Page 42 of Original Sins (Dark Odyssey 6)

“Of course I did. Jesus H. We certainly know how to land ourselves in shit, but the thing about it is it’s not shit because it’s them.” She laughs nervously and releases me.

“I know.”

“What happened when you met them?”

“Henry kissed me. Cordelia, that was my first kiss.”

Her eyes fly open, and she brings her hands up to her chest. "Oh my God. That is so sweet. Did you kiss Georgiou too?"

"Tomorrow. Oh my God, what the hell have I gotten myself into. Cordelia, it's two of them."

"And they paid one and a half million dollars. That's what you call a pissing match, and they won. I dare say, though, that British guy was seriously hot. It worked out the way it should, though. How are you feeling?"

"I'm terrified but excited because it's them. Because it's them, this really does mean I have to disappear when it's over." The sad thought hits me and deepens when she nods.

“That was the plan. Don’t worry about it.”

“I do. I worry about that and messing this up.”

“Just be careful with everything you say.”

I won't tell her I almost gave them my real surname. "I will. Have either of them ever been to your place?"

"No. As a rule, I never invite guys who work with Uncle Donny to the house. I don't want them trying to get in my panties so they can use me to get to him. Please," she purses her lips together. "Not that Georgiou or Henry would need to."

"Okay, well, the rest is on me."

"Yes, and you got this. All you have to do is be careful. The universe is on your side, and it's like the planets have aligned to make your father less strict and less crazy. Youcando this."

I nod and tell myself I can.

Tomorrow is the big day, and even though I'm worried, I can't wait to see Georgiou and Henry again.

And I’m spending the whole weekend with them.

I have a feeling that come Monday morning, I would have more than made up for my lack of sexual experiences.

12

Georgiou

Iwent to bed with the image of her in my head.

The Duchess—Evie.

I go through so many women I don’t allow any to fascinate me. Mainly because of the last time. Priscilla did a number on me that’s taken me years to forget her.

But I know it's because I loved her, and I never allow myself to go that far. I did with her and spiraled into a rabbit hole that saw me clutching at everything I could when push came to shove, and I realized we weren't going to work out.

The engagement ring on her finger and the baby we almost had wasn’t enough to save us. But then we were doomed from the start. She was what happens when you’re with someone who used to love someone else.

That was what happened to me. Any man who knows me knew that that type of shit is not me.

What hooked me was that spark that stirred in my soul. I felt the same spark last night when I met Evie.

It stirred to life the moment I saw her walking down the path behind the wall, and she couldn't see me.

I shouldn't be thinking about her now. The guys are here for the meeting about the club, and we're about to have a serious conversation about something big that affects our future.

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