Page 2 of Sin (Salvation #1)

Cassidy

Three years later

I’m leaving my neurobiology lecture when I get a text from the school admin telling me the dean wants to meet with me immediately.

Mixed emotions follow me with every step as I walk across the prep school campus to his office.

I’m positive the meeting is about finalizing the arrangements for me to graduate early so I can begin taking classes at St. Bartholomew’s, a prestigious local university that offers a program which would allow me to finish my undergrad in two years so I can enroll in medical school early.

I’ve wanted to be a medical scientist since my dad became sick when I was twelve years old.

My life’s goal is to discover treatments and cures for diseases so other kids don’t have to lose their fathers.

Attending Bartholomew’s will put me on the path to do just that.

But it also means that this summer I’ll be taking a full load of classes and I won’t be going home to Tennessee during the break.

Even though a huge part of why I signed up for college on the East Coast was to avoid going home, the reality of it feels like a part of me is dying.

It hurts too much to be near him, but it kills me to keep away.

When I’m led into the dean’s office, he greets me and turns his laptop around. On the screen is the tanned, blandly handsome face of my stepfather, Reverend Gideon Brandt.

He doesn’t bother with a greeting. I’m not surprised. He only ever acts fatherly in church or when a camera is pointed toward us.

“You’re coming home,” he informs me. “I’ve arranged for a flight out tonight and for a car to pick you up at the airport.”

“Is Mom okay?” I rush to ask, my worries about her drinking fueling my question. Then another possibility occurs to me. My blood runs cold, and my stomach clenches. “Oh, God. Did something happen to S?—”

“Everyone is fine,” Gideon says cooly, dismissing my worry almost as if it’s a nuisance. I let out a huge breath of relief as he continues. “I’ve decided I need you at home, so starting Monday, you’ll begin attending Thurston University.”

I feel my world spinning out of control. “But I’ve been accepted at St. Bartholomew’s. They have an incredible pre-med program.”

“So does Thurston,” he clips back at me, obviously annoyed but still keeping that tight smile on his face, which never reaches his eyes. “It’s closer to home, and it’s past time you began acting like a member of this family.”

I tried to belong. They were the ones who sent me away.

“But—”

“No more discussion,” he cuts me off. “Your mother and I are away at a conference, but we’ll be back by Sunday. I’ll expect both you and Sin to be in attendance, front and center, at my service.”

The mention of Sin’s name sends blood racing through my body, almost like it’s waking up after a long hibernation.

It’s the first time I’ve heard his name spoken out loud since last summer.

Except late at night in my room when my own voice desperately calls out his name after giving in to my fantasies, even though I know how wrong they are.

Gideon looks at his watch as I’ve taken up too much of his time, and sends me a stern look of warning. “Make sure you don’t miss your flight,” he orders, and without saying another word, hits a button to disconnect the video chat.

I stare at the blank screen for a long moment before the dean reclaims his computer and begins the paperwork to facilitate my early graduation.

After that’s done, I go back to my dorm room, pack up my belongings, and say goodbye to the few friends I’ve managed to make while at Bellmore.

It’s not until my plane takes off that I let myself think about the fact that I’ll be seeing Sin in just a few hours.

We’ll be living together again. Attending the same college.

I haven’t seen Sin since last summer, and, like always, each one of our interactions had electrified me. Thrilled me. Hurt me. I’d hoped not seeing him for the next two summers would finally break the unhealthy fascination I’ve had with him since I first met him.

I was fooling myself. The mere mention of his name today made every nerve in my body come alive and my heart race at the promise of just a glimpse of his face.

By the time my flight lands in Nashville, I’m practically shaking in anticipation of seeing him again.

Every minute of the long ride from the airport to the house feels endless.

Finally arriving at the sprawling mansion, I let myself into the house and look around.

It’s been redecorated since last summer, but that’s not why walking through these doors doesn’t feel like coming home.

I haven’t seen Sin yet, and as confusing and hurtful as our relationship can be, it’s never this house or even my mother that makes me crave returning here. It’s Sin. He’s my home.

Unable to wait until tomorrow, I head straight to Sin’s room. I’m about to knock when I hear moaning coming from behind the door.

“That’s it, Sin. Just like that. Faster.”

I recognize the rough, pleasure-soaked voice urging Sin on immediately. Mercer Saint , Sin’s best friend. I’d always known they were close, suspected they were more, but now I know.

Pain that I know I don’t have the right to feel explodes in my chest. I want to throw the door open and tear Sin away from Mercer, uncaring that he’s bigger and stronger than me.

My hand grips the doorknob and readies to turn it.

They’ll both laugh at you. You have no claim over Sin—no matter how strong the connection you feel toward him is.

I release the knob and take a step back. From the other side of the door, a crescendo of moans and grunts gut me. Unable to listen a second longer, I run down the long twisting corridor until I reach my room.

Once there, I start pacing as the mental pictures of Sin and Mercer together beat up my psyche.

Does he love him? The possibility of it burns me from the inside out.

Unable to stand it any longer, I start reciting every bone in the human body.

It doesn’t work. I get more worked up with every minute that passes.

It’s not until my breathing is shallow and erratic that I realize I’m having an asthma attack.

Grabbing my inhaler from my backpack, I depress the trigger, ready for the relief that will follow.

It doesn’t work . I shake it and try again.

Nothing . Luckily, my mom sent my refill prescriptions a few weeks ago.

I tear open the package of the next inhaler and place it in my mouth.

Again nothing . I start to panic when I go through five inhalers and none of them work.

I can feel my airway closing, and I’m struggling to get the smallest of breaths.

Knowing I need help, I start looking for my phone, accidentally breaking my desk lamp while I’m at it, and finally finding it lodged under my suitcase.

It’s dead. I let it drop to the ground. There are no staff at the house tonight.

When Gideon is out of town, Sid orders them off.

He says they are all Gideon’s spies and prefers doing without them.

Reaching Sin is my only chance for help.

The room is spinning, and I’m not sure I can even make it out of this room, let alone get to the other side of the mansion.

I start clutching at my throat. I need Sin . In that moment, I crave seeing him almost as much as I crave breath.

The door swings open, and there, like an answered prayer, stands Sinclair Brandt—my stepbrother.