Page 6 of Stained In Sin (The Twisted Trilogy #1)

Evelyn

It’s my senior year of college, and the only reason I’m here is that my parents insist I have a degree. I’m studying business administration because I plan on working for the family business after graduation.

I don’t even need the degree because we have hired other people with degrees to do the work.

We sit back, fire people if required, and collect a check.

My family runs an investment firm. It’s basically where rich people give you money to make them richer.

And in return, we become richer. I think it’s a scam, but hey—if it pays the bills, I guess it doesn’t matter.

I love my routines, and I feel so off when I stray from my schedule. Today was one of those rare days when I don’t care. To top it all off, this class is boring and I don’t have any friends in it, so I sit in the back and take notes quietly.

I have a few classes with Astra, but she usually hangs around Lucien and Harmony.

Harmony is one of Astra’s best friends, aside from m e.

They have a lot more in common when it comes to partying.

Harmony comes from Lucien’s world. His world consists of betrayal, deceit, and probably murder if I were to guess.

Looking at the man, I can’t tell if he sells drugs or makes them.

He seems intelligent, and it’s always the smart ones you have to look out for.

Lucien’s family is wealthy, but no one knows what they do for a living.

He doesn’t talk about it, and he does leave for weeks at a time, which is what makes me think he kills people or he’s a high-class thief.

I don’t know what Astra sees in him. He cheated on her three times in two years.

Every time, he claims that he didn’t mean it.

He doesn’t love them as much as he loves her.

I call bullshit. He will never stop betraying her, and she thinks he’s a changed man. Every. Time.

Lucien’s friends are mostly older, and they graduated last year. He does keep his circle small. I don’t associate with them, so it makes sense that I don’t know any internal secrets that they have. Even though I wish I did.

My professor dismisses us, and I gather my bag. I need to get some air. I carry myself out of the building and head to a coffee shop near the outskirts of campus. I enjoy taking long walks, mainly to clear my head, especially after everything that happened in the past 24 hours.

It’s Autumn and the leaves have all turned. The air is crisp. The mountains look so picturesque at this time of year. I round the corner and admire the brick buildings that line the street.

I swing the door open as the bell rings, alerting the staff that they have a customer. I walk up to the register. The smell of fresh coffee beans fills the air.

“Hi Hun, what can I get ya?”

“I’ll take a medium Vanilla Latte, please.”

“Iced or hot?”

“Hot.”

“That’ll be $5.89.”

I rummage through my Louis Vuitton bag, searching for my card.

God, I’ve got to clean out this bag. I find it hiding underneath a few crumbled-up receipts.

Dad would kill me if I lost my card again.

It’s the third one I’ve had in a year. I tap my card to pay and scan the small cafe, looking for a place to settle.

I spot an empty table near the window and walk over to make myself comfortable.

The coffee shop is a small, family-owned establishment. The dark, minimalist design creates a clean and relaxing atmosphere—something I desperately need right now.

“Evelyn,” the barista calls. I swiftly move to retrieve my steaming hot beverage. Hopefully, this will soothe my nerves.

I take my seat and pull out my phone. I have an unread text from Astra, “Hey, sorry about the other night. You doing okay? Love u.”

I swipe out of her message, leaving her on read.

She deserves to worry about me, after all, I’m always worried about her.

She dismissed me after I told her that the masked lunatic had shown up again.

I scanned the room for him, but had no luck.

She was convinced I was “Seeing what I wanted to see”. Yeah, right.

I have another unread message— from the bane of my existence.

Didn’t you have a coffee already? —D

Beneath the text is a photo of me sitting by the window in the coffee shop.

He’s watching me. How long has he been following me?

Does he seriously have nothing better to do?

I quickly stand up and move across the shop to the tables near the back.

Now I sit tucked away so that I can stay away from prying eyes.

I grab my phone and send him a message back.

That is none of your business. Oh, and if I didn’t know any better, I would say you’re actions make you seem desperate. Gross .

Feeling confident in my response, I take a sip of my coffee and observe everyone in the coffee shop. He is the definition of desperate. If there is one thing that gives me the ick, it’s a desperate man.

I reach over to my bag and fish around for my AirPods. Music always makes everything better. I scroll through my phone until I find the playlist that speaks to me. The melody of “Happier Than Ever” by Billie Eilish filters through.

I pull out my school notes and make a few adjustments. I was tuning in and out during class today. I need to pay more attention. My phone buzzes, and I open the message.

Everything you do is my business. I’m not desperate either. I’m persistent. —D

I lock my phone. I don’t have time to put up with this stupid asshole.

I throw my notes into my bag and toss my empty cup in the trash can.

I need to see Astra. I was planning on ignoring her to let her worry, but she always knows how to have a good time and forget all the chaos that surrounds her. I can be petty another time.

I step outside into the crisp, cool air and open up my call log. I quickly find her contact and press call. It rings and rings. Then I get her voicemail. Of course, she is busy the one time I try to hang out with her.

I continue to listen to music as I wander back towards campus to retrieve my car. I am constantly scanning the sidewalks, making sure my little psycho isn’t close enough to kidnap me. I wouldn’t put it past him at this point.

I wish someone else had seen him. That way, I would have a better description to give to the police. Not that he has done anything illegal yet— aside from breaking into my house and stalking me. There was no proof.

Sergio let me know that they recovered no note. No signs of forced entry. Nothing. To say I was livid would be an understatement.

He probably is a serial killer. That’s why he doesn’t reveal himself to me.

I’m sure this stunt has worked on countless victims. They all have this stalker obsession.

Who wants to be followed around and kidnapped?

You do. The part of me I despise starts infiltrating my thoughts.

You want the danger. You know it could be fun.

It’s what you’ve always dreamed of. I run my fingers through my hair, gently pulling it at the scalp to help my mind focus on something else.

The tingling sensation on my scalp helps clear my mind.

I walk silently, approaching the parking lot and unlocking my car, tossing my bag into the passenger seat.

I slide into the driver’s seat when I see a white piece of paper underneath my windshield wiper.

People are always putting charity flyers or small business flyers on the cars here.

They know most of us have money, and they want our business.

I slide out of the car, rip the piece of paper from under the blade, and get back in my vehicle. I may be a lot of things, but I don’t litter.

I inspect the paper before deciding to crumple it. It’s not a flyer. It’s a note.

You want someone to save you,

But you need someone to break you—

slowly, deeply, without mercy.

You keep waiting for a sign,

when I’ve been the warning.

You cling to your innocence like it might protect you from me.

But I see the truth beneath it— the part of you that aches to be undone.

And I will be the one to do it.

I will be the one to mark you, taste you, and ruin you.

This isn’t a threat or a warning.

This is the beginning of the life you try to run from.

I’m as patient as the sea— but when I come for you,

I won’t give you air. Only darkness.

-D

My hand shakes as the crisp paper rests gently between my fingertips. I started sweating at the words he wrote. He sees me . The part of me that I have shoved down into the deepest part of my soul. No. He can’t. I lock the doors of my car, a sense of fear settling in my bones.

I reread the words on the crisp paper. It’s poetic— almost. A part of me feels like this note possesses more than just a promise of victory. It feels like it possesses something sinister. As if the words were laced with poison, meant to kill me slowly.

I toss the note to the side, and my shaky hands meet the leather-wrapped steering wheel.

I raise my eyes to my review mirror to meet my reflection.

I look lost. My eyes are a deep shade of green, resembling a windy forest. A part of me feels like I should put my car in drive and floor it until I physically can’t go any further.

While the other part of me wants to put my car in drive and slowly cruise through the winding streets, hoping to get lost in the dark.

What does it feel like to be ruined?

I shake my head at the thought. I don’t want him.

Or any part of this sick game. I know how men like him are.

They always want what they can’t have. The only difference is that, unlike all of the other girls in the world, I don’t give in to the temptation, especially when it comes from the Devil himself.

* * *

“Are you coming or what?” I hear Astra yelling at me from outside my room.

“Yes, I’ll be right there!”