Page 100 of Original Sins (Dark Odyssey 6)

“See something to interest you?” the devil whispers into my ear.

It’s only then that I look away from Georgiou and face Peter’s suspicious glare.

He cuts Georgiou a glance, too, and I wonder what he might suspect.

I didn’t exactly hide my emotions, and neither did Georgiou or Henry.

Dad was talking to someone but comes closer and takes my hand.

“Come, my dear, there are two people I would like to introduce you to,” Dad says. “I’m sure Peter won’t mind if I borrow you.”

“Not at all,” Peter replies in that smug as fuck manner.

As if things aren’t bad enough, of course, Dad ushers me over to Georgiou and Henry.

Both tense when they see me coming, and I hold back the tears, along with the screams in my throat.

They both rid themselves of the shock and straighten up when Dad and I get to them.

“Hi, guys,” Dad booms in a hearty voice. “This is my dear daughter, Evangeline. Sweetie, these two guys are my closest business associates, Georgiou Giordano and Henry Dubois.”

Dad looks at them respectively as he introduces them to me, and I don’t miss the pride in his eyes and the tone of his voice.

Georgiou is the first to put out his hand to shake mine.

I lift my trembling hand and give it to him, keeping my eyes on his endless dark gaze.

“A pleasure to meet you, Evangeline.”

My nerves scatter, and I wonder if he can hear how fast my heart is beating or see how sorry I am that I lied.

He always knew when I was lying. When I stumbled over my name at our first meeting, it was he who looked at me first, and I knew he was always aware something was off with me.

“You too,” I tell him, and he releases my hand.

Henry is next, and I can barely look at him.

This is the first time I’ve been with him, and I can’t feel that strength in his personality that usually soothes my soul.

Henry is the kind of guy you could fall in love with every day for as long as you live, and I shattered that with my lies.

“Good to meet you,” he says, and as he takes my hand, there’s a twinkle in his eyes I don’t deserve.

“Good to meet you too.”

When he releases my hand, he looks back to Georgiou, who steps closer.

“Donny, I know the evening has just begun, but we have that thing we have to look into. I’ll call you later.”

“Thank you,” Dad replies.

Georgiou then looks back at me. “Congratulations on your engagement.”

“Thank you.” The words come out of my mouth, but they feel like they're coming by default.

As they walk away, my knees turn to water, and I also realize my plans have gone to hell.

All of them, and I’ve just made things worse because right now, my biggest loss is Georgiou and Henry.

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