Page 48 of Vengeful Sins

I set the phone aside with a sigh, silently getting myself ready for a conversation I don’t want to have.

“Everything all right?” Tucker wears the almost lazy smile of a guy who got his way last night once he sticks his head back in the room. Like he doesn’t have a problem in the world. I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve wished over the years I could be somebody else—somebody with everything together, somebody without the sort of dark, ugly memories I hold in my heart. Memories I would give anything to be free of.

Right now, I can’t decide if I hate him or wish I could be him.

“Fine, I guess,” I murmur, waving a hand. It’s so easy to pretend. I don’t even have to think about it anymore.

The less he knows about all of this, the better. I mean, it’s bad enough he understands why I was there last night, who sent me, everything that was hanging in the balance. I’m not sure my sense of shame could handle him knowing much more than that.

“Sure. You look like somebody who has everything under control. Not at all like you’ve seen a ghost.” He ducks back intothe bathroom, and I hear the water running while he brushes his teeth. It’s almost like he’s happy to have me here. Knowing the way his brain works, I’m sure he’s happier to have me under his thumb. That’s what he’s really all about.

I don’t want to believe it, but I need to. The last thing I need is to start getting crazy ideas about how there’s something special between us just because he came to my rescue and got his dick wet in the process. Obviously, he can stand to lose the money. I’m sure it means nothing to him.

Get it together.I need to—quickly, or else my heart is going to burst out of my chest and splatter blood all over these expensive sheets.

Once the sink shuts off, Tucker pokes his head back into the room. “I’m gonna take a shower now. Care to join?” His eyes darken as they crawl over me. I’m not even sure how he can think that way after last night. My body is still recovering.

Thinking of the phone, I shake my head. “I should call home,” I tell him with an unhappy sigh. “I know he’s wondering what happened.”

This time, his entire face darkens and his skin flushes. “You sure you don’t want me around for this?”

Do not. Do not be too grateful. It would be so easy to fall into the trap of reading into his actions. I can’t do that to myself. “No, it’s better if I’m alone.”

He doesn’t look convinced, but he backs up and closes the bathroom door. I wait until he’s got the shower running before picking up the phone and placing the last call I want to make.

“Finally,” Dad snarls. “Why can’t you pick up a phone? What the hell took you so long to call me back? And where are you?” The questions fly so fast, I barely have time to process one before he almost shouts another. So he’s in the mood I would’ve expected.

“I stayed with a friend last night,” I tell him. “After I did what you wanted. But I’m sure you’ve heard all about that by now.”

“Yes, as a matter of fact. I did hear all about it.”

Then why does he sound so upset? Like he just spat something bitter out of his mouth. “Okay. So what’s the problem?”

“For one thing, the money you brought in isn’t enough. Not even close.”

Dread dances down my spine, finally coming to rest low in my gut so it can spread a gross, sick feeling. When is it ever going to be enough? “I was there when you and Lucian talked about it. You knew how much money you were supposed to get out of this. How are you surprised now?”

“Don’t you talk to me that way,” he warns, and maybe I would feel even slightly intimidated if we were face-to-face. He kind of loses some of his fearfulness when we’re on the phone.

“It’s an honest question,” I tell him, glad he can’t see me chewing my lip and shifting my weight from one foot to the other once I stand and pace in front of the bed. “I heard you guys talk about amounts. What, did you not think Lucian would hold up his end of the bargain? Did you think he would give you all the money?”

“Don’t you worry about what I thought,” he barks. “The fact is, the cut I received is not enough.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” And extremely grateful to Lucian. I mean, he’s not a prince, and he’s certainly not a hero, but he upheld his end of the bargain. He could’ve gone behind my back, fucked me over, and made last night pointless for me.

“You can keep your sarcasm,” he snarls. “And be glad you’re not here in front of me at this moment, or else I might have to shut that smart mouth of yours.”

I sort of want to tell him to stop wasting his time with the empty threats, but I also don’t want to encourage him to makegood on them at some point. I do still have to go home eventually—I have nothing here. “I don’t know what to tell you, Dad. I signed an agreement, and Lucian made good on it. I guess if you have any problems, you need to take it up with him.”

“I have a better idea that won’t involve him at all.”

The sudden positive note in his voice makes me more sure than ever I’m in deep trouble. If he’s suddenly happy and feeling positive, that only means bad news for me.

“What is it?” I ask before holding my breath, bracing myself for the answer.

“You’ll marry Clark.”

I am going to throw up. I might never stop. That’s probably a better plan than going through with what Dad has in mind. “You can’t think I’m going to do that. I already told you?—”

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