Page 129 of Syndicate of Sin Bundle

“Are you angry with me?” I asked, brow furrowed.

She paused. “No.”

“Sage,” I whispered, moving closer to her.

My chest tightened. I didn’t want her to hate me. She couldn’t hate me. I needed her to like me, to love me. I hated when people were angry with me because … when they were angry with me, they left.

And when they left, they didn’t come back.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I’m so sorry. Please, don’t hate me.”

Teacup halfway to her mouth, Sage widened her eyes. “Hate you?”

“I’m sorry,” I repeated. “I didn’t mean—”

“Relax, Laila,” Sage said, smiling and handing me the coffee mug. “I don’t hate you.”

I grasped the cup. “You don’t?”

She sipped her tea and walked into the living room, gazing out the large windows. “Of course not. Why would you think that?”

“Because you seem … off this morning,” I whispered and took a gulp of coffee.

“There is nothing wrong,” she said, though she still couldn’t look at me. “I just didn’t get much sleep last night. We got home fairly late, and then …” She paused, cheeks flushing. “Never mind.”

But there was some—

My phone that I had left on the counter last night buzzed. I took one last look at Sage and walked over to it, reading Constantino’s name on the screen. When I tapped the message, there was an image of Sage sitting in our bathtub with Constantino’s cum covering her face.

Constantino: A good-morning gift for you, doll.

Constantino: Hope you’re enjoying your morning with Bethany.

Though something about the tone of text made me feel like he was still a bit pissed at me about last night. And then to find our bedroom empty when he came home from business … of course, he thought I was with Bethany. I was with her all the time.

Constantino: You missed the fun last night.

I glanced over at an innocent-looking Sage as she curled up next to the window and stared out of it, the teacup near her lips as she blew the heat off it. Maybe that was why she felt weird. Was that the first time they had spent time alone together?

Constantino: We need to talk today.

Me: About Bethany?

Constantino: About the family. Meet me at the club.

Constantino: We have problems.

After blowing out a breath, I held my phone between my hands and stepped closer to Sage. “Do you want to come down to the club with me this morning? You don’t have to. I know I woke you up early.”

Sage rubbed her nude and matte lips together. “Is it okay if I stay back? I wanted to head to the coffee shop.”

Excitement dropping, I forced a smile on my face. “Yeah, don’t worry about it.”

After smiling awkwardly at Sage, I excused myself and walked out of her apartment.

I had hoped she’d say she would come with me. I had made sure not to have plans with Bethany today, and I hated being alone. But I guessed that this was how it had felt for Sage yesterday when I skipped our dinner plans.

Like shit.

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