Page 36 of A Sinner's Saint

I pick up my phone and dial Vin’s number. It rings out and goes through to his voicemail. After leaving a message for him to call me back, I send him a text.

Me:

Is everything okay? Are you coming?

The little bubbles pop up to indicate he’s replying.

Vin:

I can’t tonight. I’ll see you tomorrow.

Me:

Why? Where are you?

Vin:

At home. I’m just going to stay here tonight.

I should give him space, right?The second the question pops into my head, I know the answer.Hell no.

He does not need space. He’s distancing himself. I could feel him pulling away in the car before he dropped me off. I knew something wasn’t right.

I jump out of bed and quickly throw on a pair of shorts and a hoodie. Slipping my feet into a pair of slides before I pick up my phone and wallet. And make it all the way to the front door before my mum sees me.

“Where do you think you’re going at this hour?” Her voice has me spinning around.

“A friend needs me, Mum. I have to go and help them,” I tell her honestly, leaving out the part that that friend is a boy and a De Bellis boy at that.

“Take my car, and text me when you get there and when you’re leaving,” she says.

My mum is a loyal friend. She’s always drilled into me that friendships take work, but they’re worth everything if both parties are invested. She’s still best friends with the same group of girls from high school. So, when I tell her a friend is in need, she’s more than willing to let me go and help that friend. Because that’s what a decent person would do.

And right now, Vin is in need.

I know he doesn’t sleep if I’m not in the bed. He gets a couple of hours of rest at most every night when he climbs through my window.

“Thanks, Mum. I’ll text you. Love you.” I kiss my mother’s cheek as I take the keys from her hand.

I park on the side of the street and look over at Vin’s house. Then I take a deep breath, jump out of my car, and walk up to the gate. I’m not stupid. I know there is no way of sneaking into this place. Well, not for me anyway. Maybe a skilled ninja or assassin could do it.

Huh, if architecture doesn’t pan out for me, maybe I could go to ninja school. Is that a thing?

Two big, burly men in dark suits step out from nowhere, appearing in front of me. “Are you lost?”

“No, I’m here to see Vin.” I smile, thinking maybe politeness will help my chances.

The men give each other a knowing look and then turn their glares back to me. “Is he expecting you?” one of them asks.

“Are you guys twins?” I blurt out randomly, because the question is seriously on my mind right now. They look the same, dress the same. They have the same mannerisms too.

“Is Vin expecting you?” The second man repeats the question I failed to answer.

“No, but if you tell him Cammi is here, he’ll want to see me,” I attempt to explain.

“Yeah, they all think that.” The first guy laughs.

“Let her in.” This comes from a deep, gravelly voice behind the gate.

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