Page 48 of Stained In Sin (The Twisted Trilogy #1)

Evelyn

I pace back and forth as Lucien and Dante watch me. We are in Dante’s office and are currently discussing the house fire that killed my mother.

Dante explained to me that Lacey has a history of arson. She once had a boyfriend who forgot her birthday, and she dumped gasoline on his car and watched it burn. Psychotic bitch.

With that information, we have concluded that Lacey is the primary target.

While I think Nicolette may be involved, as evidenced by her attempt to instigate a fight with me at the restaurant with Astra, Dante, and Lucien, they don’t see eye to eye on the matter.

She has been lying low ever since the day at the restaurant.

That’s unlike her. Dante wanted to kill her when I told him what happened, but I told him it was a waste of his time.

Dante and Lucien think that Harmony could have done it, considering we all think she is being blackmailed. I don’t see how Harmony could ever do such a thing.

So that brings us to where we are now. I had planned to let this simmer for a bit longer, but I received an unexpected text before we left Miami .

The fire was never meant to kill.

It was meant to remind you of what happens when you steal something that doesn’t belong to you.

Some masks don’t come off, Evelyn.

And not every woman smiles out of kindness…

Dante and I have attempted to analyze the text, but we have ended up with two separate conclusions. Now we have Lucien here to help us clear the air.

“Let’s start from the beginning,” Lucien says, with a pen and paper ready to come to a conclusion.

“The fire was obviously a warning that got out of hand. So no targets toward your family, just you directly.”

I nod, accepting that it was my fault my mother was killed.

“The second line says that you stole something that didn’t belong to you. That could easily be Dante— if Lacey is the one who sent this.”

I nod once more. It checks out.

“Some masks don’t come off, Evelyn. That line doesn’t make any sense. Is there anyone from the club you have ever wronged? That’s the only place you’ve worn a mask, correct?”

“Yes to the last part, no to the first part. I have only been a few times.. I went with Astra twice, Dante was the only man I had spoken to…”

My mind reels, trying to remember everything, but Dante breaks the silence.

“You’re forgetting that time you tried to make me jealous.”

My cheeks grow an intense shade of red as my skin heats.

“Right… sorry, how could I forget?” I say quietly.

“Was there anything odd that happened at the club that night?” Lucien converts the conversation back to a professional matter.

“Um, no. Not really. I got there, went upstairs, and then I…,” my mind trails off as I recall the man who stood outside the rooms, showing me around.

“There was a man. He had a mask on, but he was very… polite. He did stay to um.. watch, but he left after.”

Fuck. I forgot about the card. I never told Dante about the card.

“Okay, so nothing there.” Lucien goes back to reading the text.

“Okay, wait. He gave me a card, and he said that if I needed anything, I could contact him. He said he was always discreet.” The memories flood my brain like a tsunami.

“He.. he also said that one of his favorite rooms at the club was the Inferno..”

Fuck, how could I be so blind.

“Do you have the card?” Lucien speaks with urgency, and Dante flexes the muscles in his jaw. I pause for a moment. Dante can forgive me later.

“Yes. It’s in the closet. I’ll go get it.”

* * *

I return to the office with the business card in hand. Thank god I moved my stuff out of my parents’ house before the fire. I hand over the card to Lucien, and his eyes go wide.

“Are you sure this is the card?”

“Yes, why?”

He swallows the lump in his throat as Dante slams his hand on his desk.

“Fuck!”

“W-what is it?”

“That card belongs to Lucien’s brother, Damien.” My chest aches at the revelation.

* * *

After about an hour we concluded that the card was probably given to me to scare the shit out of Lucien and Dante. They are still convinced that the masked man was involved, but they have no clue who he is.

We have also concluded that Lacey is the one who started the fire, along with Nicolette. Lucien agreed after reading the final line of the text. She never smiles out of kindness. The last person to help has to be the man from the club, but at least we know two of the three people.

I told Dante I wanted revenge, and he agreed.

So here we are at 1 A.M. heading to Lacey.

He is taking me out on my first job. I feel almost giddy.

I never thought that the dangerous lifestyle suited me, but I couldn’t have been more wrong.

He was right. This is the one person I do want revenge against.

We pull up to where Lacey stays downtown. She has an apartment because she never wanted her parents to be involved in her business. I get it. Dante knows she lives alone, and there is no security with her. She is a psychotic bitch who doesn’t fear anyone, but she really should.

We step out of the car and head to the fire escape. I told Dante I wanted the element of surprise. Dante goes first, followed by me, and Lucien stays close behind.

The metal feels so cold under my fingertips, and my skin buzzes with anticipation as we scale the building. Once we reach her window, Dante signals to Lucien, letting him know we are ready to enter.

Dante first tries to slide the window open, in case it is unlocked. It is. Dante enters first and then helps me in through the window. Lucien stays on the fire escape in case she tries to bolt.

I hold my gun in front of me, as Dante showed me, and we walk through the apartment to her room. He motions for me to continue as he leads me to her.

He twists the doorknob silently and steadily as he pushes open the wooden slab. I have a clear view of the bed where she sleeps. Next to her is a man, and Dante said it was a good possibility. He said she has always been a whore.

He moves to the side of the bed where the man sleeps and locks his gun into place. I nod to him, letting him know that I am going to wake her up. I grab a lamp from her nightstand and crash it against the wall. She startles awake, and the man lies there, not stirring an inch.

She rubs her eyes as I come into her vision. “Did you miss me?” I smile at her, knowing she never expected me to come for her. Stupid bitch.

“W-what are you doing here? You have no right!”

“Oh, but I think I have all the right,” I saw through gritted teeth, keeping my gun aimed at her head, “it was you who burned down my house, wasn’t it?”

She swallows thickly.

“Thought so,” I say as I pull the trigger, sending a bullet straight through her head. My hands shake with adrenaline as I watch the aftermath.

I thought I would miss, so I made sure I stayed a short distance from her. Blood splatters behind her as her body falls limp into the man lying next to her. He still doesn’t fucking move.

Dante nods for me to go to the door, and I do. He follows behind me, and we head to the fire escape.

“You didn’t kill the man?”

“He didn’t need to be killed. He was some nobody she found at the bar. Fucker is out cold.”

I nod as we make our way to the car. Dante doesn’t have to kill innocent people. His father made him. He isn’t an evil man. He never was.

Lucien hops in the driver’s seat as Dante and I sit in the back.

Dante looks over at me, sliding his hand onto my thigh.

“Do you feel better?”

I smile up at him, feeling my heart swell. Adrenaline buzzing through my bones.

“I think I could do that again,” I admit out loud.

Dante leans over and kisses my forehead.

“You’re so fucking perfect, princess.”

I nuzzle my head into his chest, knowing everything will be okay. Won’t it?