Page 189 of Sinful

“Fine. You win this round. I know you want to try out those new paints we got you.”

I threw my arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.

He seemed surprised by the action but collected himself quickly before returning my hug and holding me tightly.

“I love you, specter. More than you’ll ever understand.” He kissed my temple, his hold growing tighter. “Mine,” he whispered.

I closed my eyes and breathed in the way he smelled. The woods. The wild. The cold.

“Mine,” I whispered back to him.

* * *

I brushedthe black paint along the canvas, staring into the image I’d created of me peering out from the darkness.

That familiar feeling within me stirred, reminding me it was still ready for me to grasp.

I focused on the painting, wondering what it would feel like to become the girl in the portrait. To embrace that darkness. The bravery. To be uncrushable.

Lightly, I traced my fingers over the drying paint, the feelings stirring within me.

It’s yours. Take it. Be brave. Be the darkness. . . Join the guys and revel in it. . . Untouchable. Be untouchable. It’s all psychological.

My phone buzzed with a video call, and I snapped out of the alluring thoughts before snatching it up, wondering if it was Sin because he was supposed to be back a half hour ago.

Sin’s name appeared on the screen. I accepted the call, my heart thrashing violently when Adam’s face came onto the screen.

“Hey, church mouse,” he greeted me with a grin as my blood ran cold.

How does he have Sin’s phone?

“I bet you’re wondering how I’m calling you from your boyfriend’s phone, huh? Well, let me answer that question for you.” He panned the camera around to show the coffin I’d been in with Asylum not all that long ago.

“He’s inside. But wait. I need to show you this. You’re going to love it.” The camera shook as he went to the coffin and showed me what was inside.

Sin’s naked body was pressed against Cady’s. He’d somehow knocked them out and had them tied to one another, completely naked. Blood dripped from a cut on Sin’s head, and Cady’s face was bruised.

“Guess what they did for me when I threatened to get you next?” He turned the camera back on himself. “It’s not hard to guess. They’re still naked.”

Nausea rolled through my guts at his words and what they meant.

“Tell you what. I was going to just kill them and leave them here. Honestly, they’d not feel a thing because I really knocked them out. I figured I was having so much fun, so why not invite you to play?” He grinned like a lunatic at me. “So here are the rules. You come to me, right here in the cemetery. I’ll let them go if you come with me. They get to live. You get to save them. Your dear, sweet sister who was already willing to die for you, and Sin, who begged me to leave you alone. You should have seen their faces when I told them to fuck for me in order to save you. I think there’s something there. Maybe they can bond now.” He let out a cackle. “You should have seen him when he came inside her. The way he kissed her. Fucked her. How she took his big cock and moaned beneath him.”

My hands shook as he continued to vividly describe the nightmare he’d created.

“Listen,” he suddenly grew serious. “I know Sin hurt you before. Put you into this box and left you with that nutjob, Asylum. I’m paying him back, baby. He deserves this. And your sister. She knew I scared you, and yet she didn’t care. She kept fucking me. Telling me you’d be fine when you clearly weren’t. I mean, you did recently have another mental break and all. Come to me. Let this be their punishment for their crimes against you. Trust me, their sex was on fire too, so I know they both enjoyed it. You can make this your last big gesture. Free them. Let them live in the guilt. Come on, what do you have to lose? I mean, aside from maybe your life?”

I swallowed hard, my breathing uneven.

“Right. The rules. Come to me. Tell no one. If anyone finds out, I’ll kill both of them and make you help me. Oh! Doesn’t that sound fun?” A maniacal glint glimmered in his eye. “I can hold your hand while we push the blade through their necks.” He let out a gleeful laugh. “You have ten minutes to get here, or I'll start stabbing.” He held out the knife Church had given Sin and let out another cackle. “Tick-tock, little mouse.”

The call disconnected, and I stared at it for a moment, the darkness pressing against me from all sides.

I had to be brave. I had to do this.

God, please! Help me!

Please save Cady and Sin.

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