Page 55 of Taken By Sin
“It’s why I try to protect Bria from getting involved in anything that has to do with them. She knows this, but is as stubborn as I am.” He laughs without humor. “The Rusco family is our rivals, they killed our mother.”
A gasp escapes me. “Sin, I’m so sorry.”
“It’s why I can’t risk Bria near them… they have no empathy. They’re fucking vile. We have a treaty, a clear strip down the city that is ours and theirs.”
Realization dawns on me, and I stiffen. Sin drapes his hand over me, knowingly. “No need to rush, what’s done is done.”
“If you’re so calm, it must not be that bad right?” I attempt to soften at his touch. But if these people killed his mother, we can’t be safe here.
“It is that bad, Mags. But I’m hoping since we’re still a block away from their base that we’ll be able to come to an agreement.”
“I’m so sorry,” I whisper into the morning air.
He shrugs. “I wouldn’t have expected you to stay after seeing what you saw last night. I was trying to keep you safe, but I see now that honesty would have avoided this mess. Will you give me another chance? Fully embed yourself in my world although you’re way too fucking good for it?”
A sly grin crosses my face. “Will you do what you did to me last night again?”
He lifts me off my feet, wrapping my legs around him. “A thousand times a day, if you’ll let me.”
“Ready to go home?” Sin asks after he checks us out of the hotel, eyes darting back and forth through the lobby. We’re in disguises. Well, not me, but he is. A gray ball cap pulled over his head, hiding his luscious black hair. He’s also wearing jeans and a t-shirt, a very casual look. Sunglasses cover his ghost eyes from view.
A driver I don’t recognize waits for us out front, opening the door of a silver SUV. It’s discreet enough but doesn’t have the signature Donati sleekness that would be obvious.
Once we’re safely in the back, Sin introduces me to the woman driving named Larissa. She’s kind, serious looking. I’m assuming any secret times Sin sneaks onto this side of the city, this is who brings him. “We’re going to wait for news of any sightings at home. I have some people inside that will alert if they caught our presence. Thank God you booked the roomwith your name and not Bria’s. I’m going to kill her by the way, do you know that?”
“Is she how you found me?”
He shakes his head. “Max followed you to the treaty line, then my men inside told me.”
“So, I wasn’t as slick as I thought I was.”
“No,” he laughs, “but it was a good effort.”
We switch cars once we’re on the west, back to Rollins. He sends me a smirk. “Glad to have you back, Magnolia.”
I sigh, already feeling better knowing were in the not fully safe, but safer side of the city. “Glad to be back.”
Sin sits beside me with a prideful look as we ride in silence, then pull into the garage. Hand in hand we walk to the front of the house, and my breath is taken from me by the new addition.
An arch of fresh, blooming magnolias
Rollins steps inside to give us a moment alone. “Do you like them?”
I touch the soft pedals with my fingertips. “I adore them,” I say quietly, relishing in the moment. “What if I wouldn’t have come back?”
He shakes his head, as if to clear that thought away. “These flowers remind me that everyday no matter how strong I can be, I am softened by you.”
That is quite possibly the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard.
I’m looking at him with so much adoration that it genuinely hurts to imagine not being with him. I’m too attached, he’s my perfect accompaniment.
We step inside, greeted by a grinning Bria. She wraps me in her arms. “I’m sorry my brother is such a fucking douche!”
I laugh as he playfully pushes her. “I’ll kill you next time if you don’t call me.”
“Next time?” Bria and I say in unison.
He rolls his eyes. “Can you two not like each other? It’s annoying. Come, Mags.”