Page 63 of The Sinner’s Desire (The Sinner’s Touch #1)

The first thing I notice when the elevator stops is different music. The kind you’d hear in a nightclub.

Weird.

All the time I lived here, I never saw a soundbox in the apartment.

My brother is always so focused on work that he has no time for fun, and I know Amos likes classical music—usually instrumental.

I ring the bell a few times, but there’s no answer. Even though I have the code, I no longer feel comfortable punching it in.

Finally, the door opens slightly and Ethan appears, but instead of inviting me in, he steps out and closes the door behind him. “Let’s get out of here.”

“Why?” I ask, suddenly suspicious.

“It’s not a good time to talk inside.”

“Not a good time?” A bad feeling starts to spread through me, but I try to stay firm. “What’s going on?” I ask as I start typing in the code.

“Lilly, don’t go in.”

Ignoring his warning, I push the door open and head toward the source of the music.

The apartment is oddly dim, and with each step, the music gets louder.

I’m shaking, and I can feel my brother behind me.

An overwhelming sense that something is very wrong takes over, turning my legs to jelly.

Finally, I reach the living room and have to blink a few times to believe what I’m seeing.

Amos is sitting in the chair by the window, a glass in his hand.

At first, all my attention is on him.

My first thought is that this scene doesn’t feel right.

He looks uncomfortable.

His gaze is on the floor, and I notice another glass on a side table, which makes me think my brother had been sitting there too.

As if to confirm that, Ethan settles back into the spot I imagined he’d occupied before I arrived. I see his face turn toward the performance playing out in front of him.

When I finally work up the courage to look at what he’s watching, I recoil as if I’ve been struck. A blonde woman is half-naked in the middle of the room, performing what looks like an erotic dance.

I freeze for a moment. This should be the point where I lose it—scream and demand to know why my boyfriend is watching this. But what runs through my mind is that I’m watching a play, something rehearsed.

A setup.

The girl’s face is so blank, so lifeless as she dances that any concern about why Amos is watching her disappears.

All I can think about is protecting her. Taking care of her.

I spent too many years living with the pain of loneliness to ignore it when I see it reflected in someone else.

I walk over to the woman, turning my back to both men. I take off the cardigan I’m wearing and drape it over her shoulders as best I can. Finally, her face lifts, and I see a bit of light in those pretty eyes.

“My name is Lilly. Come with me,” I say, taking her hand and leading her to my old room.

No one speaks.

It’s as if they’re in a trance, as if there’s nothing wrong with me interrupting the girl’s dance—and a suspicion starts to grow.

Ethan.

He set this up.

When we reach the bedroom, I guide her into the bathroom. “There are still some of my toiletries in here, if you want to wash off your makeup.”

She seems distant. No—she looks dead .

It’s a strange thought, but it’s the only way I can describe the hopelessness I see on her face.

“What’s your name?” I press. She might be a few years older than me, but oddly, I feel like I need to take control.

“Isabela.”

“Isabela, can you wait here for a bit? I need to talk to my brother.”

“Brother?”

“Yeah. The bearded asshole.” I’m ready to tear the apartment apart, because I know exactly what happened.

She nods, and I leave the room without another word. As I walk down the hallway, anger like I’ve never felt before courses through me.

Back in the living room, I see that neither of them has moved.

I promise myself that no matter what, I won’t cry.

Now Ethan is the one staring at the floor, while Amos sits tense, watching me closely.

But he’s not the one I need to speak to yet.

“How could you?” I ask, stopping in front of my brother at a safe distance. I’m afraid that if I get too close, I’ll hit him. “How could you do something this pathetic?”

He finally lifts his eyes, and I don’t need words to confirm what I already know. The shame on his face says it all. “Lilly . . .”

“All this because we’re together, Ethan? Or are you telling yourself you did this to protect me?” I shout. “You must think I’m really stupid!”

“Lilly, you don’t understand.”

“No, Ethan. You’re the one who doesn’t understand.

Did you really think I’d fall for this ridiculous act?

I’m inexperienced, yes. The emotionally stunted girl who’s never been in a relationship.

The na?ve, overlooked girl no one ever bothered to notice.

I’m all those things. But let me tell you what I’m not: stupid.

” I’m losing control, which only makes me angrier.

“He cares about me. I don’t know if it’s love, but I hope it is,” I say, pointing toward Amos without looking at him.

“You might think it’s just sex—and sure, there’s plenty of that too—but my Amos cares about me.

I feel it in every bone in my body. He would never betray me like this.

Unlike you, my boyfriend is an honorable man. He would never hurt me on purpose.”

“I didn’t mean—” he starts, but I don’t let him finish. If I don’t get it all out, I’ll explode.

“You really thought I’d believe Amos would cheat on me with another woman?

He doesn’t even notice them when we’re together.

They practically throw themselves at him and he doesn’t blink.

You used the fear he has that I’ll be hurt by the organization against him, didn’t you?

You convinced him that the only way to keep me safe was to push me away.

When are you going to understand that I’m not a child anymore? ”

“Lilly, I’m sorry.”

“I’m not talking to you.” I pause, trying to keep the tears at bay. “No, let me correct that. I don’t want to talk to you, but I’ll tell you exactly what you’re going to do now. You’re going to my room, and you’re going to take that poor girl home.”

“You don’t know—”

“Shut up. Just listen first. Never dare to interfere in my life again. The man you’re trying to protect me from is the first person who actually saw me.

Who cared about who I am inside. Who didn’t treat me like some fragile doll.

” His shocked expression doesn’t matter to me now.

“I love him. And there’s only one way I’ll give up: if he doesn’t want me.

” I never thought I’d have the courage to bare myself like this, but I can’t stop.

I’m too hurt. “So stop acting like a fucking selfish bastard and let me live my life.”

“Don’t curse. That’s not you.”

“Oh, go to hell! You don’t know me anymore. Now, do what I said and take Isabela home.”

“ Isabela? ”

“For God’s sake! You didn’t even ask her name? What kind of man are you?”

“She didn’t say—”

“I understand. I don’t deal with idiots either.”

As I let out all my anger, I don’t once glance at Amos, but I can feel his eyes on me.

My brother stands and starts to come closer, but I raise a hand to stop him. “Don’t you dare. You are not allowed to touch me. Better yet, you are not allowed to contact me or speak to me until I decide whether I can forgive you. Get out of my way, Ethan. We have nothing more to say to each other.”

He looks unsure and still doesn’t move, but I’m done. Now, my attention turns to the only person who really matters.

“You.” I point at Amos. “You’re coming with me. I’m done waiting for you to come find me, so I’m giving you two options: we leave here together right now, or we’re done.”

In a split second, he’s on his feet, as if waiting for permission, which seems completely out of character. There’s not an ounce of him that isn’t dominant.

“Let’s get out of here,” I say again.

“Lilly—” my brother calls.

“Enough, Ethan! Don’t say another word, or I swear I won’t be responsible for what I do.”

Amos finally steps in, takes my hand, and leads us out of the apartment.