Page 27 of Blind Sin

“Are you actually planning to hide away for the next few weeks, because you are missing out?” Mercier extends his arms out. “We’re in fucking paradise man. Sun, sand, sea and the two women your cock’s simpering for.”

I stare him directly in the eyes. “I don’t want you touching Lucinda.”

He stands and walks over to the window. “You’re safe on that one. Despite what you think, my dick doesn’t simper after every hot woman.”

“That’s not what you said when you were sticking it in Lauren’s mouth,” I remind him.

“That was different. Sinful is different. Even though you said she was yours right from the start, I could tell she wasn’t. Now the real Lucinda on the other hand. She might as well have your fucking name tattooed across her ass.”

My stomach clenches, though I don’t know why. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

He shrugs. “She’s so fucking into you; I wouldn’t be able to get between her legs with a crowbar. Besides, I've got Sinful now. Why would I want to dip my wick in another man’s pond?”

I give him a dark stare. “How is it that both Lauren and Luce think the sun shines out of your ass, when you have a mouth like a cesspit?”

He shrugs and stands up. “My papaya and guava fruit salad. It’s where it’s at, man.”

18

DACRE

We’ve been on the island for three days and we’re no closer to figuring out what we’re going to do to get out of this shit. Mercier has spent the last three days behaving like a horny teenager, playing some warped game of who will fuck Lauren first and Nix mopes in his room like a fucking ghost.

I check the news articles for the millionth time, trying to glean more information about PLNCO and Peter Waldgrave’s whereabouts, not to mention my parents. There are so many ways this could all blow up in our faces and so far I’ve not had a single idea on how to stop it.

I hit send on a report I made for Letterman and head out to the living area, hoping someone else will come up with some ideas.

Lucinda looks bored as fuck as Mercier reads out more of his wolf book to Lauren, who is listening with a rapt expression on her face.

“Bored with this?” I interject, claiming a seat beside Lucinda.

“I finished it yesterday.” She turns to Mercier. “Is that seriously the only book you have? I’m going stir crazy.”

“I packed in a hurry!” Mercier offers and leans back into Lauren. The two of them look way too cozy together on the sofa, and I wonder how Lucinda is taking the fact her sister is almost leaning on Mercier. I glance up at her. She’s not even looking at the pair of them.

“Have a good swimming lesson this morning?” I ask.

Mercier raises his eyebrows and when he sees that Lucinda’s attention is elsewhere, he waggles his tongue. I don’t even want to know what that means. Yesterday, he fingered her under the pretence of holding her up. I doubt he’d get away with telling her his tongue was a legitimate buoyancy aid. Not that I‘d put anything past Mercier, but with Lucinda there, he’d have a harder time getting away with anything under her watchful gaze.

“Do your parents not read?” Lucinda finally says, settling her eyes back on me. I’ll take anything. Thrillers, cozy mysteries, even Mills and Boon by this point.

“My parents only read the financial newspapers.”

“They sound like a fucking delight,” she says, not bothering to hide her annoyance.

“Oh, they are. Talking about my parents. They are busy right now, but it won’t take them long to figure out there’s someone here on the island.”

I ignore Mercier, rolling his eyes as though none of this matters. He’s not the one who’ll get into shit if we get caught. Just like when we were back at the apartment, I’m the one with everything to lose.

“Nix had to take the boat back to the mainland yesterday before the pool staff came, but who knows who else might show up?”

Lucinda’s eyes brighten at the mention of Nix’s name. The asshole still has a hold on her even though he’s barely deigned to leave his room in three days.

“Take me back to the mainland!”

“What? No.”

“I’m literally going to go insane if I stay here another second,” she pouts. It’s not an expression I’ve ever seen Lauren do and it doesn’t suit Lucinda either. “There’s no TV, no books and I don’t even have my phone.” She twists her head back to the living room. “Lauren? You up for a trip back to the mainland?

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