Page 65 of A Sinner's Saint

I smile and Joe’s face pales.Yeah, fucker, you should be scared. Real fucking scared.

“It’s in the back,” he says.

“Let’s go.” Marcel follows Joe to the back while I stay behind to keep an eye on the door.

When I hear shit start to bang around, I walk over and peek inside the room. Marcel has Joe by the throat, the fucker’s feet barely touching the ground.

“Let this be a warning. Next time, we won’t be so forgiving,” my brother says and then proceeds to punch the guy in the stomach before letting his body slump to the ground.

“I would have done that, you know.”

“I’m aware.” Marcel grabs a bag from a nearby desk before tucking it under his arm. “Let’s get out of here.”

“What’s he owe Gio money for anyway?” I ask once we’re in the car.

“Loan repayment. He borrowed funds to open his little shop,” Marcel tells me.

My hand reaches into my pocket, and my fingers rub the little heart-shaped gem I swiped. Cammi would love it. Not that I’ll ever be able to give it to her.

My phone vibrates in the centre console of the car, Dash’s name flashing on the screen. “You gonna get that?” Marcel asks.

“Nope, he can wait,” I say, letting the call ring out, only to have it start up again. I snatch up my phone and slam on the green button. “What the fuck is so important you’re blowing up my phone?”

“She’s back,” Dash says, and my heart picks up speed. No. He’s not talking about Cammi.

“Who’s back?” My words are slow, measured.

“Cammi. She’s back in Melbourne. Saw her today at student services,” he tells me.

She’s back. She’s here. In Melbourne. Where I am. She’s supposed to stay far away from me. I can’t be near her. Fuck. He could be mistaken. It might not be her.

“Yo, Vin, you there, bro?” Dash asks.

“Ah, yeah. You sure it was her?” I question him.

“Positive. She asked about you. Not in the way that would suggest she hoped the fiery pits of hell had swallowed you alive either. It was more theI hope he’s okay because I still carekind of way.”

“Riiight.” I sigh. There is no way Camile Taylor still cares about me. I made sure she’d hate me. I ignored every single text message and phone call. She even returned the car, and when I found a letter in the glove box, I didn’t write back.

“Well, I wanted you to know, so when you did see her around campus, you didn’t think you were seeing shit. It’s real,” Dash says.

“How’d she look?” I ask him, regretting the question as soon as it’s out of my mouth.

“Thought you didn’t care.” He laughs.

“I don’t. Forget it.” I’m about to hang up when his voice stops me.

“She looked thinner… and sadder,” he says.

“Thinner?” I repeat.

“Yeah.” He sighs. “I don’t know, man. You should go and see her or something.”

“I can’t do that. Thanks for letting me know,” I tell him before cutting the call.

“She’s back in town?” Marcel asks, making no pretence that he wasn’t listening in.

“Seems that way,” I grunt.

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