Page 55 of Blind Sin

My mind races back to the memories of the night before, and a wave of conflicting emotions washes over me. “Yes,” I admit.

“So what's the problem?” he presses, a hint of amusement in his voice. “You had fun. Mercier had fun and Lauren...” he trails off.

“It's not that simple.”

“Dacre,” he says, clapping me on my shoulder. “It is that simple.”

I don’t know what’s gotten into him, but whatever it is, I want some of it.

“We need to get out of here, “I say changing the subject. I’ve been using my father’s credit card and it’s only a matter of time until they figure it out.” I don’t add that I made the biggest purchase today and in doing so, I’ve signed all our death warrants.

“I’ve been thinking that myself. The PLNCO takeover is in two days and once Waldgrave has screwed everyone over in that deal, he’ll set his sight on finding us. I’ve not seen anything on the news about Luce disappearing again so obviously he’s decided to keep it quiet this time, but he’s going to want to have her on his arm when he celebrates the takeover. He must already know where she is or he’s close to finding us.”

I finish the remnants of my drink, the sharp taste of Jack barely registering as I ponder our next move. “What the fuck are we going to do?”

“Do you have access to any more money?”

I shake my head. “I just found out that my parents froze all my accounts. I’ve used their credit card enough that they’ll freeze that soon. All we have is what’s left of the five grand that Mercier stole from the apartment. Last time I checked, we were more than half way through it.

“Shit!” Nix slams his glass down so hard that it smashes and leaves a mark in the wooden table.

“We still have the boat. Sure, my parents will declare it missing, but if we can sell it before that. They are caught up in PLNCO too. I think we have two days to get our shit together. If we can sell the boat on one of the other islands, we can buy flights out of here.

Nix cocks an eyebrow. “And then what?”

“I wish I knew.”

38

LUCINDA

“How did it go?” Lauren's voice is tinged with grogginess as she slowly regains consciousness.

“How are you feeling?” I stroke Lauren’s hair as she comes round. Her eyes are both covered with gauze.

“Okay, I think.” She reaches up to her face to feel the gauze.

“The doc said it went well,” I answer her question. “You were only in there for an hour. I was expecting you to be in there longer, but apparently it’s a quick and easy operation.”

Lauren lifts her hand and I take it, squeezing her palm three times. “She doesn’t know if you’ll be able to see yet. We’ll have to come back to get the gauze taken off tomorrow, and then they’ll know more.” My heart falls a little. “She said not to get our hopes up. You’ve been blind your whole life. You might not be able to see at all and if you do see, it might only be light or fuzzy shapes.”

She gives me a smile. “Fuzzy shapes sounds pretty awesome. Can I go home today?”

It’s weird how she’s calling the island home, but I guess it is the first home we’ve both had. “Yep. She said she’d come back and take a look at you in an hour and then if you feel okay, you can leave.”

She tries to sit up. I help her into a sitting position and plump her pillow. “I have to warn you, she’s given you the most awful pair of dark glasses to wear. Once the gauze comes off, your eyes will be sensitive and if they do process light, it could hurt you. You’ll have to wear them pretty much all the time until your eyes adjust. It could be a few weeks. Months even.”

“Hey, you’re awake,” Nolan says, peeking his head round the door. “The receptionist said that Dacre paid so we can leave as soon as the doc sees you.”

“Lucy just told me.” She reaches out and grips Nolan’s hand. He takes it without question.

Heaviness hits my chest. These men have done everything for us, and it’s only a matter of time before they expect payment. It’s all too apparent how easy she is with them, and she’s so naïve that I’m scared that she’ll feel pressured to do what they want. I’m torn between gratitude and a genuine affection for Nolan and Alexander and the fact that they obviously are attracted to Lauren. How long will it be before one or both decides that they should expect payment for all that they’ve done for us? I already know what payment they’ll want. Every exchange I’ve ever had with a man has been transactional. The times I’ve been offered movie parts for giving head or gotten my father a business deal by letting his friends fuck me. I get a sour taste in my mouth. “I need a drink,” I say standing up. Anyone want anything?”

“I’ll have a water please,” Lauren says. I try not to look at the way Nolan is lovingly stroking the back of Lauren’s hand as I leave the room.

When I get back I find the doc in the room. I hand Lauren a bottle of water as the doctor turns to me. “She seems fine. I won’t know anything about her eyes until I look tomorrow, but the best thing she can do is rest now. Come back tomorrow and I’ll have more answers for you then.”

I thank her then help Lauren get dressed. She places her new dark glasses over the gauze which makes me laugh.

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