Page 61 of Betrayed By Sin

Cameron exhales, stepping closer. “You don’t have to want it. That doesn’t make it any less yours.”

I swallow hard. My voice barely makes it out. “Is that why you were so set on keeping me away from Sin? Because he threatensthis?”

His jaw tightens. “Because he threatensyou.” With a raw shake of his head, “but now things have changed. I just don’t know how to talk to Sin, where he’ll believe me.”

“I can talk to him.”

“Absolutely the fuck not.”

“So, let me get this straight. You expect our families to work together but I’m not allowed to talk to him?”

With a cocky grin he nods his head, “Correct.”

“Sin won’t hurt me. He will protect me.”

His voice issharp now, tinged with frustration. “You think he’ll fight for you? Lay down his life for you? Sin Donati only ever protects himself.”

I shake my head.“You don’t know him.”

Cameron exhales,his eyes filled with something close to regret.“I know men like him.”

Something in my chestcracks open.

“Then what am I supposed to do?”My voice isbarely above a whisper.“Pretend like I don’t care about him? Pretend like I don’t miss him every second I’m here?”

His expressionsoftens just enough to catch me off guard.

“No. I just need you to see that there’s more to this than your feelings. We can have a diplomatic relationship, but there’s no reason to let feelings get involved. Let me handle this.”

I look back at my father’s portrait.

I hate that Cameron’s words make sense.

Ihatethat I don’t know what to believe anymore.

He places ahand on my shoulder, grounding me.

“I don’t want to be your enemy, Magnolia.”

I close my eyes for a brief moment.“Then stop treating me like a problem to be solved.”

His fingers tighten slightlybefore he pulls away.

“Stop acting like I’m the only one keeping you from making the wrong choice.”

His words linger in the air like unfinished brushstrokes as he departs, leaving me in silent company with the paintings.

I sit in the middle of the room, questioning reality.

I don’t think Sin would put me in harm’s way, but those blueprints…

FOURTEEN

The weight of my family’s expectationspresses against my chest like a vice, suffocating and relentless.

I don’t know how long I sit there,staring at my father’s portrait, feeling the invisible strings tying me to a history I never asked for.

But it’s all I ever wanted. A family.