Page 4 of North (Total Sinners #1)

North

I could’ve spent all day waiting for Quinn to come downstairs, but I needed to prove to myself that I wasn’t as focused on her as I already was. So I invited the gang. They were going to join anyway, but later in the month.

Lucky for me, they weren’t phased about the change.

But I didn’t say a word about Quinn, and something about that bothered me. Was I protecting her, or myself?

Connor’s laugh rang out first, sharp and obnoxious as he shoved the front door open, his broad shoulders brushing the frame like he didn’t care if he left a mark. Victor followed close behind, his polished, effortless smirk already firmly in place. Summer trailed after them, her honey-blonde bob catching the sunlight as she tossed me a bright, syrupy smile that I ignored.

“Damn,” Connor muttered, whistling low as he glanced around. “Did this place get bigger or what? It’s fucking massive.”

“Kind of looks like a castle,” Summer joked. “Please tell me you guys have cleaners.”

I nodded my head, confirming.

Victor snorted, running a hand over the banister like he was testing for dust. “Mark compensating for something?”

Yeah, he was. He’d done renovations recently when he heard that Quinn might be moving in with us. He wanted to make her comfortable, take her mind off her father’s possible (at the time) death.

“Where’s Aiden?” I asked as Connor shoved the door shut behind them. “He’s not coming?”

“Ignoring my calls,” Connor replied, jaw ticking. “Probably for the best, he’s in a pissy mood. God only knows why.” Connor would know better than any of us, considering Aiden was his brother.

Fuck. That changed things. “I’ll message him,” I muttered.

The whole fucking point of inviting them earlier had been for him to be here when Quinn came out of her fucking room. If she even remembered him. Hell, she hadn’t been in town since Mark and Lauren got married—what was that… eight or ten years ago?

I couldn’t blame her, but the least she could fucking do was acknowledge the mess her father had left behind.

While I pulled out my cell phone, Connor and Vic retreated to the kitchen to grab a beer, Summer trailing along like a lost fucking puppy.

North: Hey, man. You still coming to the party?

The message went unread, and after staring at it for a moment, I pocketed my phone and went to find the others. Their voices filled the space instantly, loud and brash, echoing off the glass walls and polished wood floors. Normally, the noise was welcome, a good way to drown out the shit that lingered in my head when the house was too quiet.

But today, it grated my nerves.

Because she was here.

Quinn.

I didn’t see her at first, but I didn’t need to. I could feel her eyes on me whenever she walked past. Her stare is heavy with accusations, and impossible to ignore.

Finding her didn’t take long after I reached the living room. I just had to glance out the window and my eyes latched onto her. She was out on the deck, sitting near the edge of the pool with her legs dipped in the water, her back hunched slightly like she was trying to disappear. She wasn’t doing anything—just staring out at the lake, her arms wrapped around herself like she needed comfort.

Not that I gave a shit or anything, but she might as well have been under a spotlight.

Connor noticed her almost immediately. “Who’s that?” he asked, his voice low and sharp as his eyes locked onto her. His eyes flickered with interest, and I felt my jaw tighten in response. I wasn’t sure if I liked it or not that he didn’t recognize her.

Shrugging, I forced myself to lighten my tone to avoid suspicion. “No one special.”

Connor raised an eyebrow, taking a slow sip of his beer. “Doesn’t look like anyone.”

That was the fucking problem.

“It’s Harley’s kid,” I said flatly.

Connor froze, the bottle still halfway to his lips. He stared at me for a long moment before letting out a bitter laugh. “You’ve gotta be kidding me. Mark’s letting the murderer’s kid shack up here?”

“Drop it, Connor.” My hands wrapped around a beer that Vic brought me, and I tapped it against my leg. God help me, but I couldn’t get into it today.

“Her dad ruined lives, North,” he snapped, his voice rising. “He left my brother with a fucking limp. He killed Lila.” His eyes flicked back to the deck, narrowing as he watched her shift slightly, her auburn tresses catching the sunlight. “And now she’s just… here? Walking around like nothing ever happened?”

“She’s Lauren’s kid too. Can’t exactly say no to her, now can I?” I said, my voice tight. We both knew Lauren didn’t really give a shit about Quinn. She hardly spoke to her daughter because she was too busy trying to step into the role of the perfect Crawford Step-mother.

Evie liked her; that was the only reason I hadn’t bitten her head off for interfering, but at least Liam felt the same way I did. It was odd as fucking hell when her and Dad got married.

Connor let out a sharp, bitter laugh. “No, she’s not. But she’s still here. Acting like she belongs.”

The irritation simmering in my chest flared hot. He wasn’t wrong—not entirely. But the way he said it made something twist in my gut.

“None of my business,” I said, implying it wasn’t his either.

Connor frowned. “What?”

“She’s just the charity case,” I added, louder this time, my eyes locked on her. “You know, Dad likes to feel sorry for the underdog. After all, he married Lauren.”

Her shoulders stiffened, and she turned slightly, just enough for me to see the flicker of anger in her hazel eyes before she looked away. Good. But the dark satisfaction that usually came with seeing her squirm was short-lived, tangled up with something I didn’t want to acknowledge.

***

The afternoon dragged on, the house buzzing with noise and movement, but my focus stayed locked on her.

I told myself it was because she didn’t belong. Because she was ruining everything with her quiet, careful presence. She moved like a shadow, sticking to the edges of the room, trying to disappear, trying to make herself small.

But it didn’t work. Not for me.

She was always there. Always pulling my attention to whether I wanted her to or not.

She was by the pool now, stretched out on one of the lounge chairs, her knees drawn up slightly, her bare legs pale against the dark wood of the lounge chair. That black bikini she wore didn’t reveal much, but it didn’t have to. The soft curve of her hips, the subtle rise and fall of her chest, the faint freckles dotting her skin in places I shouldn’t have been staring at—it was enough to create a sharp, angry heat pooling low in my stomach.

She didn’t try to draw attention like Summer did. Didn’t drape herself over the furniture, or laugh too loudly or flick her head like she was waiting for someone to notice her.

She didn’t need to.

Quinn shifted slightly, her thighs brushing together as she adjusted her position, and my eyes dragged lower, tracing the long, lean lines of her legs down to where her feet skimmed the water’s surface.

Something dark and insistent coiled in my chest, sharp and unbearable, and I cursed under my breath.

“Jesus, North,” Victor drawled, his voice cutting through my thoughts. “You’re staring so hard you’re gonna burn a hole through her.”

“Shut the fuck up,” I muttered, tearing my eyes away.

Connor snorted, glancing up from the game controller in his hands. “He’s worse than a dog in heat,” he said, his tone sharp and mocking. “She’s just a pair of tits, North. Find another bitch to fuck, there’s plenty who’d be happy to take a spin on your dick.”

I’d already tried that with the blonde yesterday. Still, the words hit harder than they should have, stirring something hot and angry in the pit of my stomach.

“Don’t worry about me,” I said quickly, too quickly. “She’s nothing.”

Connor smirked, taking a long swig of his beer before setting it down with a loud clink.

“Exactly. She’s nothing, so stop looking at her like she’s your next fucking meal.”

His lip curled slightly as his green eyes flicked toward the pool, where Quinn was now lying on her stomach, the curve of her back and the faint indent of her waist visible even from here.

“If anything, she’s a liability. Walking around here like her dad didn’t destroy everything he touched. Like she’s not dragging her dead weight into this house. You should be trying to get rid of her, not panting after her.”

Victor laughed, low and dark, leaning back in his chair as he took another drag from his cigarette. “He’s not wrong, you know. She’s fragile. Easy to break. You could ruin her if you wanted to.”

The words were casual, but there was something sharp beneath them, something pointed.

“I’m not interested,” I said through gritted teeth, even as my chest tightened, my gaze drifting back to the deck. “She’s just going to be here for the summer, then she’s out again.”

Victor smirked, exhaling a plume of smoke. “Bullshit, you know that’s not true. You said it yourself, Mark loves a charity case. Don’t kid yourself, she’ll be here next summer. Then the summer after that, and after that.”

Connor’s eyebrows raised.

“He’s not wrong. You could destroy her, North. It wouldn’t take much. Just a little nudge in the right direction and you won’t hear from her again. A few words, a few well-placed rumors, and she’d shatter.”

Clearly getting off on the idea, Connor leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees, his expression dark and smug.

“She’s a nobody. A charity case. If you pushed hard enough, she’d probably crawl back to wherever the hell she came from.” He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Or she’d beg you to stop. Either way, you’d win.”

Heat flared in my chest, sharp and unbearable.

“She doesn’t deserve this,” Summer said suddenly, cutting through the tension like a blade.

We all turned to look at her. She was perched on the arm of one of the chairs, her legs crossed, her expression uncharacteristically serious.

“What?” Victor asked, his tone laced with amusement.

Summer rolled her eyes, tossing her hair over her shoulder.

“I’m just saying, you can’t say shit like that in public. People talk, Vic. And if anyone hears you, it’s going to get back to Dad. Or worse, Mom.” She shot me a pointed look. “And you, North—you need to figure out what you’re doing. Because you’re not subtle, and she’s not stupid. It’s obvious you’ve got the hots for her.”

I scowled, my jaw tightening. “Whose side are you on, Summer? What the fuck are you doing here anyway? Nobody needed your help at the kiddies' pool today?”

She worked as a lifeguard, something she’d been doing since she was sixteen—an easy job, and one that made her jaw clench as she glared at me.

Connor smirked as he turned to wink at her. “Sum’s just along for the ride, aren’t you, doll? Besides, she didn’t mean it like that.” He practically fucking purred as he lifted an eyebrow. “You think she doesn’t know about what her dad did to Aiden?”

Summer softened visibly. “No, that’s not what I meant. I-I,” she stammered, smoothing her dress over her thighs. “I just meant that you're going to get into trouble if you don’t think about this properly. You want to ruin her? Fine. Do it. But don’t get sloppy. And don’t forget—people are watching. Always.”

Her words hung in the air long after she walked away, her sharp heels clicking against the wood floors, heading in the direction of the bedrooms.

Victor’s smirk widened, his dark eyes gleaming with something cruel. “You heard the lady, North. Don’t get sloppy.”

I didn’t respond, my hands clenching into fists at my sides as I stared out at the pool.

Quinn was lying on her back now, one arm draped lazily over her head, the other trailing in the water. She looked… peaceful. Like she didn’t have a care in the world. Like she wasn’t carrying the weight of her father’s sins on her shoulders.

And for some reason, that only made me angrier. Who the fuck did she think she was, spending her summer in my fucking house? Victor’s words echoed in my head. She’d be here next year, and the year after that for sure. Hell, she was probably just like Lauren, always interfering and doing what she wanted like it was her fucking money and not my father’s. Or my mother’s.

The thought stuck, sharp and insistent, digging into me like a thorn. And the worst part was, I didn’t know if I wanted to pull it out.

***

I found Quinn in the kitchen later, moving quietly as she pulled two bottles of water from the fridge. She didn’t notice me at first, her focus on the task at hand, but I saw the tension in her shoulders, the way her movements were just a little too careful, like she was trying not to draw attention to herself.

If only it were that fucking easy.

“What are you doing?” I asked, leaning against the doorway.

She jumped, spinning around to face me, her hazel eyes wide and startled. Her grip on the water bottles tightened, her knuckles white as she stared at me. I nearly snorted, the little rabbit looked like she’d been caught stealing or something.

It really wasn’t that far off.

“Getting water,” she said, her voice small but steady.

“For who?” I stepped closer, my lips curving into a smirk as her cheeks flushed. “Connor?”

Her brow furrowed, and she glared at me. “What the hell are you talking about?”

I let my gaze drag over her slowly, deliberately, watching the way her blush deepened. “Well, I mean he’d be able to afford those services we were talking about, rabbit. Don’t act like you don’t know what I mean. You think he’d be interested in you? After everything your dad did to his brother?”

My tone was sharp, biting, and maybe filled with a little more jealousy than I’d like to admit as I leered at her trembling body. Her nipples were poking through her bikini top. I wanted to wrap my lips around them. Bite them.

“He wouldn’t pay you to suck him off, rabbit. Do you remember Aiden, rabbit? He can’t even walk without a cane these days. Your father wrecked his life fucking nicely. He would’ve made a great quarterback for the NFL if it weren’t for Robert.”

Her jaw tightened, her hazel eyes narrowing. “Seriously, North?” she hissed, her voice sharp. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

“What’s wrong with me?” I repeated, my tone mocking. I closed the distance between us, watching the way her body stiffened, the way her breath hitched as I leaned closer. “You’re the one walking around this house like you belong here. Like you’re innocent.”

Her shoulders squared, a flicker of defiance sparking in her expression. “Innocent of what, North? Murder? Don’t you think my dad would’ve been locked up if there was anything to those rumors?”

“No,” I said, my voice dropping lower, colder. “Because people like your dad know how to bury their sins deep. But that doesn’t change what he did. And it doesn’t change that you’re his daughter.” I took another step forward, forcing her back against the counter. “Maybe I should be the one locking my door, just in case the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

Her lips parted slightly, her breath hitching. For a second, it looked like she might say something, but the words never came.

“Nothing to say, rabbit?” I murmured, closing the gap until there was barely an inch between us. My body loomed over hers, and I could see her chest rising and falling rapidly, her fingers clutching the edge of the counter like it was the only thing keeping her upright.

My cock brushed against her stomach, and she inhaled sharply, the sound cutting through the charged silence like a blade.

“Get out of my way,” she said, her voice trembling, but there was no strength behind the words.

“Make me,” I challenged, my lips curling into a wicked smile as I leaned down, bringing my face closer to hers. God, that fucking scent of hers was like a drug.

She struggled against my chest, but I caught her wrist easily, pinning her hand back against the counter. My hips pressed into hers, harder this time, and I felt the way her body went rigid beneath mine. Chuckling darkly, I thrust against her, slow and deliberate, savoring the way her breath hitched.

“Is your pussy wet, rabbit?” I asked, my voice dropping into a low, taunting whisper. Her eyes widened, her cheeks flushing crimson, and I laughed again. “Something tells me if I reached down right now, I’d find you fucking dripping for me.”

“Shut up,” she snapped, her voice shaking. But she didn’t fight me when I picked her up and put her on the counter.

“Why? Because I’m right?” I thrust against her again, grinding my cock against her hot center.

Quinn’s head fell back against the cabinet with a shaky exhale. Her chest rose and fell against mine, every breath a little faster, a little more shallow.

“You’re pathetic,” I murmured, the words harsh but laced with something darker, something I didn’t want to name. “Bet it wouldn’t take much to make you come right here, would it? You’re so desperate for someone to notice you, so eager for attention, you’d probably let me take you right on this counter. Just like this.”

Her lips parted, a faint, breathless sound escaping them as her hazel eyes flickered, dazed and unfocused. They almost looked gold under the kitchen lights. For a moment, I almost felt guilty. Almost.

But the sight of her like this—flushed, trembling, caught between anger and something she couldn’t admit—only made me want to push further. To see how far I could take her before she broke.

“You’re close, aren’t you?” I smirked, dragging my lips down the line of her jaw. Her body trembled beneath mine, her fingers clutching at the counter like she was drowning. “You probably don’t even need my fingers on that swollen clit of yours to make you cum.”

“No,” she whispered, her voice heavy with arousal. “This is wrong.”

“Is it?” I asked, my voice mocking. My hips pressed into hers again, slow and deliberate, and I felt her body stiffen. “Then why are you still here, rabbit? Why aren’t you running?”

She let out a shaky breath, her head falling back against the cabinet as I leaned closer, my lips hovering over hers.

“Say it,” I whispered. “Say you don’t want this, and I’ll stop.”

Her hazel eyes locked onto mine, wide and filled with something that looked dangerously close to surrender. But she didn’t say anything.

And then, before I could think better of it, I kissed her.

It wasn’t soft. It wasn’t sweet.

It was rough and demanding, a clash of lips and teeth as I poured every ounce of frustration, anger, and desire into her.

Quinn froze at first, her body stiff against mine, but then she gave in. Her lips parted, her hands grabbing my shirt as she kissed me back with a ferocity that caught me off guard. Her tongue twisted against mine, and my cock thickened, likely leaving a wet spot on my boardshorts as it started to weep for her.

It wasn’t just her giving in. It was meeting me head-on, matching me with every thrust I made against her pussy.

The heat between us burned hotter, brighter, until it felt like I was drowning in it. My hand slid to the back of her neck, pulling her closer, deepening the kiss until there was nothing but her—her soft lips, her sharp breaths, the way her body pressed against mine like she couldn’t get close enough.

Victor’s voice echoed in my head, cold and cutting.

You could break her if you wanted to.

And I really, really wanted to.

But not for the reasons he thought.

Because no matter how much I hated her, no matter how much she reminded me of everything her father had done, I couldn’t stay away.