Page 44 of Sinful Kingdom

Dropping my eyes, I look at my bare feet as fear rocks me to my core.

“They’ve got my boyfriend and brother,” I whisper.

He doesn’t say anything. What is there to say? And honestly, I wasn’t expecting anything. It’s not like he gives off ‘I’m friendly, please talk to me’ vibes.

Sucking in some strength, I keep my thoughts to myself.

The silence between us grows—so does the awkwardness—but I don’t back down.

I’ve got two guys out there who need me to be strong, to fight for them. And I want to prove to Alex that what I said, or more so, what I didn’t say, doesn’t mean I don’t care. I do. More than anything. And I’m in this with him one hundred percent.

I meant what I said to Stefanos last night, and I want to do what I can to help.

“I… um… I was listening. Earlier, I mean. When you were all talking in Stefanos’s office. I know that you know where they are and that they want you to trade me for them.” If he’s shocked by my confession, then he doesn’t show it. His face is as blank as when I first walked up to him. “And I know you want to do it. That you want to end this.”

“Evie,” he growls in warning. I probably should be scared. Terrified actually. But I know who the enemy is here, and it’s not this inked-up, cold-eyed, dangerous American in front of me.

“Take me there. Make the trade,” I say, holding his eyes firmly so he can see how serious I am.

“You’ve no idea what you’re asking.”

“He’s just a kid, Reid,” I plead. “And while Alex might be trained for this kind of thing, he doesn’t deserve to suffer it because of me. He saved me. Protected me. And look where it got him.”

Ripping his eyes from mine, he stares out over the garden. “If I were running this show, I’d already have you in the trunk of my car. I’m over this bullshit and ready to watch the entire organisation burn to the ground,” he confesses. “But I’m not. I’m on Cirillo and Rivera territory, and I need to pull rank. Sorry, kid.”

He pushes from the wall and takes two huge steps to rejoin the others. In a panic, I reach out, wrapping my fingers around his forearm.

His stills, his jaw ticking with irritation.

“Please. I don’t care what they do to me. I need both of them out of there. This is my mess; I should be the one dealing with it.”

He shakes his head then turns to me, his dark eyes boring down into mine.

“I can’t take you there.”

“Maybe not. But I’m sure there is something you can do,” I challenge.

11

ALEX

Idon’t remember being brought back to the cell I’m sharing with Zay. But it’s where I wake up, with him once again watching over me with cheeks damp with tears and concern and fear in his eyes.

I hate this. I fucking hate that my world, my life is fucking up another young boy.

They might have barely laid a hand on him, but there’s no way that this whole experience isn’t going to fuck with his head. How can it not?

He has no idea if his sister is safe and no idea what the hell is going to happen with us.

They’ve given us no clue about the game plan here. We’re just stuck in limbo.

At least if they told me something, anything, then I might have something to work with.

Are they keeping us here to lure the Family here? If they already have Evie, then it’s not like they can offer a trade.

My heart pounds as images from that cam video play out in my mind. Although I don’t focus on the best bits, on the moments I want to lose myself in like she’s my ultimate happy place. I’m trying to look deeper, find clues. But I’m struggling.

The lack of food, sleep, and one too many beatings is fucking with my head.

---