Marry Screw Kill(60)

“What I did was nothing compared to what you offered. Your very freedom for mine. I did it for you.” I reach over the center panel of her car and kiss her red, swollen lips.

“You have such promise. I couldn’t let you give it up for me.”

“Nonsense,” I say in almost a reprimand. “You need to see your worth, Harlow. It’s time.” I put the car in reverse, maneuver out of the parking space, glance to the ground, and see James lying by his car still passed out. A thought hits me and I throw the car into park and jump out.

Running around James’ car, I open the driver’s door and see his keys lying on the seat. I swipe them off the leather and rear back my arm. With all my strength, I toss them far into the lake.

I watch them hit the surface and disappear. Gone.

This gives Harlow and me more time to get back to the penthouse before World War III breaks out. I am hoping Bentley’s safecracker, Kurt, did his job while I have been here with Harlow.





Chapter Twenty-Four


Harlow



Sin pulls my car into the underground parking garage at James’ apartment building. Though James has often crashed here after a long day, the penthouse has remained a mystery to me. On several occasions, I’ve asked James to bring me here to live during the week, reasoning we could spend more time together, but he always brushed me off. Said he preferred establishing our life on his country estate—a place far away from the city I grew up in, where I remained hidden from everyone and everything.

I forgot I’m a person with a choice. Though, today, I made a choice for Sin and his future. I was willing to go back with James to ensure Sin wouldn’t be affected, and I’m in awe he put his future on the line by choosing me.

I gaze at his strong profile as he winds the car into the garage—the hard edge of his jaw, the strong pull of skin crossing over his high cheekbones, long, dark lashes that encase his uniquely golden eyes. But his full lips that were kissing me into a stupor only a short time ago make me want to beg to be kissed again. How I can desire a man after leaving another makes no sense, but I feel things for Sin I’ve never felt for any man before.

His beauty makes my breathing cease. His actions make my heart stop. How can I ever repay him? I fear what James will do to him. He will stop at nothing to ruin Sin and rejoice in his demise.

“We have to be quick,” Sin instructs as he places the car into park and kills the engine.

“Are you sure it’s safe to come back here?” I say. “He can track our cars.”

“I should’ve thrown his phone in the lake, too.” Sin looks at me with a drawn brow. “The man cracking the safe should have it open by now. When I left him to come meet you, he told me it wouldn’t take over an hour.”

“I can’t imagine what James keeps in there. I’ve never heard him talk about a safe of any kind.” Sin brings my hand to his lips and kisses the back of it. The kiss finds its way to dark and private parts of me that have been quiet for so long.

“Let’s go,” Sin says, releasing my hand. He hops out of the car and has my door open before I can blink. He gathers my belongings out of the car.

“We won’t be taking this car when we leave.” He tightens his hold on my lone box of books and drags my small suitcase by its rolling wheels. “I’m thinking we’ll be cabbing it to a nearby hotel.”

Sin and I walk side by side and I can’t help sneaking sideways glances at him. A few days ago, I wouldn’t have dreamed of being here with him and leaving James. A strange peace fills me, even with all the uncertainty over what lies ahead. I am convinced my next step is the right one. Beyond that, I must walk in faith. Without Sin by my side, I don’t think I could muster up the courage. It’s his faith in me that gives me strength.

Finally, we make our way to an elevator and I push the up button. It’s the only one there. The door opens and we enter the elevator.

“Would you please take the wallet from my back pocket?” Sin turns to the side and I get a better view of his finer assets. I reach to grab the wallet from its confines and my fingers meet the backside of him. I look up at Sin as I remove the wallet and see a pair of hooded eyes. Being close, touching in ways forbidden before, feels too intimate.

“Pull out the blank white card and insert it in the slot, then push the PH button,” he rasps, and I find the card with shaky fingers. Not from fear or worry, but from this unknown feeling for him. Maybe it’s the closed elevator and his scent adding to touching him, but the air in the small space between us buzzes in a mix of desire and adrenaline.

I do as he asks and the elevator begins to move. I return the card to his wallet and place it back in his pocket, letting my fingers linger a second longer than I should before pulling away.

“Thanks,” Sin says, and I lick my lips as I stare up into his searching eyes. An odd silence grows between us as the facts sink in.

I left James. Sin punched his uncle out and now must leave the city. Where do I go from here? I’m tempted to get on a Greyhound bus to somewhere, anywhere but here. This town will never hide me from James.

Sin directs me down a hallway with only two doors, one on each end.

The old building where my mother and I lived had four apartments in a space compared to what would be just one here.

When Sin opens the door with a few punches on a keypad, I see what lies beyond the walls. A place fit for a king—a rich, shallow king who enjoys owning things and people.