A Necessary Sin (The Sin Trilogy, #1)(9)

“Can I get a ride home, Leith?” Lorna asks. “My car is in the shop.” I get the distinct impression that a lift home isn’t the only thing she’s talking about.

“I was going to take Bleu home since it’s her first night.”

There’s no way I’m getting into a car with Leith Duncan. He’s put his hands on my ass no fewer than a half-dozen times. If he does it again, I’m going to kick the shit out of him and I doubt it would be well received for me to whip my boss’s ass on the first day. Plus it would jeopardize the connection I’m trying to make with Sinclair. “Thank you for the offer but I’m fine. It’s a short walk, not more than ten minutes at most.”

“I want to take you home,” he insists. Right—and then come up for a nightcap f*ck? No, thank you.

“Another time, boss.” I put my bag on my shoulder and walk toward the exit, my signal to let him know this discussion is over. “See you tomorrow.”

I go out the door and walk in the direction of my faux late-aunt’s house. It’s really the furnished flat of a woman who recently died but it’s what I’ll call home for the next two to three months.

The flat was a nice score. Every once in a while, the moon and stars align perfectly. And this was that one time for me. The flat’s owner was a terminally ill elderly lady with no living relatives. She once lived in Tennessee, two cities over from my grandparents. If her life is investigated by The Fellowship, everything they’ll find will lead them to believe I’m telling the truth.

I’m no more than two minutes into my walk when a black luxury sedan creeps alongside me. The windows are tinted darker than night so I can’t see inside. I suspect it’s Leith making one last attempt to drive me home.

The back passenger window lowers and luck is with me. It’s Sinclair. “Get in.”

This guy is used to getting everything he wants so I think it’s time I make things interesting. “Thanks for the exceptionally courteous invite, but no thanks. I’ll walk.”

Do I think Sinclair Breckenridge gives a shit if I make it home safely? No. Do I think he wants to know where I live so he can ransack my place while I’m not there? Absolutely. And he can knock himself out trying to discover a hole in my story but he won’t find one.

I spin to walk away but hear him call out behind me. “Get in. Please.” He sounds as though it pains him to say that word. Good. He should learn a little humility. It would serve him well.

I hesitate for a moment, as though I’m thinking it over before I get into the car with him. “I couldn’t decline your invitation since you said please.”

“I’ll need to remember that in the future.”

This will be a short drive. We won’t have much time for talk. “I don’t live far, just six blocks ahead on the right.”

“I’d like to apologize.”

“For which incident? Questioning me as though I was a belligerent witness or refusing to move after I asked you nicely to get out of my way?”

He laughs. “Both, although I’m not exactly sure your request was polite. I seem to recall you sounding a wee bit on the bossy side.”

“Then I apologize for being rude while interrupting your blow job.” I read his lips when he told Leith and Jamie he was going to give her a penance f*ck. It’s unfortunate for his sex life that being with another woman doesn’t fit into my plan to make him fall for me. I’ll be cock-blocking him at every opportunity.

“You broke Geneen’s nose.” Good. It’ll keep her from getting in the way.

I shrug. “I probably shouldn’t have done that but I rather enjoyed it after she got smart with me.”

“Would you have broken my nose as well if I hadn’t done as you asked?”

I shrug and laugh. “Maybe.”

“Ahh … another thing to remember for the future. Who taught you to throw a punch like that?”

I hold up my hand and flex it as though it might be in pain. But it isn’t. I know the proper way to hit someone without injuring myself. “My dad. He wanted me to be able to protect myself.” Total truth. It’s likely the only time he’ll get that out of me.

“Mission accomplished. He did a quality job.”

“That’s not all. Per his instruction, I also do an exceptional job of grabbing a man by the balls and forcing him to his knees.”

He’s amused again. “Then I should worry about the wallopers at Duncan’s instead of you?”

“Indeed.” I point to my building. “This is my flat on the right.”

His driver pulls to the side and turns off the car’s engine. I think that’s a sign he expects his employer to come in. “Thanks for the ride.”

“Anytime.”

He trails behind and attempts to follow me inside so I put my hand to his chest and stop him. “Good night, Mr. Breckenridge.” Women fall at this man’s feet. They literally go to their knees for him whenever he says so my plan to win him over has to be different. I must capture his heart in a new and unfamiliar way. I have to be a challenge, a conquest he’s desperate to conquer.

“Mr. Breckenridge is my father. Please, call me Sin.”

“Then good night, Sin.”

He takes my hand and kisses the top. “Good night, Bonny Bleu.”