Page 99 of Sinner's Malice

“Malice, I’m going to my room,” Arianwen said stoically before getting up from her seat behind the bar and walking away. I watched as she headed for her room and not mine. I wasn’t sure what to make of that and tried really hard not to read into it, but it still bothered me.

“She’s not talking to me.”

“She’s grieving, asshole. Give her some space.”

Getting up from the stool, I had no intention of doing that.

Ever.

Twenty-Eight

Malice

Standing, I stared at a picture of Torment and his parents. He looked happy. Torment was one of the youngest brothers in the club. There wasn’t much known about his life before he became a Soulless Sinner and, according to Mercy, it wasn’t for lack of trying. The fact was, Torment was tight-lipped about anything regarding his personal life.

“Your parents?”

“That’s right.”

“They look happy.”

“Because they are.”

Turning, I looked at Torment. “They’re still together?”

“Going on thirty-five years now.”

“No siblings?”

“Malice, are we going to talk about me or you?”

“How have they stayed married for so long?”

“Communication and a lot of patience would be my guess. If you want marital advice, I can call them, and you can talk to them instead of me.”

“I don’t believe in marriage,” I declared, taking a seat.

“That’s understandable, given your situation. However, Arianwen might think differently.”

“Doubt it,” I said, picking up a framed photo of him and his mother. She was a beautiful woman. Dark, almost black hair and pale, milky white skin. She was stunning.

“You took after your dad.”

“Yes, I did,” Torment agreed.

Putting the photo back, I rubbed my hands over my thighs.

I was nervous. I hated talking about myself and my past. I never really knew what to say.

“Arianwen’s not talking.”

“She was talking to Bane and Snoopy before we came in here.”

I nodded.

He was right.

She was.