Page 18 of Taken By Sin

The cook hands over two foil-wrapped bundles, and Sin passes one to me. His fingers brush mine for a second, and it’s enough to send a jolt of something—excitement? Nervousness?—through my chest.

I peel back the foil and stare at the tacos. They’re messy, overloaded with meat, onions, cilantro, and some kind of red sauce.

He watches me, waiting. “Go on. Try it.”

I glance up at him. “You’re awfully invested in whether I’ll like tacos.”

He chuckles, the sound deep and low, and suddenly the city noise feels a little quieter. “Call it curiosity. I don’t meet many people who haven’t had one of these before.”

I take a tentative bite, the flavors exploding on my tongue—spicy, savory, tangy. It’s so good I can’t stop the small hum of satisfaction that escapes me. When I look up, Sin’s eyes are on me, his expression unreadable but… softer, somehow.

“Well?” he asks.

“They’re good,” I admit, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand.

“Good?” He raises an eyebrow, amusement dancing in his voice. “You ate half of it in one bite.”

Heat rises to my cheeks. “I said it was good, didn’t I?”

He laughs again, a sound that seems to wrap around me, pulling me into his orbit. For a moment, I forget the cold, the city, the fact that I barely know him.

“So, Magnolia,” he says, leaning closer, his voice dropping just a fraction. “What do you like to do for fun?” His demeanor has shifted so much from morning to night.

I snort, surprising myself. “Fun? I’ve been in an orphanage my whole life. We don’t exactly have a lot of ‘fun’ activities there.”

His smirk fades slightly, and for a moment, I think I see something like sadness flicker across his face. But it’s gone as quickly as it came. “Guess that means I’ll have to show you what you’ve been missing.”

I don’t know how to respond to that, so I focus on my taco instead, taking another bite. “Why me?” I ask finally, my voice quieter than I intended.

He tilts his head, considering. “Why not you?”

“That’s not an answer.”

“No,” he says, his smirk returning, though it doesn’t quite reach his eyes this time. “It’s not.”

And just like that, the walls are back up. Whatever glimpse of something deeper I thought I saw is gone, replaced by that same mysterious air that drew me to him in the first place.

I should be annoyed, but instead, I find myself wanting to know more. Wanting to know him. Finished with our food, I decide to focus on the now, more than the burning questions I so desperately need answered.

We slip into a slow walk a few blocks away. “We’re here.” He gestures up, his inked fingers trailing the bright sign overhead. “In the words of my mother... every girl deserves something from Tiffany’s.”

ELEVEN

I’m snuggled in the cozy guest bed.

I would call it mine, but this all still feels completely unreal. Like I’ve been plucked from a nightmare and planted into something dangerous yet exciting, secure, and happy.

While others might be thrilled, I seek clarity. I have always been someone who searches for answers, and this situation feels confusing. I need to place Sin in a comfortable private setting where he can openly discuss why I’m here.

Is it as simple as he was doing a favor? I don’t see any family here.

Him, Bria, the guards... and now me.

Maybe heislonely.

I glance down at the comforter where I’m surrounded by my new wardrobe. The six teal boxes adorned with red bows from Tiffany’s sit within arm’s reach.

Sin chose everything, and when I saw the total, I gasped, which made him laugh.