Page 124 of Taint My Soul

“Really?” He holds my cheek.

“Yeah. I want to do some bad things to you.” I kiss him again.

A knock comes against the bathroom door, pulling me out of his orbit. “Hey, it’s me, Virgil. Father needs us to convene at the mansion.”

Mason tenses up in my arms. “You think…”

“You don’t have to worry about me. I’ll be fine.” I reassure him. “Go downstairs and meet Bernard. He’ll drive you to the house, and I’ll meet you there after I finish up with my father.”

“You’ll still do bad things to me?”

“Yes, definitely.” I smirk and kiss him again.

“Alright. But can I have your jacket at least?”

“Sure, anything for you, baby.” He shrugs off his jacket and puts it around my shoulder.

“Come on, hurry, your brother’s waiting for you.”

“Give me a kiss first.” I lean closer, and he kisses me before I leave.

It hurts me that I don’t get to have him by my side at all times, but Father needs me, and I’m not in the mood to explain why I’m late tonight, so I leave with Cross and Virgil in the car. Virgil drives with Cross in the front while I sit in the back.

We sit in an awkward, suffocating silence. I’m sure they haven’t forgotten what happened barely an hour ago. Cross keeps glancing at me in the mirror. It’s the third time I’m catching his gaze now. “If there’s anything you need to say, spit it out!”

“You’re in love with him, aren’t you?” Cross mutters.

“I know it’s complicated…” I state before Virgil cuts me off.

“It’s complicated, alright. That man almost fucking destroyed our family.” Virgil slams his hand against the steering wheel.

“I mean, if Saint thinks he can trust him again, then maybe we should give him a chance.” Cross declares quietly. Virgil regards him with an unpleasant stare. He shakes his head and tuts.

“I do not need your approval to love who I want to love.” I lean backward just as Virgil drives through the gates of the family house. Knowing the horrors my father has subjected me to in the past, admitting this felt like willingly stepping into a paralyzing nightmare, dread tightening around my ribs with every breath. My hands tremble at my side, and I ball up my fists.

“It’s not about your sexuality. It’s about choosing to go back to a Judas.”

“You know what, asshole? Talk shit about him again, and I’ll break your jaw.” I lean forward, rage burning hot beneath my skin.

I’m tired of his fucking tantrums.

He’s not the King.

I am.

I have called the shots my entire life while he was off gardening with my grandfather. I’m not letting a man whom I taught how to shoot a gun and hold a knife speak to me that way. “Stick to what you know how to do best, Virgil. Being a soldier.” My hands curl into fists as I lean backward. If we weren’t driving, I would fuck up his face, show him who’s in charge.

Virgil doesn’t utter a single word until we are at the house. We exit the car and storm in, side by side, entering Father’s office after he calls us in. I sit in the middle with Cross on my left and Virgil on my right. Father sits on his throne, an unimpressed smile on his lips. I had the man we’ve been chasing for months now delivered to him on a platter. I got the job done. “Cross, leave us.” He waves dismissively without looking up at my youngest brother. He’d always disregarded him as if he hadn’t moved every mountain in this world to impress him.

“I’ll visit the Red Vault in a few weeks to meet that traitorous fools. How was the sinner’s wedding?”

I swallow and lock my hands together. “Went well.”

He doesn’t respond to that. “Since we have our enemies out of the way, what do we do about our shipment? Our associates have been patient with us.”

“We still have the deal with Prince Kane. It’s not safe to move through our ports because we never know who could be watching. The shipment leaves Kingston for Genesis tonight and will leave Prince Kane’s harbor tomorrow night.”

“Hmm. You play a ruthless game, son. I’m proud.” He smiles. I never thought I’d hear those words from his mouth. Will he still be proud of me if he knows who I am? Or will I be a sinner just like my cousin, Sinclair?