Page 27 of A Sin So Pure

I roll my eyes.

“It’ll take as long as it takes. You should know better than to make plans. Especially for the first meeting of the quarter.”

“I hate to admit it, but she’s right, Envy,” a deep voice croons from the doorway. “Don’t want Silas to question how serious you are about your position.”

I turn my head to meet the fiery red-brown eyes of Wrath. His sandy-brown hair is pushed back from his forehead, the hairstyle accentuating the sharp angles of his cheekbones and jaw. Akin to his House title, Wrath is ruthless. He took his House seat from his father by force, rather than waiting for the man to die of natural causes.

He sits in the seat at Silas’s right.

Gluttony and Imogen stroll in together, chatting quietly. Gluttony is in a white dress that contrasts the deep brown of her skin; it cuts a sharp V on her torso and flares out into batwing sleeves. Her waist is cinched with a diamond encrusted belt, giving the businesswoman that old-money air.

They part ways. Gluttony heads to her seat next to Envy; meanwhile, Imogen takes hers next to me.

“Hi,” she says.

“Lust,” I say.

Her lips twist at the use of her title, even though it is the standard for these meetings. It’s a sign of respect, but I’ve learned I can use it to tease her too.

“How did earlier go?” she asks.

Imogen grabs her glass, which immediately fills with wine, and takes a sip.

“Earlier?”

“With work?”

“Oh.” I blink. “You know Hattie. Always a whirlwind when she’s on shift. We were training someone new, and they were off put by how much she shadow-walks.”

I hold back a wince at the way the newbie screamed every time Hattie appeared out of nowhere. It wouldn’t be so bad if she didn’t purposefullytryto scare people when they worked.

“So, you really did have things to do,” she says slowly.

My shoulders stiffen, and I reach into my pocket to pull out my cigarette case and lighter.

“Yes, I did,” I say, lighting the cigarette and shoving it into my mouth.

But did Ihaveto be there for their training? No. Hattie could have handled it herself. It’s just close enough to a lie to make me feel a twinge of guilt about it.

I lean back in my chair and let the smoke unfurl around me. Imogen watches, caught in her own trance as I tap ash into my empty glass. Silas’s staff never set out ashtrays.

“Pride, put that shit out. No one wants your secondhand smoke here.” Envy pops our bubble of privacy with his whining. “Some of us are trying to make sure our complexion stays wrinkle free until at least two hundred and fifty,” he continues, head swiveling between the other Sins for agreement.

None are too keen to join his quest. I roll my eyes at his usual dramatics, taking another unbothered drag.

“Lookat Sloth.” Envy points at the old man, and Sloth quirks a brow. “If you keep chain-smoking at these meetings, we’re all going to be wrinkled like him in fifty years.”

My lips thin into a cold smile, that petty little part of me coming alive. I stand, my chair scraping against the marble floor when I push it back. Leaning forward, I bring the cigarette to my mouth. Tucking it between my red-stained lips, I inhale.

And then I exhale.

Right into his face.

I drop the cigarette into his drink for good measure. It makes a short fizzle and bobs in the liquid. He blinks down at it, then up to me, shock written all over his face.

I shrug. “I was done anyway.”

Sloth lets out an unfiltered cackle while Envy stutters. Even Gluttony snorts into her drink. As I sit back down, I catch Imogen holding back her laughter from behind a manicured hand.

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