Page 2 of Stained In Sin (The Twisted Trilogy #1)

Evelyn

Dammit. I’m late again.

I rush to my closet to pick out something to wear to my friend’s birthday dinner. Astra Monroe is going to be twenty-two, and she is the kind of friend who expects everyone to go all-out for her.

Our parents have been best friends since we were children, and we have remained good friends.

One thing about Astra— she has a dark side.

While she won’t tell me herself— I know that she has seen some twisted shit.

Granted, she has been admitted to rehab in the past for drug use, but I still love her.

She has a thing for this guy, Lucien Crowe. Rumor has it that he is smooth, dangerous, and sadistic. Astra will never learn.

I, on the other hand, prefer a classy, proper gentleman—one who is sweet, kind, and gentle. No, you don’t. The voice in my head reminds me of my darkest desires. I shove the thought away before I start to spiral.

I find a dress that I know Astra will love—it’s a black velvet dress with a deep-V cutout. I can pair it with my gold heels, which she got me for my twenty-first birthday. I slip the dress on, fasten my heels, and make my way to my en-suite bathroom.

I still live in my parents’ home, but it’s massive.

You rarely run into anyone here, even though the only people residing here are my mother, father, Sergio, and me.

I enjoy not having siblings. I don’t ever feel like I am being compared to someone else.

I know Astra has always felt that way with her older sister, Amara.

I suppose that would make me act out and be rebellious, too.

Amara has always been a big sister to me as well, but I don’t have to compete with her.

She is 25, just three years older than Astra, but they have entirely different interests.

While Astra loves to go out and party, Amara has always been a lone wolf.

I know one day she will find her prince charming, and Astra will find her bad boy. I hope to God it’s not Lucien.

I apply my make-up, going a bit more dramatic than usual.

I’m creating a dark, smoky eye and pairing it with my matte red lipstick.

It complements my soft green eyes and dark brown hair best. My hair is in loose cascading curls because I know damn well that Astra is going to take about a thousand pictures tonight for her Instagram.

Once I am ready, I grab my clutch and phone from my nightstand, but something stops me.

A note on my bedside table. I didn’t notice it earlier, and no one has been in my room. Have they? God, I’m such a heavy sleeper. I pick up the note. Folded perfectly, and the paper feels smooth and firm. I open it and it reads:

You look even sweeter when you think you’re alone. But you’re never alone. — D

I freeze in my tracks, scanning my room.

Adrenaline seeping its way into my sys tem.

“Hello?” I ask aloud. Nothing. The note slips from my shaky hand and onto the floor.

The curtains by my balcony are moving slightly.

I make my way towards the double doors and notice that they’re cracked.

I slam the door shut and twist the lock.

I sprint to my phone and clutch, taking off in a sprint.

I dash down the hall and out the front door as if the Devil himself is chasing me.

After all, the note is signed by someone named “D”.

We have a driver, Sergio, who stays with us 24 hours a day. He also does light errands, but he is always armed. You never know what psychos are out there, especially when your parents own one of the most profitable companies in the state of Colorado.

“Hey Sergio, my balcony doors were open, and a stranger left a note in my room. He implied that I wasn’t alone.”

The words leave my mouth in one breath. I’m quickly escorted to the Blacked-Out Mercedes, and he opens the door for me, keeping his head on a swivel. I slide into the back and lock the door.

Sergio climbs into the driver’s seat, peering back at me through the partition.

“I will conduct a full sweep of the property before anyone is allowed back inside. I assure you, we will get to the bottom of the situation.”

Letting out a heavy breath, “Thank you.”

I close the partition, allowing me to take in what the fuck just happened. This is the part I hate about being a part of a wealthy family—the unknown.

* * *

We arrive at the restaurant where Astra is hosting her birthday dinner.

She rented out the entire restaurant, which is typical for our families.

I slide out, and Sergio ushers me inside.

I feel my phone buzz inside my clu tch. It’s probably just my paranoid mother checking in on me.

I know Sergio contacted them on the drive over.

I decide to ignore her for now. We can talk after they find out what creep got into my room.

“Evelyn!” I hear Astra calling out from across the restaurant. I rush over to her and give her a tight squeeze as if we didn’t just see each other a few nights ago.

“I’m so happy you could make it,” she says with an ear-to-ear grin. Her long, blonde hair is polished, and she is wearing black thigh-high heels and a satin mini dress. I honestly expected nothing less from her.

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” I really wouldn’t. We may have different friends, but we have always been close to each other. Regardless of the paths we take, we support one another. We always have.

“And I LOVE your outfit choice, nice shoes,” she says with a wink.

She always loves to shower people with gifts.

I think that is her love language. She starts walking toward the group of people in the back of the restaurant near the bar.

There are so many people here, some familiar, some not.

Since we don’t share all of the same friends, I often hang around solo at her parties. I don’t mind it, though.

She has a handful of friends who are part of some elite group. They all look like they’ve killed someone… or fifty. That’s why I don’t mind being alone. I would not want to be on the receiving end of any altercation with them.

I stand next to her at the bar as she orders me a drink, a glass of champagne. She knows me too well. She turns to hand me the glass, and I take it gently by the stem, smiling back at her.

“I’ll be right back, Lucien just got here,” she says with a devilish smile.

I roll my eyes and sigh, “I’ll be here waiting.”

I take a sip of my champagne and scan the room.

Everyone is dressed immaculately, and the music is soft and sultry.

It reminds me of the nightc lub we went to four months ago for my birthday.

Club Muse— it is a themed nightclub where masks are required for anonymity.

It was Astra’s idea. People say it’s where the sinners go to play, aka a sex club.

I didn’t see any sex happening, so I think it’s just a rumor.

I place my glass on the bar and pull out my phone to check my message from my mom. When I open my messages, I find a message from an unknown sender.

A clean sweep of the house won’t do you any good. I’m always with you, little princess. — D

My heart races in my chest. My skin is crawling.

I haven’t been called that name since I was at Club Muse.

I told myself that night that I would never go back to that club.

I wanted to stay far away. I almost gave in to the voice in the back of my head.

The one that tells me to play with fire.

Luckily, I didn’t—or I may never have recovered.

There is no way the man from Club Muse found my phone number and home address, and then decided to contact me randomly.

It has been four months since then, and we haven’t even talked for more than two minutes.

Four months ago

I am staring into this man’s soul, and his song is enchanting.

It pulls me into its depths, setting my insides on fire.

His gaze is fierce and lustful. I can feel the desire creeping up my spine.

I lean closer, afraid to step away. He brings his head down so his mask is just centimeters from my ear.

I close my eyes softly, melting in his presence.

I feel goosebumps erupt across my porcelain skin as he speaks, “I will ruin you, Evelyn. That’s not a threat.

That’s a promise.” I feel the heat leave my neck, and a cold feeling engulfs me like glaciers colliding.

I open my eyes and he ’s gone. I look around, and it is as if he never existed.

Present

After that night, I thought I was hallucinating the whole thing— or maybe fantasizing it. I told Astra that, and she said I’d had too many drinks and I’d forget by morning. I didn’t. I have dreamed of that masked man on several occasions, but I can’t figure out why.

I want absolutely nothing to do with a man who promises to ruin me.

I don’t know why I said I wanted to make a deal with the Devil.

They often say sober thoughts come out when you’re drunk.

Thoughts race through my brain as I try to reason with myself.

There is no reasoning tonight. I need another drink.

* * *

After dinner, everyone is going around, saying their goodbyes— but I know Astra. She has an after-party planned. God, she is so predictable sometimes. I approach Astra with a soft smile.

“Evelyn, you’re just in time. We are going out tonight to celebrate, are you in?”

“I couldn’t say no to you on your birthday,” I tease back.

I follow the group that is lingering outside the front entrance, most of whom are Astra’s friends with drug and anger problems. I want to spend time with Astra tonight, but I am not looking forward to spending more time with these burnouts than I already have.