Page 16 of The Sinner’s Desire (The Sinner’s Touch #1)

“What do you think?” I ask Blood, my most trusted man after Ethan.

“They're being more cautious. They’ve been changing locations more frequently.”

“We have to tighten the net, Blood. Time’s working against us. The longer we take to find them, the higher the chance they’ll flee the country.”

“They’re like snakes—slippery. What are you planning to do when you catch them?”

“You don’t need to know that.”

“I’m not a choirboy, Amos. I’m not letting you handle this alone.”

“You don’t need to carry the label of accomplice either. I want them both—Maria and Jonathan. I’ll never hand them over to the police.”

“I figured as much. But we need to plan ahead. We can’t leave any link between us and them, as we’ll also have to rescue the kids.”

Just the thought of children being held captive by sick bastards around the world makes me want to tear something apart.

“Maybe I’ve got the solution,” he says.

“What are you talking about?”

“You won’t just want to kill them, Amos.”

“No.”

Blood has known me nearly as long as Ethan has. There’s no point in lying to him.

“Then we need to plan carefully. I’m not letting you go to prison for putting those motherfuckers down.”

“Tell me what you’re thinking.”

“You’re not going to like it.”

“Since when do you walk on eggshells around me?”

“There’s a place we can take them. It’s off the grid. My contact owns the property, but he’s not exactly on the right side of the law.”

“Some might say neither are we.”

He shrugs. “I follow my own laws. And that means eliminating anyone who hurts the innocent. I won’t go into details—just know that once we catch them, I’ve got a place to hold them.”

“In this state? Boston?”

“No,” he says as he stands up, and I already know he’s not going to say more.

Blood has barely left the room before my phone lights up.

Lilly.

She didn’t call like I told her to.

The sweet little girl’s turning into quite the rebel.

Lillyana: Hi. Good morning. Just wanted to let you know I’m fine.

I tap the screen and call her. “Did Ula tell you to text me?”

“Good morning, Amos. How are you?”

“You already said good morning in your message.”

“And you didn’t reply.”

“Good morning, Lillyana. Now answer my question.”

“She said I should call, but I didn’t really have anything to say. I figured texting that I was okay was enough.”

And maybe it would’ve been—but I don’t like being disobeyed. “It wasn’t just a check-in. I need to know what your plans are while Ethan’s away.”

She sighs. “Yesterday you said you wouldn’t treat me like I’m made of glass, and now you’re acting exactly like Ethan.”

“This isn’t about treating you like a child. It’s about security.” I run a hand through my hair, irritated. It’s not her fault. She has no idea how many enemies her brother has.

“Sorry. Go ahead and give me a list of rules, and I’ll follow them, sir.”

“Don’t get smart with me.”

Because God help me, that just makes me want to tame her even more.

“Then don’t treat me like a baby. I’m just going to a bookstore and then maybe stopping by some real estate agencies to start looking at apartments.”

“What else?”

“Oh my God, I’m trying so hard to be nice, but you’re really not helping.”

“If you wanted easy, you should’ve stayed with your mother.”

“No, thank you.”

“Why didn’t you want to go there, Lilly?”

She’s silent for several seconds before answering. “I don’t feel comfortable around Ramon.”

That puts me on instant alert. “Why not?”

“I don’t know, Amos. I just don’t like him.”

I make a mental note to look into that. “What else are you doing today?”

“I was going to look for a travel agency.”

“What for?”

“I’m thinking of spending a weekend in Saint Barthélemy before school starts. I could just book the trip myself, but since I’ve never traveled somewhere like that alone, a travel package from an agency seems safer.”

“If you go, I’ll be sending security with you.”

I almost expect her to push back—but instead, she replies, “I wasn’t expecting otherwise. Now that we’ve completed my morning report, I wish you a good day.”

I get home late at night, promising myself I’ll only check in on her to make sure she’s okay since I haven’t seen her around the apartment.

But you know what they say— good intentions pave the road to hell.

The moment I reach her bedroom door, I’m greeted by the sight of a delicious ass in shorts, bent over in front of me as she wrestles with her suitcase.

“I thought you’d already unpacked.”

Lilly jumps, and the movement sends her falling onto the floor.

Two steps and I’ve got her in my arms. “You scare easily, girl.”

We’re so close, I can feel her breath—and it makes my blood temperature spike several degrees.

Fuck.

I should let her go immediately, but having her small body pressed against mine feels too damn good.

“Amos,” she whispers breathlessly—and I don’t think it’s because of the fall. “I didn’t expect you home so soon. You almost gave me a heart attack.”

“Who else would it be? The door only opens with a code.”

“If we’re going to argue, you can put me down.”

“I’m not arguing with you. I’m trying to discipline you,” I tease because I can’t resist.

She’s turned on, and her body’s reaction is making it that much harder to pull away. Still, I’ve mastered impulse control since I was a kid, so I keep my face neutral and set her back on her feet.

“Disciplining me or yourself?”

“What?”

“I talked to a friend, since I’m not exactly experienced when it comes to men. She suggested this tension we’ve been feeling might be . . . physical attraction. Is she right?”