A Necessary Sin (The Sin Trilogy, #1)(44)

I beat Sin home so I go into the master bedroom to change the bedding. I want him to be surprised when he sees how inviting it is. I’m almost positive he’ll like it. Regardless, I’m certain he’ll enjoy breaking it in. As will I.

We may not be in love but we are most certainly in lust. Sometimes it feels like we can’t get enough of one another. Being with him is crazy good. I never imagined I could want someone so much. I wonder if it’s like this for everyone. It can’t be. People would never leave their houses if it was.

Playing the part of Sin’s lover isn’t a bad way to bide my time until I’m able to get close enough to kill Thane. But I must never forget the mission. I may need a reminder from time to time so I don’t lose focus.

Sin texted earlier and said he’d be home by ten, so I shower and shave my legs twice. I apply my favorite body lotion and then put on the new black silk nightgown and matching robe I purchased today.

It’s nine forty-five when I stretch across our new bedding to wait for him. Ten comes and no Sin. By eleven, I’m annoyed. By midnight, I’m worried, so I text. No response. I consider calling but I’m sure he’s tending to Fellowship business. I don’t wish to irritate him or look like the bothersome girlfriend.

I bet Lorna knows if something is going on. You hear a lot working in a bar full of Fellowship members.

I dial her number. One ring goes through before I hear the front door open and close, so I end the call before she can answer. I rush over to the bed and resume my seductive pose.

A moment later I hear voices—what sounds like several of them—coming up the hallway toward the bedroom. I go into panic mode. I slide across the bed toward the nightstand drawer where Sin keeps his handgun when the door bursts open. Two men carry Sin to the bed. His shirt is saturated with blood, concentrated on his right shoulder. “My God! What happened?”

I move off the bed just in time for Sin to plop on it and fall backward. “I’ve gone and got myself shot again.”

“Then why are you here and not at the hospital?”

He unbuttons his shirt and slides it off. “Not bad enough to take the risk of being reported to the authorities.”

This is crazy. “You are aware people get infections and die from untreated gunshot wounds?”

“It won’t go untreated. Jamie is on his way. I’ll be stitched up, good as new. I’m sure he’ll give me antibiotics so it doesn’t get infected. All will be fine, Bonny.” He nods at the two men standing in the bedroom. “Go wait in the living room. Feel free to help yourselves to whatever you’d like from the liquor cabinet.”

They leave and I’m alone with an injured, bleeding Sin. I take a moment to gather my thoughts on what I’ve been taught in the immediate care of a gunshot wound. “I need to apply pressure.”

“No, Bonny. You don’t have to do that.”

“I can’t stand here and do nothing.”

“Would you like to run down the street and pick up a needle and thread so you can suture it?” He isn’t hurting too much to be a smart-ass.

“I’m not too handy with sewing so you’d probably prefer I leave it to Jamie.” I sit on the bed next to him. “Are you in pain?”

“Aye, like a son of a bitch. I’m not ashamed to say I wouldn’t mind having a little nip of something strong.”

“I can do that much for you.”

I return with the whisky and help him to a sitting position. “Will Jamie give you something for the pain?”

He grimaces when he sits up to toss back the entire tumbler of Johnnie Walker. “Aye, and I’ll gladly take it.”

“Another?”

“Aye.” I’m through the door when I hear him call out, “Bring the bottle.”

I’m shaken by my concern for him. I shouldn’t care if he lives or dies—but I do.

I return to his side and he strokes his hand over the soft, silky fabric of my nightgown. “You look lovely.”

“Thank you.”

He puts his hand on my thigh and rubs it up and down. He’s lying on the bed with a gunshot wound and is still making the moves on me. Horny bastard. “You should know I’m not happy about my men seeing you in this. This sight should be for my eyes only.”

“That was the plan.”

“And the bedding is new.” I’m surprised he’s noticed. “I like it.”

“I liked it too, until you bled all over it.” I grin because I know the crude remark he could make. “Don’t go there, Breck.”

He laughs. “You’ve come to know me well in a short amount of time.”

I slide off the bed and kneel on the floor so we’re face to face. I grasp his hand in mine and hold it tightly. “Tell me what happened tonight.”

“Sometimes I have to be a handler. When a brother commits a transgression, I’m the one who delivers them to the person who will carry out their punishment. They don’t always come willingly … but I make sure they come.”

“Does that mean if I’m bad and need punishing, you’ll have another man do it for you?”

“Absolutely not. I’m the only one who touches you.” He rubs his thumb over the top of my hand. “I was really looking forward to touching you when I got home. I thought about it all day.”