Page 40 of Sinful Kingdom

“Scotch. It was my father’s favourite. Very expensive. When he died, I took every bottle he’d collected, and when something bad happens, I open one. Curse him out.”

My lips open and close like a goldfish, but no words come out.

“It’s either that or pour it all away out of spite, but it’s too good for that. He’d hate that I was drinking it after he saved it all for so long.”

“Don’t most people save special bottles for happy events?” I ask, taking the glass and giving it a hesitant sniff.

“You may have noticed,” he starts, lowering himself back to the sofa and swirling his drink around the glass, “we’re not normal people.”

Tipping his glass up, he drinks the lot in one big swallow.

Curious, I take a sip.

Oh, holy crap on a cracker. What even is that?

“Not a fan?” he asks with a smirk, my face clearly giving away my immediate thoughts of that engine fuel he just made me drink.

“I’m not sure it’s for me,” I confess, leaning forward to place it on the coffee table between us.

“Shame Blakely isn’t awake. She makes incredible cocktails.”

My brows lift slightly at his mention of my sister.

He doesn’t say anything for a few seconds, losing himself in his thoughts.

“Your sister, she’s… also not normal.”

I can’t help but bark out a very unladylike laugh.

“Can’t argue with that.”

“What about you, Evie? From what I’ve seen and heard, my son is quite enamoured with you.”

My cheeks burn at his question as his intense stare continues.

“Umm… I’m not sure what there is to say.”

“You’re a dancer. I remember the night you both met.”

Why did you even consider looking into this room, Evie?

“I… um… I’m not really a dancer.”

“No, a cam girl.”

“Blakely and Zayden have always been the most important people in my life. I will do anything to support them, to ensure they can live the life they deserve. And if dancing and camming earns me—”

“Whoa,” Stefanos says, placing his empty glass down and holding up his hands in surrender. Something I can’t imagine he does to many people. “I wasn’t judging you, Evie.”

“Really?” I ask, my brows almost in my hairline. “Most would.”

“We all do things that may not be our first choice, that others may judge us for. That doesn’t make it wrong.”

I study him just like he has been me since I walked in here.

“I guess. Doesn’t mean you want your son to be with a dancer and cammer, though.”

“I want my son to be with someone who loves him. Who accepts him for what he is and the things he does. I want him to be with someone who won’t judge him for the past, and what the future will inevitably hold. ”

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