Page 7 of A Sinner's Truth

“Yeah, she’s my girlfriend.” Vin sighs. Something else I didn’t know about my brother.

“Go home, Vin. I need to clean up here,” I tell him. This isn’t his mess. And right now, all I want to do is find some heads and make 'em fucking roll.

“I’m not leaving you alone,” Vin says.

“I’m not alone. I’ve got Shelli right here.” I point to the casket, my lips tipping up into a slight smirk.

“That’s fucking morbid, even for you.” Vin shakes his head at me.

I pull myself out of the hole, stand, and dust off my suit. “I wanted the casket to be empty,” I tell my brother as we both watch his girlfriend walk away.

“I know,” Vin says.

Chapter Four

Three months later

Afirm knock echoes throughout my apartment, and I already know who it is without having to check. He has the same knock. Every time. I contemplate curling up under my covers and pretending I’m not home. Maybe he won’t come back.

Knowing better than to leave him waiting too long, I drag my sorry ass out of bed. I’m nursing the hangover of all hangovers, and I really don’t have the energy to deal with whatever this visit is about.

I open the door and immediately move aside. “Dad, I wasn’t expecting you,” I say as my father steps into my apartment.

“Obviously.” He looks me up and down with disdain. Sometimes I think he hates me because I look so much like her. My mother. I know he loved her. Probably the only person he ever loved. And all I am is a reminder of what he lost.

I quickly close the door and walk into the kitchen. “Coffee?” I offer.

“No, thank you.” Dad stands by the benchtop. “You haven’t answered my calls.”

“You married me off in one of your business deals as if this is the fifteenth century and all I’m worth to you is two cows,” I hiss out between clenched teeth. “I’m sorry. But what did you expect me to do? Say:Gee, thanks for marrying me off to Melbourne’s psychopath, Daddy?”

“It’s in your best interests, Aria. Oliver comes from a good family. A wealthy family. You’ll be well looked after,” Dad says without missing a beat.

“I don’t need to be looked after. I’m fine on my own,” I remind him.

“It’s eleven in the morning and you’re only just now getting out of bed. That’s unacceptable. Once you’re married, you’ll settle down. Grow up,” he states, as if it’s his will so itwillbe done.

“Is that why you’re here? Because I ignored a few calls?”

“No, I have a job for you. For the summer. A position in the company. You need to start learning the ropes for when the day comes that you need to take over,” he says.

I laugh. That has to be a joke. My father has never once mentioned me ever taking over his empire. Not that I have any plans to. “What are you talking about? That’s not happening.”

“You start Monday. I expect to see you there, Aria,” he tells me.

“Why? Why now? You’ve never wanted me to work at the company before.”

“Things change. Swan Enterprises will be yours someday. You might as well learn how to run it now,” he grunts.

I stand here in shock. He’s actually going to leave his company to me? Since when? I mean, I’m his only child. The only good thing to come out of my father’s six marriages is the lack of siblings. I couldn’t imagine him needing to father more children.

“Monday, 9 AM sharp, Aria. And dress appropriately. You represent the Swan name.” He turns and walks out of my apartment without another word.

“What the fuck just happened?” I ask aloud.

“What the fuck indeed?” Drew says, scaring the shit out of me.

“Jesus Christ, where the hell did you come from?”

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