Page 46 of Sinner's Fury

I had thought about taking Drew to Rockefeller Center last night to watch the tree lighting ceremony, but at the last minute, he started running a fever, which was quickly followed by vomiting. So, instead I got to spend the last twenty-four hours shoving fluids down him, cleaning up vomit and bathing him.

I still didn’t know what was wrong, but I was praying for a twenty-four-hour bug. Well, I prayed that was the cause because I really didn’t want to spend the entire day in the emergency room.

After grabbing a bottle of water, I curled up on the couch and reached for my book when I eyed the phone Shame gave me.

Picking it up, I flipped it open, and just like all the times before, nothing.

No calls.

No texts.

Flipping the phone closed, I sat up and looked around the small two-bedroom apartment.

It was cute.

Quaint even, but it wasn’t home.

I knew I would never have a home again.

But we would be safe. Well, at least that’s what my uncle and cousin told me. And for a short few years, we were, when we disappeared with the help of a man named Salvatore Valentinetti. He was nice and made damn sure that no one would ever find us. For a while, everything seemed normal, until it wasn’t. Until those still loyal to Mother and theSocietyburned my home to the ground after killing Issac.

I thought after Mother died, we were free of all that shit.

I should have known they would find us.

Mother was a pro at finding anyone. Why wouldn’t they be too?

I hated her. I hated what she did, who she was, what she made me do. Most of all, I hated that even in death, she was still causing problems. I just wanted them to leave me and Drew alone.

They already killed Issac.

What more did they want?

Reaching for the phone, I flipped it open and scrolled through the contacts.

There was only one.

His number.

I smirked at that.

Shame. What a name for a biker.

The night theSocietyfound us and killed Issac, then burned down my house, Shame was there, offering me and Drew a way out, and I took it. I didn’t know how to reach my uncle or cousin or if they were alive. Besides, anything was better than what theSocietyhad in store for me and Drew.

So, for the last few months, Drew and I had been living a low-key life. Off the grid, but not. My only communication with the outside was a simple flip-phone that Shame gave me or whenthe delivery guy showed up with our groceries. It was a solitary existence, and if not for Drew, I would have gone nuts by now.

I hated being cooped up, not being able to step out into the world for fear someone might recognize me. I thought last night would be our chance to get out for a bit. Big crowds, everyone enjoying the coming holiday season. No one would look twice at us, but then, shit happened.

It always did.

What I missed the most was talking to someone.

Don’t get me wrong. I loved talking to Drew. He was a cool kid, but he wasn’t an adult. When Shame first moved us into this apartment, he would stop by every weekend, stay for dinner and even play a game or two with Drew. But he hadn’t been by in months, and I was beginning to worry.

When Shame gave me this phone, he told me to only call in case of an emergency, and even I knew that boredom didn’t constitute an emergency. Still, I couldn’t stop myself from making the call. Listening while the phone rang, I wondered if I was doing the right thing when the call connected.

“Hi, Daddy.” A little girl giggled. “I found your phone.”

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