Page 22 of Blind Sin

“You bulldozed her into it,” I argue. “She said no and then you twisted some bullshit memory and she couldn’t say no. She was being polite, not that I expect you to understand what polite means.”

“Fuck lady,” Mercier spits out. “You’ve done nothing but bark orders and bitch and moan about some perceived wrongdoing to your sister since we got to the island, but we’re the ones that saved her. Did she look sacred of us to you? Answer honestly.”

I grab some milk from the fridge, slamming the fridge door, then pour a liberal measure into the pan before setting it to boil. Hot chocolate is the only thing I know how to make and it’s the only thing that calms me down. “I know you did something to her,” I say, leveling my finger at him. When we were in Alexander’s apartment, she said that you couldn’t save her from yourselves. What exactly did she mean by that?” I fold my arms and glare at Nolan, then cast my glance over to Dacre who looks like he’s staring a little too hard at his computer screen. “And while we’re on the subject, what do you mean by calling her Sinful?” I can barely get the name out of my mouth without it twisting in my stomach. Sin was Josh’s name for me. And now the hateful name has been twisted and is being used on the least sinful person I’ve ever met.

“We thought she was you, remember, and as far as I’m aware, you’ve hardly led the life of a nun.”

Anger seeps into my veins. I bring out the cocoa powder and slam that down onto the counter. A huge plume of brown powder escapes the box covering me. I cough as it coats the inside of my mouth. Worse still, I see the pair of them smirking at me.

“Let me help you,” Nolan offers.

“I don’t need your help,” I lie, but as I run my hands under the tap, the cocoa powder turns to sludge. I turn the stove off. “I’m going to the bathroom, but this isn’t over.”

In the bathroom, I look at my reflection. I look like a cartoon, with brown powder coating my face. I peel my t-shirt off, throwing it on the floor and wash my face. After I’m clean, I stare at my reflection again. Nolan knew he was hurting me when he forced that confession out of Lauren.

“Are you alright?”

I turn my head quickly to see Lauren at the bathroom door. I quickly pick up my t-shirt so she doesn’t trip over it and throw it into the hamper.

“I covered myself from head to toe in cocoa powder. I slammed it down a little too hard.”

He mouth curls up at the edges then drops. “I’m sorry I said I didn’t want to look like you, Lucy. I didn’t mean it that way.”

I get it,” I say, even though it hurts. “Neither of us wants to look like the famous Lucinda Waldgrave.” I reach out and touch her blue hair. “I actually like your hair. And Nolan was right. You are brave. A hell of a lot braver than me. I don’t want to be like our father.” My voice breaks and I’m glad she can’t see the tears running down my face. I never cry.

“You aren’t him, Lucy. You’re nothing like him. You love me.”

“More than anything, but I’m struggling to let you go. Every decision I’ve made in my life has been centered around you. Every job I took, I took with you in mind. Every thought I had was about you. Everything I ever did, I did because I wanted to save you, but now you’re safe…” I sigh, my shoulders slumping slightly under the weight of my next words, “I don’t know what to do.”

She pulls me into a hug and I know she must be able to feel the wetness on my cheeks.

“I don’t want to be let go of. I’ll always be half of your heart as you’re half of mine, but I want to learn who I am too.”

I sniff and pull back. “I think Nolan teaching you to swim would actually be a good idea... Just don’t tell him I said that. He’s enough of an arrogant prick as it is.”

She snorts. “I can’t argue with you there.” She intertwines her hands in mine and after another wipe of my face, we both head out to the communal space. Alexander is sitting looking at his lap top and Nolan is in the kitchen. A delicious smell permeates the air.

Nolan ladles hot chocolate into two mugs. “This is the best hot chocolate you’ll ever taste.”

I take a sip and, as much as I don’t want to admit it, he’s right.

“I added nutmeg, cinnamon and thick cream, plus my own secret ingredient.”

“He jerked off into it,” Alexander shouts out.

I stick out my tongue.

“You are such a dick!” Nolan shouts back at him. He looks to my raised eyebrow. “It’s a dash of chili powder.”

Next to me Lauren smirks and sips at the hot chocolate.

I watch as she walks across the room, expertly stepping around the furniture. We’ve been here less than twenty four hours and she already knows where everything is. Maybe she is ready to learn about the world, just not in the way these three...two want to show her. I’ve not seen Nix all day and maybe that’s for the best. My feelings towards him are complicated at best, and it’s clear he hates my guts.”

I sidle up to Nolan who’s now washing up the pan.

“I’m not my sister’s keeper,” I admit. “But that doesn’t mean I won’t be looking out for her. What I said on the boat stands. Whatever you did to her in the week she was with you is history, but there won’t be any repeat performances.”

“That girl is going to do what she wants, whatever you say. You know that right?”

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