closed for inventory, and hold it up to show Brix. I get the tape and rush to the front door, slapping it on, and make sure the door is still locked.

“Good idea.” He smiles, shaking his head.

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