Page 78 of Wicked Sins

Then he rips away his hand and wipes it on his thigh. “You make a change, Candy, and it’ll show.”

He strides away, gait smooth, and no longer hampered by his injury. It should have made me feel better, but it doesn’t. At least, if he’d been pissed off because he was in pain, then I’d stand a fighting chance. But now?

I don’t understand what he wants from me. I don’t know how to change, because I’ve always just been me.

I put my face in my hands and wait for the tears to finally come.

Ah, but they don’t.

Everything just stays inside like it always does, waiting for me to rip it out by force. I let my hands fall down, and one of them goes to my middle. I touch my ribs through my shirt, tracing their outline.

Waiting for me to rip it out.

Chapter Thirty-One

Josiah

I’ve stopped feeling the pressure of my forehead against the windowpane for a while now. It’s only at this awkward angle that I can see down into the patio. The sun umbrella is up. Candy stays hidden beneath, but I can watch my father come and go.

Am I the only one with more than one fucking brain cell in this place? How does no one see this?

He was limping like a goddamn war veteran. He spends a minute talking to Candy, and then he storms off without a hitch in his step.

My lips turn up in a sneer.

I’m so over this shit.

I have some money saved up. Not a lot—barely enough to survive a year without earning an income—but it should be enough to take me away from here.

I could get a job somewhere. As long as I’m working toward a college degree, I couldn’t give a fuck how I spend the rest of my time. And since I don’t care what career I end up having, it wouldn’t matter how long it takes me to finally reach whatever fucking destination I’m supposed to be headed toward.

At least I’d be my own man. I wouldn’t have to watch this pretentious shit playing out around me like my own private comedy show.

I’m about to step away, perhaps even get going and pack some shit up in a suitcase, when Candy’s dark head pokes out from the sun umbrella.

She stands in the sun for a moment, staring out over the pool, and then makes a beeline for the pool house. Is she just exploring, or does she have a sudden urge to play some darts?

Halfway there, she hesitates, and glances around. Then, for some unfathomable reason, she looks straight up to my window.

I step back, my heart in my throat, and take a slow count of five before inching back.

She’s nowhere in sight.

Because she’s already in the pool house, isn’t she? And after the way she checked to see if anyone was looking, I know exactly why.

Candy has no interest in darts. She’s going to raid the fucking bar, isn’t she?

Chapter Thirty-Two

Candy

“You honestly think that’s gonna help your case?”

I jerk in surprise, and wine slops over my hand. Thank God it’s white, not red, or I’d be on my knees mopping up the spill. On my knees,yet again, while Josiah looms over me.

“Leave me alone.”

“So, you can drink yourself into a stupor?”

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