Page 17 of Taken By Sin
"Who isthey?" I press.
"All of that,"—he circles his hand in front of my face—"is a question for a different time."
My attention goes back to Bria. “Isshesafe?”
He nods. “Three of my men have had their eyes on the both of you since she decided to run from them.”
“Does she know the danger?”
He laughs; it’s low and guttural. “She does, but she tries to be defiant.” He peers down at me through thick lashes. “I do hope you won’t be defiant, piccolo.”(little one)
I want to ask him what that means or why my heart flutters when he says it, but instead, I shake my head. “I won’t be.”
I wonder if I should be so obedient, so quick to answer him. It’s probably the fault of the way I was raised—so sheltered, yet with glimpses of adulthood. In the movies and books we weren’t supposed to have.
Among the teenagers who would visit the cathedral, the rich girls from the city would attend summer camp. Their skirts were shorter and their lips pinker, the way they would gossip about boys, how we would listen through the cracks in the doors, praying they would see us as equals.
But we were orphans, and they stayed at the orphanage for only a brief time. We caught glimpses of one another's lives, but their experiences served as lessons, reminding them to be grateful that they had their own rooms and parents.
He straightens up, seeming pleased. “Good girl."
I shiver now; the growl in his voice is unlike anything I'm familiar with. He flashes a grin and guides me away from my stop.
It’s here in this alleyway, as he guides me down the uneven ground that I look into his dark eyes, the way his jaw is set in a near-constant grimace, that I wonder what happened to Sin to make him so hot and cold. To make people want to kill him.
He may not want to talk about it, but I’m going to find out.
“What were you looking at before I grabbed you?” he wonders as we merge back into the crowd, and I feel the warmth of his arm intertwined with mine, anchoring me amidst the chaos.
“Oh…” I become shy; the confidence I had before to spend his money has evaporated with a single smile from him. “I got a few outfits.” I shrug. “I’ve never owned jewelry besides bracelets we’ve made.”
Sin takes my hand in his, not in a frantic way like before but in a sweet, guiding way. “Then I know the perfect place to bring you.”
A boyish charm takes over him as we walk together. He soon picks up the pace, looking at me every so often to smile. I don’t dare talk to him about his usual attitude; I drink this moment in.
“This is all so new for you,” he states. “Did you have fun?”
I nod, giving him a smirk. “It’s really been an incredible day.” I can’t wait to talk to Bria about this; I hope she didn’t freak out too much thinking I disappeared.
“This dress,” He bites his lip. “Stunning.”
I blush as the cool night air, mixed with whiffs of street foods sends us an enticing aroma. I remind myself, considering we weren’t allowed food past the usual dinnertime I want to make it a routine to eat when my body tells me I’m hungry versus when other people say it is. “Want to eat?” I ask.
Everything was so strict, all fragments of my life determined by a day-to-day schedule. Now, I’m in the city with a boy I barely know, strolling the sidewalk. “I know just the place. Do you like Tacos?”
“I guess we’ll find out.”
“Your life is about to change forever.” He teases.
The warm glow of the taco truck’s lights spills onto the cracked pavement. Sin leans against the side of the truck, hisdark silhouette blending into the city shadows. Even in the dim light, he looks sharp—too sharp for a greasy taco truck. Like he belongs in a penthouse, not standing under the hum of a buzzing fluorescent light.
He ordered for both of us since I had no idea what to get, rattling off Spanish like it’s second nature. The smell of grilled meat and spices makes my stomach rumble, and I hope he doesn’t hear it.
“Excited?” His voice cuts through the noise of the city, low and smooth like the rumble of an engine.
I shrug, trying to seem casual, even though I’m starving. “Sure.”
Sin glances at me, one corner of his mouth tugging up in a smirk. His eyes catch the light for a moment—dark, unreadable. “Guess we’ll see how you feel after your first bite.”