“Well?” he asks.
Christ. “Um, Poe married his cousin, Virginia, who was arguably the love of his life. She died from tuberculosis, and he was devastated. Because of this, many researchers believe that the theme of loss resonates in much of his work. Like, in ‘The Raven,’ there’s a scholar who’s pining for his lost love, Lenore. It’s a perfect metaphor for Poe’s own grief over his wife’s death.”
Students stare. Some even slowly shake their heads.
I want this day to end. “Turn around, people. The show’s over.”
“Freak show, you mean,” Eve mutters.
I’m done with her. I’ve reached my dumb whore quota for the day. I’ve got no more cares to give.
Professor Nate shakes his head. “Nice save, Temple.”
“Thanks.”
He continues with his lecture.
Unlike everyone else, Sin doesn’t look away.
“What?” I mouth.
“You can’t run forever.”
“Watch me.”
Even from across the room, there’s heat in his eyes.
Flustered, I look away, reminding myself of what’s important.
Graduating.
Leaving town.
Becoming the savior I never had.
No matter how hot Sin is, or how intrigued I am by his presence, he doesn’t make the list.
Chapter Eight
Temple
“Shit,” I mutter to myself, sliding my phone in my pocket. “I’m late.”
I knew studying on campus was a gamble. Losing myself in literature is an occupational hazard that will cost me my business if I’m not careful.
I can’t afford to lose any customers. Hell, I can barely make ends meet as it is. In class, I’ve worked my ass off to prove I deserve a scholarship, but it can’t be at the expense of my current income.
Everything will change when I graduate. I’ll have a steady job, an apartment with working plumbing, and I’ll make a positive change for kids who need it. Life will be good. Great, even. It’ll be everything I ever dreamed.
I can’t screw it up.
Increasing my pace, I navigate the halls before rushing outside. The afternoon sun slants through the arches of the walkways, but I don’t pause to admire it. I’ve got two cars with engine trouble waiting for me.
Thankfully, campus is almost deserted. Classes are still on, so there’s no one to slow me down. I look about me, cataloguing the safest route and itemizing three possible exit strategies.
Old habits die hard.
As I’m about to round the final corner, a voice stops me dead in my tracks.
“Are you ready for tonight?” Low, familiar, and with a husky edge.
Sin.
I dart backward, out of sight.
It’s been two weeks since my stare-off with him in class. Since then, I’ve made disappearing an art form whenever he’s around. Not because I’m scared, I simply don’t want the drama. But trouble always finds me. It’s a joke the universe never tires of.
“Bro, I’m telling you.” Saint isn’t as quiet as his twin. “We’ve got shit dialed. Tonight will be epic.”
I’m torn between wanting to listen and wanting to leave.
“We’ve thought of everything,” he continues. “Even if word gets out, it’ll be too late for anyone to do anything about it. We’re home free.”
“We’re home free when Dez’s garage is a pile of ashes and no one links it back to us.”
What the hell? He’s going to set my dad’s garage on fire? Red-hot rage hits me square in the chest.
That garage might not be anything special, but it’s keeping me afloat. There’s no way Sin and his asshole family are going to screw with it more than they already have.
I consider my options. Sin and Saint are blocking the quickest route from west campus to the garage. I could double back and go the way I came, but it’d take a solid forty minutes to walk. I’d arrive in time for my customers to take their business someplace else.
Or, I could continue around the corner pretending I didn’t hear anything. It would be believable enough, since I have a legitimate reason for being here. I’d have to brace myself to deal with Sin and Saint, but I’d manage.
“What time is it all kicking off?” Saint asks.
“At ten.” Sin’s voice is deep. “I’ve been watching her movements for the past few weeks. I know her routine.”
Asshole.
“Reconnaissance is the shit,” Saint agrees. “There’s a diner nearby that—”
“Saint, I don’t give a flying fuck about a diner.”
“But I’m telling you, bro, they make these apple pies. The smell of those bad boys is fucking sensational.” He whistles.
Memories of apple pies left on the doorstep of Dad’s trailer flood my mind. Every Thursday, Dad would steal from the garage till, find his dealer, and I wouldn’t see him again until he was coming down from his high a few days later.
Cynthia cooked for the diner, she saw me after one of my run-ins with my jerk sperm donor, and from then on, I never went hungry.
I swear to God, Sin. I don’t care how hot you are or how dangerous you might be, if you fuck with the garage, I’ll end you.
“Saint, focus on what needs doing, man.”
Sin’s authoritative tone tears me from my thoughts.
“But the pies—”
“If we’re doing this, it needs to be fucking perfect. No distractions, no mistakes, and no motherfucking pies.”
Saint mutters something, but it’s too low for me to hear. It’s closely followed by a loud thump.
“Dude,” Saint splutters. “Unnecessary.”
“Shut the fuck up. Temple is like clockwork. If she’s not pulling an all-nighter, the garage is locked at seven, the cops do a drive-by every hour on the hour from eight, and the piece of shit cameras she thinks are protecting the place are easy for Angel to hack into. We’ll be in and out in under ten minutes. No one will know we’re there.”
There’s a pause. Someone shifts, and I picture Sin resting his muscular body against the wall, deep in thought.
Heat travels to the apex of my thighs. My previous indignation over their plan mutes slightly, and I hate it. I’m not meant to want the guy who’s planning to screw with my future. Hell, I’m not meant to want him, period.
Pissed at myself, I wait for this hell to end.
“Let’s roll. We’ve got shit to do,” Sin orders.
Their footsteps fade.
An image of the garage being set alight fills my mind, and with it, my dreams turning to ashes.
Determination settles in my bones.
There’s no way Sin and Saint are getting away with this. Those boys might talk a big game, but they’ve missed a crucial flaw in their plan.
Me.
They’re not the only ones who can wreak havoc and get away with it.
Chapter Nine
Sin
“Do you think she’ll bite?” Saint looks out the window.
The garage is dark, the piece of shit laundromat next to it the only light source in the pitch-black street. Place should have been knocked down and redeveloped years ago. This part of Bayside, The Dunes, is full of thieves, murderers, and deviants. It’s the hunting ground for shady deals.