Page 90 of Perfect Sin
“The bathroom door locks,” he says, his voice gravelly and low.
Tempting offer, except for one thing. “Thanks for reminding me how you know that.” Ugh, Jess. I find myself feeling equal parts guilty, since it was my father who killed her, and glad to be rid of her. I’m not sure what that says about me, but it probably isn’t good.
“I’m not a saint, Raven. And right now, you look like my particular brand of sin.”
He makes me wild and reckless, and I find myself about to agree to anything he asks, as always. I’m only saved from the eventual embarrassment that would follow when the bartender steps around the bar and moves toward us. “You must be the missus.”
“That’s me,” I confirm.
Sin grumbles, “Cockblocker,” under his breath, and I snort trying not to laugh.
The bartender rolls his eyes but seems to be amused by Sin. “I told him to bring you by. I had to get a look at the woman who could lock down this guy.” He exudes compassion, and finally I can see why my friends have chosen this particular spot as their regular hang out.
“I’m Carlo. Humble as it is, this is my bar. Can I get you a soda?”
I nod, and he returns to the bar. Shane and Jen come in next, and the entire group is together. I know it’s the calm before the storm, because nothing good lasts long for us.
A group stumbles in through the door. Clearly they either pre-gamed before coming or this isn’t their first stop. The girls are all glassy eyed and hanging on to the guys as if they’d fall if they let go.
“Isn’t that Tessa’s new friend, Poppy?” Jen whispers.
Her reddish hair is stringy, and her makeup is smudged giving her a racoon-eyed look, but it’s her. I see the moment she notices us, or should I say Sin. Her eyes widen and focus.
“I remember you,” she slurs, stumbling toward the pool table. A large man from their group hooks an arm around her waist and pulls her back to their group.
“You turned me down,” she continues, pulling against his hold. “No one ever turns me down.”
“I bet they do now,” Lucien quips. “Strung out ho isn’t a good look for you.”
“I wonder if she’ll be the next woman from that group to drop out of school and fall off the radar?” Jen says.
Lucien and Sin communicate silently. “How many have there been?” Sin asks.
Amber taps her finger against her chin. “Three, maybe four?”
“Is that normal?” Lucien asks.
Shane shrugs. “I don’t remember it happening before, but that group parties hard. People burn out.”
“So there’ve been men that have dropped out suddenly too?” Sin pushes.
Ford shakes his head. “Not that I know of. Jesse even managed to survive a rape accusation and stay in school, until Raven put a couple knives in him.”
“He’s not in jail though,” Ted complains. “He’ll be back eventually. Guys like him always are.”
Shane huffs in exasperation. “I thought Holbrook promised he’d hang him up on federal charges.”
Ted steps up to the table and Sin hands him his cue. “Well, Holbrook has a boss. He can’t stop the brass from buckling under political pressure.”
“Whitmore?” Lucien asks.
A dark look comes over Sin’s face. “I don’t know, but I intend to find out. Later though. I’m a little distracted at the moment.”
He drops his arm around my shoulders. “Let’s get out of here. I want you alone.”
Tomorrow I’ll have to go back to school and face the rumors again, but tonight there’s no one between Sin and I. This is the way it should always be, but until that’s possible, I’ll take these stolen moments when they present themselves.
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