Page 71 of Savage Sin

Crystal blue eyes look at me with so much clarity it hurts. Rage is not saying his emotions, he’s projecting them. I’m not telepathic and his lips are not moving, but I’m thinking about love because he’s radiating it like a one-hundred-watt lightbulb.

I stare at him, trying to untangle my emotions from his. Interpreting which is his from mine is growing increasingly harder.

“I’m so sorry about all this. Talking about your brother has to be painful.”

“Come here,hermosa. Let me feel you. You have nothing to be sorry about. It’s me who owes you an apology.”

His fingers brush the line of my jaw, and he gently takes my chin in hand. Tears wet my lashes and I look around the room as his chosen family stands at his side, unified not by blood but by choice. And love. It shines in their expressions and fills the room with so much affection I feel sick with envy.

“For a while, I really thought you would hurt me. Your story scared me and I thought I would be next on your list of bodies for sure.”

“I shared a part of me because you shared so much of yourself with me. Talking about my past sins helped, I guess.”

Humor doesn’t belong in a conversation like this, but I find a soft, understanding smile coming over my lips at the new color in his cheeks. “It’s okay to talk about your feelings, Rage. I’ll never judge you and I’ll always listen.” I brush the back of my fingers over his face. It’s probably about the only place on his body that doesn’t hurt at the moment.

“Every word of what I told you was true. But what I didn’t tell you the night they forced me to do my father’s dirty work was the night I swore to God and all his angels I would never hurt another woman as long as I lived. I tied you down so you wouldn’t hurt yourself, but I liked you in my bed, too.” A sheepish grin plays on the corner of his lips.

Holding my hand, he turns it over and brushes his thumb over my wrist. “I hated seeing you tied to my bed as much as I loved it. I won’t lie. I never will.”

“He has an uncanny way of always telling the truth.” Ares kisses the back of Nova’s hand before breaking into our conversation. The rambling men going on about plans on how to take down a man they can’t even find take notice and grow quiet. I’m actually in awe. It’s not fear of getting shot or beaten that has them turning their full attention on their president. It’s respect. At least, I think that is what they call him. The whole motorcycle life is new to me and I have a lot to learn about Rage’s lifestyle.

Nova’s belly is round, and she looks a couple of months away from giving birth. My heart restricts as I think about my sister all alone with no idea help is on the way. One way or another, I will get to her, I silently vow.

But I don’t have to do it alone. Ican’tdo it alone. But Rage is in no shape to strap on weapons and go hunting. We both need help.

“The more you get to know Rage, you will learn the man is a stickler for the truth, Persephone Castel.”

I cringe and might have actually just gnashed my teeth together. “Uh, you do that full name thing he does. Why?” I look between Rage and Ares.

“It’s something they both do. It’s a cultural thing, I think.”

I look at Nova. “I see.”

“Not so much cultural,” Ares corrects gently. “It’s out of respect. There’s power in a name. It speaks of trust and using someone’s full name is a way of showing that respect.”

Okay, sure. I’m also good at reading between the lines. Using someone’s full name is also a show of power for both sides. They know my full name and with that hold a certain level of control over me.

Rage taps the end of my nose and I pull my attention back to him.

“You’re safe here.”

I bite down on my lip and keep myself from replying automatically. I give his words some thought before I say, “I know I am.” I give Ares a genuine smile. “Thank you all for not shutting me out and leaving me behind or shooting me back at the cabin. It was nice not to die when you guys showed up with your guns and blood lust.”

A large man with the man bun takes up the edge of the bed. “It’s the least we could do as a thank you for not letting Rage bleed out in the middle of nowhere. Losing the big ass would have wrecked us all, Persephone.”

I hold Dragon’s kind eyes and return his soft smile. I owe these men a lot. I should start with my truths.

Cotton sheets drape over Rage. I find the edges and run my fingers along the sewn hem. Anything to keep my fingers from trembling in front of everyone like I’m a weak bunny.

“I can’t prove it, but I believe my father was murdered by his best friend, He then took my mother as his bride. I suffered a lot at the hands of my step-father. When he took over, my sister and I knew it was only a matter of time before he set his sights on us. He systematically ruined the Castel empire and rebuilt it from the foundation up under his rule, his law, his tyranny. The scary part is, it didn’t take long.”

I pause and inhale a calming breath. No one speaks or pushes me to continue. Everyone around me allows the silence I need to gather my thoughts.

“The night I refused Joaquin’sadvanceswas the biggest mistake of my life. Not because of the physical wounds he inflicted on me. I healed and I am still here.”

I stop fiddling with the edge of the sheet to raise my eyes to Rage’s.

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to.”

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