Page 2 of Sin

“If you get rid of him to the East Coast, I’ll extend your management of the trust that controls the house and the land the Citadel is built on for three years.”

Just enough time for Cassidy to turn eighteen. Then I can set my other plans in motion.

My father tries to play it cool, but he practically drools at the offer.

He nods. “I’ll have it settled by tomorrow.” In the distance, Cassidy fights for breath. My father points to the inhaler. “Better go use that thing. He’s not sounding so good.”

I salute him and stroll out the door. Once it’s shut, I start running to help Cassidy.

Cassidy comes down the stairs dressed in his new school uniform and carrying a suitcase. Both Gideon and his mother have already left to have an early dinner with one of the deacons of the Citadel. Which means I’m the only one left to see him off and say goodbye.

He puts his suitcase down and doesn’t bother looking around for his mother. At fifteen, he’s used to her disappointing him.

I study him. It’s been two days since his asthma attack, and he still looks too pale to me, and there’s a rasp to his breathing I don’t like. I need to make sure that Bellmore gets his medical records.

I come up to stand in front of him, and he looks up at me, raw hurt in his blue-flecked hazel eyes. He knows it was me who made my father send him away. He just doesn’t know why.

It’s better this way. Cassidy is smart. Prodigy smart. He’ll enjoy Bellmore, and he’ll be far away from this pit of vipers, which I know I’m one of.

The car horn honks, signaling that it’s time for him to leave.

He looks up at me desperately. “Please don’t make me leave.” His hand reaches out to touch my arm, “You’re all that I have.”

Ignoring his words, I pick up his suitcase and begin carrying it out the door.

“Sin,” he begs me, “if you don’t make me go, I’ll be better, I promise. I won’t follow you around anymore. I’ll try not to have any more asthma attacks, I’ll stop?—”

“I never wanted a stepbrother, and I never wanted you.”

Not able to look at the tears forming in his eyes, I walk his suitcase over to Hal—who is driving Cassidy to the airport—and stand back as Cassidy gives me one last heartbroken look and climbs in the sedan.

I watch them drive out the private gates heading to the highway. Then, all alone, I walk back inside.

Chapter 1

Cassidy

Three years later

I’m leaving my neurobiology lecture when I get a text from the school admin telling me the dean wants to meet with me immediately.

Mixed emotions follow me with every step as I walk across the prep school campus to his office. I’m positive the meeting is about finalizing the arrangements for me to graduate early so I can begin taking classes at St. Bartholomew’s, a prestigious local university that offers a program which would allow me to finish my undergrad in two years so I can enroll in medical school early.

I’ve wanted to be a medical scientist since my dad became sick when I was twelve years old. My life’s goal is to discover treatments and cures for diseases so other kids don’t have to lose their fathers. Attending Bartholomew’s will put me on the path to do just that. But it also means that this summer I’ll be taking a full load of classes and I won’t be going home to Tennessee during the break. Even though a huge part of why I signed up for college on the East Coast was to avoid going home, the reality of it feels like a part of me is dying.

It hurts too much to be near him, but it kills me to keep away.

When I’m led into the dean’s office, he greets me and turns his laptop around. On the screen is the tanned, blandly handsome face of my stepfather, Reverend Gideon Brandt.

He doesn’t bother with a greeting. I’m not surprised. He only ever acts fatherly in church or when a camera is pointed toward us.

“You’re coming home,” he informs me. “I’ve arranged for a flight out tonight and for a car to pick you up at the airport.”

“Is Mom okay?” I rush to ask, my worries about her drinking fueling my question. Then another possibility occurs to me. My blood runs cold, and my stomach clenches. “Oh, God. Did something happen to S?—”

“Everyone is fine,” Gideon says cooly, dismissing my worry almost as if it’s a nuisance. I let out a huge breath of relief as he continues. “I’ve decided I need you at home, so starting Monday, you’ll begin attending Thurston University.”

I feel my world spinning out of control. “But I’ve been accepted at St. Bartholomew’s. They have an incredible pre-med program.”

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