Page 33 of Perfect Sin
“Can I come in?” Amber asks quietly.
I step back and let her through. She sees Ted propped up on the couch and rushes for him.
“Careful,” he reminds her he’s still recovering.
“I’m so sorry I wasn’t there before. As soon as my parents got me home they went all overbearing on me. They took my phone, my car keys, and all but locked me in.”
There are a couple of bags sitting on the porch, so I step out and bring them in before shutting and locking the door.
“Uhh, so I kinda moved out. If you don’t want me here, I understand, but I don’t want to be anywhere else.”
“We have a spare room, if Sin and Raven don’t mind,” Lucien offers.
“That’s a good idea, actually,” Holbrook comments before I can check with Raven. “Blackthorne might consider him a liability since he survived being shot.”
“I told the doctors and the police I don’t remember anything,” he said.
“Keep that up, but Holbrook is right. You should stay here,” I agree, and look toward the kitchen to Raven.
She nods. “We won’t let my father get another chance.”
Raven wipes her hands on a towel and sticks a large dish in the oven. “Jen said your favorite is lasagna and that you’ve been cleared to eat solid food again?”
Ted smiles at her. For a moment we have peace, surrounded by the family we’ve created. Too bad sometimes quiet comes before a storm.
10
A Painful Truth
Raven
I’mon edge during English class knowing everything I do about Jesse, but he doesn’t sit next to me or try to speak to me again. Sin’s frightening glower probably has a lot to do with that. Whatever the reason, I’m thankful.
Wednesday ends my lucky streak when he sits in front of me. The professor pulls Sin aside to discuss our first assignment, which was due on the second day of class no less. I’m trying to pay attention to their conversation and fail to notice Jesse turned around staring at me.
“Can I help you?” I’ve got a bitchy side, though I usually prefer to keep it buried, but this guy brings it out of me.
“Did your husband mention the party at my place tonight?” he asks.
“No.” One word answers are the most I care to give him. Did Sin tell me? No. Would it have mattered? Also no.
“You guys should come. Just because you married young doesn’t mean you can’t still have some fun.”
“We’re busy,” I dismiss him.
“C’mon, this is college. Live a little,” he pushes.
“Not interested.”
His eyes narrow, and I see the evil lurking underneath his pretty boy façade. Jesse is almost attractive. I suppose some may even say he is attractive. He’s built like the athlete he once was, and has that American boy next door look. But sometimes the guy next door likes to torture puppies.
It’s clear he isn’t used to being shot down. “You know, I like a challenge.”
“I’m not a challenge. I’m an impossibility. Whatever fantasy you’re cooking in that dense head of yours isn’t going to happen, so back off.”
“I sense an ‘or else’ coming. What, you’re going to have your husband beat me up?”
I laugh. “My husband doesn’t beat people up.” He kills them, probably best to leave that fact unsaid.