Page 92 of SINS & Riley

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My face doesn’t move. Not a flicker.

Of course it could be helped.

I could keep her here. Fight like hell to hold her close, shield her from every monster clawing outside these walls.

But the closer she gets, the harder she’ll be to protect from what’s coming.

And the harder it’ll be to let her go.

So I stay ruthless and numb. By design.

Dominic steps closer, like he can sniff out the lie. His words are a double-edged sword. “You love her.”

Love…

Do I?

If loving Riley means bleeding for her, then yes, I love her.

But if I have to carve her out of my life to keep her safe, so be it.

And if this plan has even a shot of working—and let’s be honest, it’s fifty-fifty at best—she has to go.

Now.

I roll my cuff high enough to see the skull inked into my skin…and the rose. Riley’s rose.

“I can’t love her.” Not the way she deserves.

“Are you sure?”

My cold eyes meet his. “The discussion is over. See to it.”

Warily, he shrugs. “Fine. But… she’s still sleeping.”

I bet she is. Considering I can still smell her on me.

Every word drags out like broken glass. I half expect to choke on blood. “Then wake her up. And help her pack.”

His mouth opens and closes. Dominic is preparing to argue. Probably remind me of something obvious. Something emotional. Something that, if I let any piece of Riley slip under my skin now, I’ll shatter where I stand.

And with shards of glass already grinding through my heart, it wouldn’t take much. One crack. One plea. And I’d cave.

But for her sake, I can’t let it happen.

I cut him off before a single word can form. “Just. Do. It.”

He gives a sad sort of nod, shoulders heavy, before heading for the door. “The kids will be devastated,” he says as he steps away.

News flash: They’re not the only ones.

29

RILEY

I have exactly three bad habits.

To feed three deadly sins.

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