Page 3 of Liberated By Sin

I stumbled through my bedroom door and nearly tripped over my own feet as I blindly searched for the light switch. The combination of the dark and my inebriated state made the usually simple task seemnearly impossible. Maybe I should have cut back on the shots. But it was myfuckingbirthday, and Ezra wasn’t answering any of my calls or texts. Screw him. I drank my feelings until I could barely walk straight because I knew I’d be safe with Kai and Derek. They had their suspicions something was up, that I was keeping a secret, and that said secret was feeding my need to drink. But as intoxicated as I was, I couldn’t out our relationship yet or that he’d ghosted me on my special day. The last thing I needed was a lecture from my overprotective and homicidal brothers.

“When you said a little later, I didn’t think you meant 4 a.m.”

Ronan’s voice jolted me damn near out of my skin. My back crashed into the wall at the sight of him sitting at the edge of my bed, as if he’d been waiting there for a disturbing amount of time.

“What are you doing in here?”

Blood pumped a little faster as I steadied myself, feeling as if the effects of my drinking binge were wearing off, overtaken by adrenaline.

“I told you I had something for you.”

“You can’t just come into my room, let alone sit here in the dark. Don’t you see how fucking creepy that is?”

“Did I scare you,mo stoirín?” he said with a devilish grin and pushed to his feet. “I thought I taught you better than that. Always be ready.”

As he approached, I squared my shoulders. “I wasn’t expecting anyone, least of all you.”

“Well, that was your first mistake.” His breath fanned the back of my neck, but I refused to give him what he wanted and didn’t turn around. Although my instincts were not as sharp, I was ready.

Ronan had never overstepped in the past. The vibes he gave off were just that. And while I knew what he was capable of, the line in the sand had always been clear. But tonight, something about his demeanor, his words, and the sinister way they slid off his tongue had me on alert.

“Listen, I’m tired and—”

“You’ve been drinking,” he said, now in front of me. “Heavily.”

“So what? You’ve never cared before.”

He shrugged. “And I don’t now. My only concern is—why?”

“I was celebrating with the boys. I don’t understand your line of questioning.”

Ronan said nothing for a beat, his eyes on mine, and then he slowly brushed his thumb down my cheek.

“What were you crying about?”

My mascara.

I remembered my reflection in the bar mirror, my face streaked with makeup after I had cried over Ezra. Kai and Derek tried to get me to confess, but decided to let me sleep it off and question me when I was sober.

Pulling away, I motioned toward the door, ushering him out.

“We can talk tomorrow. I told you I’m exhausted.”

Again, a stretch of uncomfortable silence fell between us until he used his bearded chin to point toward the bay window, where a brown box lay on my desk. The once-warm room suddenly chilled, and the hairs on my arm stood on end. I couldn’t guess what the box contained, but intuition warned me to stay away. Yet curiosity was a bitch. My gait was still unsteady as I moved toward the gift and placed a hand on the lid.

“What is it?”

“The faster you open it, the faster you find out.” He paused with a slight chuckle. “Although not what I originally planned, I think you’ll love the upgrade.”

Malice laced his words, causing me to hesitate and exhale a heavy breath before tearing the box open. I regretted the air I’d just pushed out of my lungs because the room had suddenly become suffocating, and my throat collapsed in on itself at the horrific sight before me.

Ezra.

My boyfriend—reduced to a tiny box in the cruelest and most horrific way. His head, severed at the neck, rested on its side, eyes swollen, and his skin varying hues of purple and ash. As I took a shaky step back, the contents of my stomach rushed up and splashed at my feet. I’d seen death. I’d doled it out without remorse for the last two years.

But this was different.

“Run away together, huh? You let him call you…Doll face?” He chuckled wickedly. “Would have almost been sweet if the two people I cared for most weren’t betraying me and plotting behind my back. My nephew knew the rules when it came to you.”