Page 68 of Beautiful Sinners

“Hell, no. New York.”

New York City is where the Ferreira family home is located. It’s also where the Society gala used to be held every year during the second weekend in September, which is, coincidentally, this weekend.

“What about classes? I don’t want to get behind. I also have work. I can’t just skip out on Keith.”

College may not be important to them, but it is to me. I got into Darlington Founders under false pretenses, but my dream of becoming a doctor hasn’t changed. It’s going to be a precarious balancing act of attending classes… and all the other stuff going on.

Tristan avoids answering me and instead says, “Tell me one more time what Aleksander said to you.”

With a weary groan, I sit back, only to bend forward again when his knees poke into my spine. I’ve already told him a condensed, highly redacted version of what Aleksander said. I may have left out a bunch of stuff, including the part where Aleksander claimed to have killed Eva because Patrick told him to. I need Hendrix in a better headspace before I unload that ugliness on him. Hopefully, tomorrow, he and Tristan will have calmed down enough for us to have a conversation without the raised voices and male temper tantrums. Who am I kidding? Once I tell Tristan I sent Alana to Ireland with Cillian, he’s going to explode.

“I’m sure you’ve memorized every word and could recite them back to me.”

“This isn’t a joke. You can’t believe anything that bastard says.”

Do not engage.Harder said than done.

“So, it’s okay for you to take his word that your parents, Patrick, and Gabriel are alive.”

A muscle ticks in his jaw. He did not like me pointing that out.

“He’s playing you.”

“Obviously.”

“He’s using you.”

I know that. I plan to use him, too.

“Of course he fucking is,” Hendrix snaps, and I cut him an acerbic look. He’s not helping the situation.

“He’s obsessed with you,” Tristan says next, and I choke back a laugh.

“That’s ridiculous. If anything, he’s obsessedwith you.”

He huffs out a sardonic scoff. “You’re so damn clueless.”

And we’re back to that shit again, which means I’m done.

“At least you didn’t call me stupid this time.”

“Aoife.”

“Syn,” I correct him just to be difficult. “And I’m going back to Darlington.”

I make it two feet past the French doors before the guys are right on my heels.

“We’re going to New York.”

If there was ever a time I’d want to pull out my hair and scream, it would be now. Instead, I go to the refrigerator to find something cold to drink. Spotting bottles of sparkling water, I grab one.

“You don’t get how far he’ll go, now that he knows who you are.”

That’s what he said regarding his father, then used it as the impetus to promptly move me into their house.

Twisting the cap off, I take a long, slow drink that does little to help rid the tequila-induced cottonmouth I’m experiencing.

“How does Aleksander know who I am?”

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