Page 27 of Sin and Salvation

“Yeah?” Rastus looked at my heavy makeup with a sneer. “Was it super hard getting showered with expensive presents all the time and not having to lift a finger for it?”

I felt like I’d been punched in the gut, the air wheezing out of my lungs. I stared at my brother, my own flesh and blood, with complete disbelief. “Is that really what you believe? He beat the shit out of me all the time. He raped me, Rastus.”

His gaze flickered, mouth twisting uncomfortably, but Rastus merely shook his head. “Look, Venus. He’s taking this out on me. If you don’t go back, he’s calling in his debts again.” With a speed that gave me whiplash, Rastus’s sneer was gone, replaced with pleading. “I don’t have the money. You’ve got to go back to him, and we all go home happy.”

My heart felt like a stone, and I let out a breathless laugh. Why was it so hard to breathe? Everything in me hurt, but I tried to look like I was just talking. I still felt the gazes of the Black Hearts on my back.

“He misses you.” Rastus shoved his empty glass away, and the scent of rum filled my nose as he leaned closer. “He told me. He was even planning on—”

“Don’t you dare fucking say it,” I snapped, but Rastus plowed on.

“He was going to marry you, Venus.” He held up a hand, as though that would placate me.

This time it was easier to laugh, a sound full of scorn. “The fuck he was. And even if that was his plan, you know what? I have zero interest in living as a trophy wife for that psychopath. You forgot something, Rastus: the day you sold me is the day I became immune to your needs.”

Rastus’s lips tightened, and went flat and white. I leaned closer.

“I. Don’t. Care. If you can’t pay your debts,” I whispered. “And I don’t care if he kills you. After you gave me to him, I waited every single day for you to come see me. I checked my phone compulsively, hoping to see one message. You were never there. But you know where I had my nineteenth birthday party?”

My brother remained silent, eyes glaring through me.

“The Zelus Casino. And you know who was there?”

“Me,” Rastus said, his voice tight.

“You.” I nodded. “You were there. Drinking and gambling. Living it up. How much was I worth in the end, Rastus? You erased four hundred thousand from his ledger the first time just by shoving me into his arms. Were you given carte blanche after that?”

“Five million.” Rastus said in a monotone. “You were worth five million in credit, in the end.”

For the second—or maybe it was third—time that evening, I felt like a fist had slammed into me, pulverizing all the organs in its path.

My life did have a price tag, apparently. And Rastus, if his fine clothes were anything to go by, had been living like a king on it.

“Get out.” My teeth clenched so hard it hurt my skull. “Just get out. I’m not going back, and nothing you say changes that.”

“I’m sorry, Venus. If you come back, I’ll do better at—”

I completely lost control of myself. Without thinking, I drew back my hand and slapped him as hard as I could.

Rastus’s eyes glittered as he pressed a hand to the red mark on his cheek. “One way or another, you’re coming back.”

“Don’t count on it—”

But my tirade of invective was cut off by a silky, knowing voice, and a large presence at my back.

Crow’s growl filled the air, his obsidian eyes sparking anger and fixed on Rastus. “Get the fuck out of my club.”

ChapterThirteen

For a moment my brother just stared at him, disbelief and anger warring on his face.

Then he curled his lip, eyes lowering to me again. “Not unless she’s coming with me.”

I shook my head, my breath caught in the vise-like grip of my throat. Even on what little I’d known of the Black Hearts, I never would’ve walked into their territory and demanded something… especially with the way Crow growled.

The sound of his voice sent shivers down my spine.

“She works here, and it’s her choice to leave or not.” Crow’s enormous hand settled on my shoulder, his fingers curling around and gently digging into my skin. “Last warning.”

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