Page 51 of Buried Beneath Sin

My mind goes blank from shock. He’s going to show me his face? What does that mean? That our game is done? That he’s through watching me and he’s going to kill me like he killed Patrick and Lauren?

My devil’s arms loosen around me, both dropping away a moment later, but a hand snakes out and calloused fingers wrap around my wrist. He tugs, and for a second, I resist. If I see his face, will all of this become too real? The devil behind me chuckles, the sound deep and coarse, as if he doesn’t do it often.

“Scared, Little Viper?”

Words are beyond me as my throat squeezes shut, but I nod. What harm could admitting the truth bring?

“Good, now turn around.” The command in his voice is sharp. There’s no choice but to obey.

The way my heart is beating so quickly, I’m sure it’s going to give out at any moment. Bright Starr’s foyer starts to spin as panic makes me lightheaded. Or maybe it's because I’ve forgotten how to breathe.

My eyes drop to the floor where I watch my feet shift, turning me around to face the intruder, my devil. I see his black boots first and then his dark jeans. Incrementally, my gaze lifts, taking in the black shirt and brown leather jacket. I pause, staring in the middle of his chest, unable to go further. Is this it? Will he kill me once I see his face?

“Look at me, Little Viper. I want to gaze into your eyes.”

Lifting my chin, I force myself to face my devil head on. When our eyes meet, I flinch violently in surprise. My gasp is followed by an unconscious step backward.

“C-Chase?”

My devil looks like the stranger I met last night… except not. I search his face, trying to sort out what’s different about him. Just as I could tell last night, there’s some Asian heritage in his features, as subtle as they may be. His face has all the sharp lines, the light brown freckles sprinkled across his nose and cheekbones, and he appears just as tall as I remember.

Yet… There’s an edge to this man that makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand straight up. Shadows huddle the dips and planes of his face where none had been the night before. His hair isn’t slicked back either. Rather, the raven black hair falls into his face, covering his one sage green and one light brown eye. I frown. Last night, I could’ve sworn his left eye was the brown one and the right was green. But staring at him now? They’ve switched. Are they… contacts?

It’s slow in coming, and tight, but a smile appears as my devil shakes his head once. “Nope.”

My brows furrow as confusion and fear war with one another. What does he mean by that?

“That’s my brother, Sagan, actually,” a voice behind me announces.

I nearly levitate off the ground in surprise as I realize we’re not alone. With a great deal of difficulty, I drag my eyes away from the man before me to turn halfway around. I blink rapidly as the newcomer strolls up the hallway and joins us in the foyer.

My mouth pops open and dries. Coming to stand before me isanotherChase. This one looks like the man I met last night, with a friendly smile and slicked back hair. And as he draws near, I realize his eyes are how I remember too. Words are lost to me as I stare between the two nearly identical men. Am I hallucinating?

“Since we’re discussing names, mine isn’t Chase either,” the second man continues as he stops before me and his smile widens further. “I’m Thatcher Hunt. It’s a pleasure to meet you without any type of guise between us, Little Sister.”

The floor drops away and my stomach falls with it. Holy shit. No, this is impossible.Hunt?As in… No, they can’t be related to Patrick. There’s no way life would be this cruel. But I see the truth in Thatcher’s eyes as he watches my expression closely.

I had their father killed only to make room for two more of him in my life.

What type of karma is this?

23

SAGAN

Beatrix’s body sways as her eyes bounce back and forth between us, her breathing comes in soft gasps. I reach out and grab her elbow to steady her. Immediately, Beatrix attempts to jerk her arm away but my grip tightens. She winces before giving up.

“This isn’t happening,” she whispers hoarsely. “Pleasetell me you’re not related to Patrick. He never mentioned having kids.”

“It’s an unfortunate truth, Little Viper,” I tell her grimly. “But don’t worry, we’re nothing like that bastard.”

Judging by her expression, she doesn’t believe me. No matter. She’ll see soon enough that we’re vastly different from him.

“I’m not surprised he never mentioned us,” Thatcher drawls. “By admitting he had kids, he’d have to admit his failures as a father.” He tilts his head to regard her with a sly smile. “I hope you won't hold this against us.”

Beatrix scoffs in disgust. “Did you know who I was? Last night I mean… Did you know we were—” she swallows visibly as she glares at my brother “—related?”

“I knew who you were theminuteyou walked into that bar,” Thatcher assures her. His amusement sweeps through me. He’senjoying her panic. I don’t blame him. Her shock and fear has my cock hard as a rock. “I wanted to get to know you a bit before we started the rest of our lives together. But you are such a beguiling woman, Little Sister—” Beatrix flinches. “—and I couldn’t resist the temptation you presented.”

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