Page 3 of Cherished by the Sinners (Sinners Never Die #4)

Mason

M ason watched Darlene walk back into the Japanese guests’ suite, uncertainty rolling in his gut. He’d lived for hundreds of years, but this was the first time he could ever remember feeling so unsettled, unsure, and uneasy.

Normally, when he and his brother interacted with a woman, they didn’t have to do much to indicate their interest. They’d sit or stand next to her and make strong eye contact. They didn’t have to say much. The woman usually understood and either ran from them or invited them up to her room.

Darlene was different. She kept asking them questions, like what do you want? Is there a problem with one of the rooms I cleaned? Or did you want to talk to me about something?

What they wanted was to fuck her, feed her, and keep her safe in their private suite for the rest of her life. If they told her that, she’d probably run away, then he and his brother would be in an awkward position. Because they would follow her.

He and his brother were sure. Darlene was someone who, despite all the shit done to her, was kind, generous with her care, and carried an air of innocence.

She’d been horribly abused by everyone in her life.

From what Samantha had told them, that included her family—and after she’d escaped that nightmare—everyone she’d met on the street.

She’d been assaulted by a serial killer, injured, and had come too close to death.

Yet, she went about her work as a housekeeper at the hotel with an attitude of joy and gratitude.

He and Magnus had no idea how to talk to her, what to say, or what to do. They wanted her, and not just in bed. Her smile was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen in his long wicked life. He would do anything to be the person she smiled at.

But he and his brother were big men, scary looking, and had carefully cultivated brutal reputations on the street. It kept stupid people from making stupid decisions. It also kept them from making their desires known.

If they told her, or showed her, how much they wanted her, she’d be frightened. She might try to leave the hotel. Magnus was certain of it, and Mason agreed with his twin.

They were trying to get her used to them being around by crossing paths with her several times a day. They were always polite, didn’t crowd her, and asked how she was feeling every morning.

One of them watched her on the security feed while she was working, to ensure she was safe even when they weren’t close by. But that had backfired on them today.

She’d been angry. At him. At his brother. For a moment, she looked like she was going to either hit him again or kiss him. She hadn’t, she’d smacked his chest with an open palm, then her anger deflated like a burst balloon. Her last smile had been sad.

He didn’t understand what caused her to be unhappy.

He’d need to talk to his brother, figure out what was going on in her head.

Perhaps they were going about this all wrong.

Mason walked into the security office to find his brother watching the wall of security feeds from all over the hotel.

Magnus turned to look at his brother. “What happened?”

“She figured out that we watch her,” Mason said. “She got angry.”

Magnus studied him for a moment, then grunted. “And the Japanese?”

“He came out to tell me how good a job Darlene is doing.” Mason said. “But I think he did it because he felt protective.”

Magnus got to his feet. “Protective?”

“He made a vow to keep her safe.”

“Did you explain to him that she is under our protection?”

Mason let a satisfied smile slide over his face. “I didn’t have to, Darlene physically held me back. He noticed and acknowledged her claim.”

Magnus sat back down slowly, nodding his head.

Mason let some of his frustration out in his voice, growling, “She was angry. When she put it all together, understood that we watch her, it made her angry.”

“Why?”

“She said we didn’t have the right to do that. She’s afraid she will lose her job.”

Magnus snorted the same disbelief Mason felt.

“She’s also afraid we will get into trouble. She says she cares about us.” Mason took a couple more steps inside the room. “We might want to change our strategy. She isn’t like most women. I don’t think waiting for her to become comfortable with us is going to work.”

“We want her because she isn’t like most women,” Magnus said. He watched the screens again, but Mason didn’t think he saw what was on any of them.

“We should ask Anna for her advice.”

“Do you think she can help us?”

“She isn’t like most women either.”

“True. Let’s ask now.”

They found Anna working in Yvgeny’s apartment.

She glanced up when they entered, one eyebrow raised at the appearance of both of them at the same time.

Normally, they went about their duties in a way that put one of them on roving patrol around the building, while the other manned the security office or performed other tasks near the lobby.

By the time they came to a stop in front of Anna, who was seated at Yvgeny’s never-used dining table, she’d refocused her attention on the computer in front of her. Alone.

“Where is Evan?” Mason asked.

She didn’t look up. “He has gone shopping.”

“You let him go alone?” Magnus asked, concern laced through his words.

“What is he shopping for?” Mason asked. Anna would never let Evan do something that would jeopardize his safety and security. Something else was going on.

She finally looked at them and smiled as if they were complete strangers. “Is there a problem?”

“Not with the hotel,” Mason said.

Silence.

After a moment, she raised one eyebrow. “You have a problem with something else?”

“Darlene,” said Magnus.

Both Anna’s eyebrows rose. “What did she do?”

“Nothing,” Mason said, on a sigh.

“Ah,” Anna said, nodding.

“We don’t know... how to—” Mason began.

“Talk to her,” Magnus finished.

She stared at them for a long second. “Did you try it?” she asked. “Talking to her?”

Mason shifted his feet. “We don’t know what to say.”

“We don’t want to scare her,” Magnus added.

Anna sat back. “Ah.” She stared at the ceiling for a few seconds.

“You’re right, despite how difficult her life has been, she’s still.

.. innocent.” Anna’s lips twisted into a tight knot.

“Though she might argue with me about that. She has an endless amount of forgiveness for others, but little for herself.”

Mason waited.

Magnus held himself still next to him.

“You need to be direct,” Anna said. “Tell her what you want, but,” she held up a hand, “if you don’t want a long term relationship of some kind, don’t bother her at all. She has been hurt enough.”

“Hurting her is the last thing we want to do.”

Anna smiled and sat back. “Start with telling her that.” She waved her hand at them as if to shoo them along.

Magnus silently walked back to the elevator.

Mason didn’t move. “What is Evan shopping for?”

Anna grinned and it was the expression she had on her face right before battle. A battle she was looking forward to. “Weapons,” she said in the same tone of voice other women used when shopping for diamonds.

“Are we going to war?”

“Let’s just say I want to be prepared.”

“How prepared?”

She sighed. “I don’t know anything specific, but our recent guests’ arrival has made me concerned.” She shook her head. “It’s nothing you have to worry about today. You have a date with Darlene. We can discuss our situation tomorrow.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Mason joined his brother in the elevator and they went down to the main floor.

“I want to talk to Louise,” Mason said. “Make sure Darlene is finished at the normal time.”

“I will call the restaurant and tell them we’ll be coming down for dinner with Darlene,” Magnus said. He turned to go, but stopped and looked back at his brother. “What else?”

Mason nodded. “This is more than a date.”

“Which she knows nothing about,” Magnus said under his breath.

“Are words enough?” Mason asked.

“You want to give her diamonds?” Magnus asked.

“They’re what other men give their girlfriends. She needs something of ours.”

Magnus grinned, flashing his teeth, sharp as a blade. “We give her something that matters more to us than diamonds.”