Page 45 of Betrayed By Sin

Like he hasn’t done a single thing wrong.

But that blueprint is seared into my mind.

And I can’t unsee it.

I don’t know what it means.

But it can’t be good.

I exchange the robe for my coat.

I hover at the edge of the couch, torn in two.

I want to wake him. Demand answers.

But if this is what it looks like...

I can’t afford to let him know I know.

I have to protect my family, even from him.

Silent knowledge is better than loud demands.

NINE

The front door clicks behind me as tears prickle my vision.

I left Sin still sleeping in the living room. Peaceful. One arm flung over where my lap used to be. The blanket I laid over him rising and falling with each breath.

He may wake up and realize I saw the blueprint, but I was careful to lay Romeo and Juliet back on top of it, the spine cracked open, lying on the quote.

Was it simply him thinking of me or is he deciding to take fate into his own hands and hurt my family?

My stomach flips again.

I walk faster, into the shadows of the sidewalk, careful to not let Maxwell catch site of me. If I get in the car with him my face and heart will betray me. He’ll know something happened in that house and he’ll report it to Cameron.

I need to figure out something before I come to my family with this.

I can’t start a war.

What if it was all fake? The late nights. The way he held me. Whispered my name like it was precious.

A crack of thunder roars overhead, wonderful.

I walk, then jog.

Now, I’m running.

I don’t know where I’m going. Just away. Far enough that I can’t feel the heat of Sin’s betrayal licking at my heels. I weave through the streets, the chill night air and rain cutting through my coat and onto my bare skin.

The city wraps around me, neon signs blinking, windows glowing, laughter spilling out of bars and restaurants. But I feel like I’m underwater. Distant. Fuzzy. Like I’m here, but not.

I duck into an alleyway, heart thundering, throat burning.

I want to scream. I want to claw my way out of my own skin. I want to break something until it shatters the way I just did.

A sleek black car glides up beside me on the adjoining street. Silent. Slow. Its headlights slice through the fog and rain like a knife.