Page 35 of Stained In Sin (The Twisted Trilogy #1)

Evelyn

I’m sitting in class, waiting for the lecture to be over.

I missed several classes, and I still don’t want to be here.

Luckily, my parents sent me a message letting me know they are sorry for passing so much judgment on Dante.

At the very least, I could attend the classes they are paying for.

I’m not sure if I am still unwelcome in their house.

I do feel bad for giving in to the dark side of my mind. They did, after all, keep me from getting mixed in with the wrong crowd for years. I just managed to ruin everything. I ruined everything for a masked man I knew nothing about. Well, I still don’t know that much about him. Yes, you do.

The lecture continues about business ethics— the irony. I open up my phone to distract myself, and I get a message from Dante.

“You look so beautiful when you study.”

He attached a picture of me to the message.

My cheeks heat, knowing he is here watching me. He loves me.

Well— maybe not out loud, but I know he does. He has been constantly checking on me and making sure that I am happy. I couldn’t ask for more.

The professor wraps up our lecture and dismisses us. I go to put my notebo ok in my bag, and a figure casts a shadow over me. I peer up to meet wild eyes. Dante .

“You’re pretty easy to stalk, Ms. Blackwell.”

I place my hand over my heart sarcastically.

“Aw, are you worried about me?” I give him a fake frown.

He grabs my wrists and hauls me up so we are chest to chest.

“I think you should pay more attention, princess.”

He takes my bag from the floor and carries it out, leaving me standing where I am.

“Wait, you can’t just leave me!”

I run after him until we are outside the school.

* * *

Dante dropped me off at a local cafe, letting me know he would be back in an hour.

He has still been leaving for random increments of time.

He is still going above and beyond for me, but I feel like the conversation about Amara has left a sour taste in my mouth.

He knows something. He told you to stop asking.

Astra texted me after class wanting to meet up. It’s been several days since Amara passed, and they still don’t have any leads. I wait for Astra in a booth towards the back so we can chat privately, and we have a clear view of the door.

Astra walks in the front, and I give her a wave, letting her know I am here. She moseys her way back and plops down in the booth.

“Thank you for meeting me.”

She seems down, but not as bad as she has been.

“You know I’ve always got you.”

She nods at me as the waitress comes to take our orders.

“So, I’ve been needing to talk to you about some things…” Her fingers trace the rim of her iced water. Whatever it is she needs to talk about, it’s e vident that she doesn’t want to talk about it.

“Of course, what’s up?”

“I am worried about Harmony.”

“Why, what happened?”

“Well, last night, I was talking with Harmony. She seemed really… upset. After we talked for a while, I concluded that she is being blackmailed. I don’t know by who, but I know whoever it is, has her looking over her shoulder. I don’t think she is safe.”

My skin crawls at the reminder that no one is safe. We have all been pulled into this world that is full of betrayal and worse—death.

“I’m not surprised. I feel like, at this point, we are all walking around with targets on our backs. As far as her safety goes, why don’t you ask her to stay with you for a while? I know you’re used to having Amara around. It might be a benefit to both of you.”

She nods slowly and gives me a soft smile.

“I don’t know why I didn’t think about that. I’ll have to see if she’s cool with it. I know her parents don’t talk to her after she refused to get married to some piece of shit a few years back. She’s been staying in this apartment downtown ever since. It’s not in a good area either.”

“If she agrees, let me know, I can help you move her in.” I smile at Astra, she knows I always have her back.

Even if Harmony isn’t an immediate friend of mine, Astra cares for her.

If Astra thinks we should help her, then we will.

Although I think Astra is being a little paranoid, too.

I hope she isn’t back on drugs. She is always so good at hiding it from me.

* * *

I get back to Dante’s house after a silent car ride. The sofa envelopes me in a cushion as the fire burns in the fireplace. Fires have always intrigued me. The power it wields from a single flame. It can wipe out an entire home in a matter of minutes.

Dante emerges from the elevator carrying an envelope. He rounds the corner, entering the kitchen. The clanking of glasses lets me know he’s making a drink.

“Would you like some champagne?”

“Yes, please,” I call back.

He appears a few seconds later, carrying my glass of wine in one hand and his scotch in the other.

He sits beside me on the sofa, carefully transferring the glass into my hand.

He pulls the blanket off the back of the couch and submerges us beneath the plush material.

I nuzzle my head onto his chest as he places his arm around me.

“Thank you.” I smile to myself, feeling so very loved in this moment.

He plants a simple kiss on my temple and takes a drink.

“So, how was your lunch?”

“It was good. Astra was telling me about Harmony and how she doesn’t think she is safe right now. She thinks that Harmony is being blackmailed…”

He nods at my rambling and takes another drink.

“Is everything okay? With us?” I am hesitant, but the words spill out of my mouth before I can stop them. He answers me calmly.

“I am always okay when I have you.”

I swallow the lump in my throat. I feel like he is avoiding something.

“I feel like you’re hiding something from me.”

“I could never hide anything from you, princess.”

I take a sip of my wine. I want to believe him; he has never betrayed my trust before. So what is making it so hard for me to believe him now?