Page 28 of A Sinner's Saint

“Some people really do have no sense of self preservation,” Dash says, rising to his feet before creeping up behind his friends at a much slower pace.

Vin grabs hold of the guy’s phone, smashing it to the ground before his booted foot stomps on the screen. I don’t hear what he says before his fist slams into the kid’s face. I’m frozen. I know I should get up and do something. Pull Vin back. Something. I don’t want him to get hurt. But all I can do is sit here and watch as Vin and the other guy end up on the ground.

It’s a blur as an all-out brawl breaks out in the cafeteria. Marcus and Dash are both in the throes of fighting. I’m not concerned about them, though. Finally getting to my feet, I push my way through the crowd to find Vin.

He’s on the ground, on top of the same kid. I’m just about to reach out for him when someone knocks into me and I fall onto my ass. “Ow, fuck!” I yell out.

Vin’s head snaps in my direction. His eyes go wide and a feral growl escapes his throat. He pushes off the guy and takes twosteps before reaching me. He tugs me to my feet. “Who the fuck just knocked her to the ground?” Vin shouts over all the noise.

Suddenly, everyone stops moving. It’s as if the king has spoken and all the humble servants are waiting for his next decree.

Vin turns to me. “Who pushed you?”

“I don’t know,” I tell him. I honestly didn’t see who ran into me.

“Whoever it was, I’m going to find you. So might as well come forward now,” Vin says while his eyes flick around the crowd.

Before anyone can say anything, a heap of teachers rushes into the cafeteria, ushering our classmates out of the room. “De Bellis, the office now,” one of them says. “You two as well.” He points to Dash and Marcus.

Ignoring the teacher, Vin looks me up and down. “Are you okay?” he asks.

“I’m fine. Do you think you’re going to get into much trouble?” I ask him.

“Nah, it’ll be fine. Go to class. I’ll catch up with you later.” He leans forward and kisses my cheek. We stare at each other for a moment. This is the first time he’s kissed me without me asking him to. Granted, it was only my cheek.

I smile, and Vin takes an audible breath. “Will you find me before you leave? Please?” I ask him.

“I will,” he says.

I walk out of the cafeteria, doing my best to ignore the stares and whispers being directed my way.

“That was… intense,” Devon says while linking her arm with mine. “Don’t you think he’s a little much?”

“Who?” I ask her.

“Vin? It’s like he’s all caveman or something. Someone just has to look at you the wrong way and he freaks out.” She keeps her voice low, but her words sting.

“I think he’s perfect.”

“I think he’s obsessed with you. I’m just not sure if it’s a good thing or a bad thing yet. But if you ever disappear, the De Bellis family basement is the first place I’ll send the cops.” Elena laughs.

“Leave her alone. She’s happy.” Lauren comes to my defence. “Besides, I think whatever they have is special.”

I want to tell them that I love him, but I don’t think it’s fair to Vin for me to tell my friends before I tellhim. I just need to find the right moment…

Chapter Thirteen

Ilove my brothers. But, fuck, I wish Gio could have just had a local wedding. Besides the gruelling heat up here, I fucking miss Cammi. My head has been more fucked up over the last twenty-four hours than it has been in weeks.

I credit Cammi for that. The peace she gives me is unlike anything else. Right now, though, the nightmares are wreakinghavoc. I can’t seem to smoke enough to fog out the voices. And then there’s my brother Santo.

I thought I was fucking crazy. Seeing him talk to a blank wall, thinking it’s his dead fiancée, though? That’s the height of crazy, if you ask me. And there’s fuck all I can do to help him.

We’ve been watching him all night. Marcel and I. He just went to get Gabe to come and take over. We haven’t been able to get through to Santo. And although I know it’s all in his head, he’s happy talking to Shelli. Even if she doesn’t exist. It’s fucking hard. Santo and Shelli had been together since they were teenagers. Her death rocked the whole family but obviously it’s hit him hard.

I’m standing outside of Santo’s room lighting up a blunt, trying to ease my mind while I have two minutes alone. I don’t doubt that my brothers know I smoke, but it’s anif you don’t see it, it doesn’t existkind of thing.

I’m puffing on my little happy stick when Gabe and Marcel appear. I flick the blunt to the ground and quickly stomp it out.

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