The Consequences of Sin Read online

“Whatever,” he mumbled as he stood, pulling me up with him. “I think that’s enough for tonight. You need to go to bed. You’re going to have a long day tomorrow.”

  Just like that, my good mood disappeared. For a few minutes, I’d forgotten what I would have to face in the morning. I broke free from his hold and turned for the door. “You’re right. Good night.”

  “Bree, wait!” he said as he grabbed my arm and spun me back to him.

  “What?”

  “I…” He hesitated. “It’ll be okay. I promise.”

  I laughed humorlessly. “No, it won’t. We both know it won’t ever be okay again.”

  He pulled me to him and kissed my forehead. “I love you.”

  “Love you, too,” I whispered.

  “I’m sorry,” he said as he pulled away and walked toward the door.

  I stood there until he disappeared from sight. “Me, too.”

  Things would never be all right. I was about to lose my best friend and the only home I’d ever known.

  I frowned at my reflection. I hated wearing anything but my usual dark bottoms and black formfitting T-shirts. I practically lived in them.

  “I look ridiculous,” I mumbled to myself as I scanned the horrible red dress I was wearing.

  When my father had brought it to my room last week, I’d assumed it was a joke. I’d never worn a dress in my life, and I had no intentions of wearing the tiny piece of fabric that barely covered my ass or boobs.

  I’d realized quickly that it most certainly wasn’t a joke when my father explained that I was to wear it for Brendon. I’d felt ill when he calmly explained his plans to give me to Brendon in exchange for an alliance between his family and Nico’s. I’d tried to protest weakly, but the threats my father had dished out were enough to shut me up, especially the one about Wesley’s kneecaps. I had no doubt that my father would follow through with every promise. Either I pretended that I wanted Brendon, or Wesley and I would both suffer.

  My eyes moved up my reflection to my face. I’d outlined my blue eyes with a dark liner. I’d also applied mascara, making my eyes pop more than usual. My full lips had a coat of light-pink lipstick. I wasn’t used to applying makeup often, but one of the maids had taught me how to do it years ago. I left my platinum-blonde hair down. It fell over my shoulders in loose waves.

  If I wasn’t sickened by the fact that Brendon and his father would be here soon, I would stand and admire myself longer. I rarely had the chance to look like a proper girl. But under these circumstances, I’d much rather go without makeup and avoid Brendon altogether.

  I knew that men found me attractive, but I never truly cared. My father had beaten it into my head that I was nothing more than a tool. When other girls were gushing over their high school crushes, I would be with Wesley, practicing with knives and guns. The men who came and went in the house were just like my father, and very few spared me a glance. Those who had were quickly shut down by my father or Wesley. I winced as I remembered some of the fights Wesley had gotten himself into over me.

  I jumped when someone knocked on my door. One of the maids, Judith, appeared and gave me a timid smile. She’d been my nanny while I was growing up, and I loved her dearly. She was one of the few who showed any kind of affection for me.

  “They just pulled in,” she said as she looked me over. “You look beautiful.”

  I nodded, unable to speak. We both knew how I felt about today. No words were needed. She gave me a pitying look before disappearing. I took a deep breath to calm myself before heading downstairs. When I reached the foyer, Brendon and his father, Cian, were already waiting for me.

  I forced a smile on my face as I greeted them, “Brendon, Cian, it’s so nice to see you both again.” I kept my tone polite. That was all I could manage.

  If my father thought I’d be completely pleasant with either of these men, he was out of his mind. Even his threats couldn’t force me to act like I truly cared about these two men.

  Cian was in his mid to late fifties, but he looked younger. His red hair was short, almost shaved off. His eyes were so cold that I fought off a shiver as I stared into them. This man was as ruthless as my father.

  Brendon was twenty-two, only four years older than Wesley and me. His hair was dark red, and his eyes were bright green. The coldness in his eyes was less intense than his father’s, but it was there nonetheless. He carefully looked me over, a bit of appreciation in his gaze. He was built just as well as Wesley, that much I could tell from the way his blue shirt hugged his body. He was attractive, but that wasn’t enough to make me forget his arrogance.

  “Bree,” Brendon said, nodding at me in greeting.

  “I hope you had a safe trip,” I said, trying to force politeness into my voice.

  “We did. Thank you,” Brendon said.

  “Ah, I see you’ve finally arrived,” my father said from behind me.

  I turned and watched as he approached our guests. He smiled, but it was empty.

  Cian didn’t even bother to smile back. “Oliver.” He nodded once. “I believe we have things we need to discuss.”

  “Of course.” My father glanced at me. “Bree, please keep Brendon company until we return.”

  I nodded. “Yes, Father.”

  I watched my father and Cian disappear. I didn’t want to speak to Brendon, especially without anyone around. I wished that Wesley were here, but he’d been banned from coming downstairs while our visitors were in the house. I had no doubt that my father knew what Wesley would do if he saw Brendon try to hurt me. Only Brendon would be arrogant enough to hurt me in my own home. Or maybe it wasn’t arrogance. Maybe he simply knew that my father wouldn’t care.

  I cleared my throat before looking back at Brendon. “Would you like to join me in the living room?”

  Brendon nodded, and I turned to lead us into the next room. I hated knowing that he was so close, but there was nothing I could do. My only hope was that Brendon would decide that he wasn’t interested in me. Then, maybe my father would leave me be. I doubted it though.

  I sat down on the couch and gave Brendon a tiny smile. He smirked at me before sitting down next to me. I tried to scoot away, but he followed me. I looked up to see him grinning widely. The bastard knew what he was doing.

  “I have to say, you’ve grown up since the last time I saw you, Bree.”

  “Uh, thank you,” I mumbled. I hated pretending to be this weak, timid girl. I had to do the same around my father.

  Brendon scooted closer to me and rested his palm against my bare leg. I jumped at the contact.

  “You’ve turned out to be quite a lovely lass. The last time I saw you, you were still a sniveling flat-chested teenager.”

  I glared at him, but I didn’t dare say the words on the tip of my tongue. I wanted to tell him to go to hell. The last time I’d seen him, I was only fifteen. Even then, I couldn’t stand Brendon. He’d been cruel to me, calling me names and whispering dirty things in my ear. When I’d retaliated by kicking his ass, he’d run to Cian. My father had found out what I’d done, and he’d severely punished me.

  “And you’re definitely quieter than you used to be.” He smirked as his hand slid up my leg. “I think you’ll do quite nicely. I was prepared to fight our fathers on this agreement, but I think I’ve changed my mind.”

  His hand crept further up my leg until it was underneath my dress. The feel of his skin against mine made me sick to my stomach. I knew I was supposed to pretend to like him, but I couldn’t. I reached down and roughly pushed his hand away.

  He frowned. “That wasn’t nice.”

  “Don’t touch me,” I finally spoke. The anger in my voice was clear even though my words were barely a whisper.

  “Or what?” He leaned closer. “By the end of the week, you’ll be with me in Ireland. I think you’ll change your tone after a few nights with me. If not, I’m sure I can…persuade you.”

  I shuddered. “I’d rather my father put a bullet between my eyes than spend even o
ne night with you.”

  His body tensed. “Is that so?”

  Before I could reply, Cian and my father appeared. My father took one look at Brendon and me, sitting close together, before a satisfied expression crossed his face. I was sure he thought his plan was working perfectly.

  I wanted to vomit.

  “I see you two are getting reacquainted,” my father said.

  Brendon smiled. “Indeed, we are. Bree was just telling me how excited she is to join me in Ireland. In fact, she’s hoping to come with us today if possible.”

  I froze, terror filling me. If I left with him today, I would have no chance of changing my father’s mind.

  My father frowned. “Bree will remain with me until everything is settled.”

  For the first time in my life, I wanted to hug my father. Brendon didn’t seem happy with my father’s decision, but he simply nodded.

  I spent the rest of the morning pressed against Brendon. Any time I tried to move away, my father would give me a look I understood well. It meant, Sit still or else.

  If only a few hours near Brendon could make me feel this way, what would the rest of my life be like? I couldn’t even think about it.

  Just before five, Cian and Brendon were preparing to leave.

  Brendon stopped to whisper in my ear, “I’ll see you soon.” His hand grazed my ass. “I can’t wait.”

  I fought the urge to kick him in his Irish junk.

  Once they were gone, my father instructed me to change and meet him in his office.

  I hurried to my room and pulled the dress over my head. I tossed it in the back of my closet, hoping that I’d never have to see it again. I pulled on a dark pair of pants and a black shirt before hurrying to the bathroom to wash my face. After feeling Brendon’s hands on me, I needed to scrub myself raw in the shower.

  The door to my father’s office was open, so I didn’t bother knocking. I stepped inside and walked to his desk. I stood in front of it, waiting for him to speak.

  After a few minutes, he finally looked up at me. “Cian and I have agreed to an alliance. You will leave on Friday for Ireland,” he said, his voice devoid of emotion. “Your training has prepared you for a place in their house. You will fulfill your duty as they see fit. Brendon will be responsible for you.”

  My eyes widened in shock. “Father, please, I beg you not to send me to Ireland. I despise Brendon.”

  He frowned. “It doesn’t matter how you feel about the boy. What matters is the fact that Nico’s and Cian’s power will increase, giving each of them influence in both London and Ireland. No one will dare go against either of them.”

  I fought to keep my tears at bay. “I’ve never asked you for anything. I’m begging you to please let me stay here. Please.”

  He stood and walked around the desk. He stopped next to me. “I have given you everything you could ever want, and you dare to go against me?”

  I shook my head. “It’s not that. I just…I don’t want to go. Please.”

  He backhanded me. I stumbled back from the force of it. I couldn’t hide the tears sliding down my cheeks.

  “You have three days to pack. Whatever you don’t take will no longer be yours. Now, go,” he said before returning to his chair.

  I turned without a word and walked to the door.

  “And, Bree? I suggest you follow my orders. I would hate for you to cause problems for Wesley.”

  I clenched my hands into fists as I left his office and headed upstairs. I didn’t try to hold back my tears as I locked myself in my room and dropped down onto the bed. Normally, I would’ve searched for Wesley, but I wasn’t ready to face him.

  I hated my father more in this moment than ever before. Wesley was the only thing in this world that mattered to me, and my father knew it. I couldn’t help but wonder if he’d allowed me to get close to Wesley just to use him against me. I would never do anything that would cause Wesley pain. The thought of him suffering because of me broke my heart.

  I’d been trained not to feel anything. I was nothing more than a soldier, and emotions were a luxury I couldn’t afford, but I’d never been able to shut them off. I wished I could be like my father. He felt nothing. I would give anything to feel absolutely nothing for even a day.

  My past haunted me. I’d killed over and over again because those were my orders. My victims hadn’t been good people, and I’d known that. But it hadn’t made it any easier to accept that I’d taken a life from someone. So many had died at my hands.

  Wesley was even worse than I was. He’d killed when I couldn’t bring myself to do it, and then he’d lied to cover for me. He’d protected me since we were children, and all I’d caused him was trouble. I hated myself for that, too.

  I hated myself for a lot of things.

  Maybe I deserved the life I was going to receive. It would be retribution for my sins.

  My tears finally slowed and stopped altogether. I wiped the last few drops from my cheeks and buried my face in my pillow. I just wanted it all to go away. I wanted just a little bit of peace.

  I must have dozed off because the next thing I knew, someone was sliding into the bed behind me. I tensed for a moment until Wesley’s arms wrapped around me. I knew him so well. He’d held me like this so many times over the years.

  “What happened?” he asked quietly.

  “I swear I locked that door,” I grumbled, stalling so that I could wipe my emotions off my face.

  He chuckled. “You did. I picked the lock.”

  “Ass.”

  He pulled me tighter against him. “Tell me what happened.”

  “I leave in three days,” I whispered.

  He cursed before rolling me over to face him. “Bree…”

  “Brendon is an asshole, but my father is giving me to him anyway. I wish I could tell all of them that we aren’t living back in the seventeen hundreds. They have no right to do this to me. I’m the only one who will suffer. I’m going to lose my home and the only person I really care about. We’ve never been apart, Wes. What am I going to do without you? I’m so scared.”

  Wesley reached out and touched my cheek where my father had hit me. “I assume Oliver did this?”

  I nodded. “Yeah, after I tried to talk him out of forcing me to leave.”

  He pulled me closer, and I buried my head in his chest.

  “I’ll take care of this, Bree. I swear, I will.”

  I shook my head. “No. Leave it be, or he’ll hurt you, too.”

  “I don’t give a damn about what happens to me. I’ve always taken care of you. Now is no different.” He pulled away and smiled down at me.

  “Please don’t. I’ll never forgive myself if something happens to you.”

  He kissed my forehead before standing. “I need to take care of a few things. I’ll see you later.”

  “Wesley, don’t. I mean it,” I said as I sat up.

  He ignored me as he walked to the door, not looking back once. He opened the door and disappeared. I sent up a prayer that he didn’t do something that would get him killed.

  For a coldblooded killer, I sure prayed a lot. It was too bad none of them had ever been answered.

  I looked up when a knock sounded at my door.

  Wesley opened the door, a sad smile on his face. “We got another job.”

  I nodded before dropping the shirt I was holding into my suitcase. “I’ll be down in ten.”

  “I’ll be in the car,” he said before closing my door.

  I hadn’t seen Wesley since last night. I’d checked his room a few times throughout the night, expecting to see him. I wasn’t sure why he hadn’t come home last night, but I didn’t dare ask. I was afraid to.

  I grabbed a hair tie off my nightstand and pulled my hair up into a tight bun to keep it away from my face. It also kept me from accidentally leaving hairs at the scene of a crime. With the shit luck I had been having lately, it was better to be safe than sorry.

  I grabbed my gun and tucked it against the s
mall of my back before leaving my room and heading downstairs to the garage. As soon as I opened the door, I spotted Wesley leaning against the car.

  “You ready?” he asked.

  I approached him. “Yeah,” I mumbled.

  We climbed into the car. I leaned back into the seat as he started the car and drove out of the garage. I didn’t speak again until we were past the security gate.

  “So, what are we doing tonight?” I asked.

  Normally, my father or Nico gave us time to prepare before sending us out. I could only assume that Wesley had prepared on his own. Otherwise, we would be going in blind.

  “You’ll see,” he said without looking at me.

  I frowned. “Cut the shit, Wes. Where are we going?”

  He stayed silent, pissing me off even more.

  “Seriously?”

  He shrugged but still wouldn’t look at me.

  I sighed before closing my eyes. “It would serve you right if I made you go in alone then. I don’t like surprises.”

  Twenty minutes later, he still hadn’t said a word. I was surprised when we pulled up to the airport. I had no idea what we were doing here. We didn’t work in public places. It was suicide.

  “Wesley, tell me what the bloody hell we’re doing here!” I demanded.

  He parked in the lot and shut off the car. I waited for an answer as he stared out the windshield with a lost look on his face.

  Finally, after a few minutes, he spoke, “I told you I would take care of you. No matter what, I will always take care of you.”

  “What are you talking about? What…what did you do, Wes?”

  He leaned over and opened the glove box of the car. He pulled out an envelope and handed it to me. “Everything you need is inside.”

  My hands were shaking as I opened the envelope. My eyes widened when I saw what was inside—a birth certificate, a driver’s license, a social security card, a passport, and a few other documents. Along with those were a throwaway cell phone and another envelope filled with American currency.

  I stared at the license, unable to believe what I was seeing. My picture was on there, but it wasn’t me. My hair was black instead of blonde, and my last name was different. It said I was Bree Reynolds, and my address was in New York City, an entire ocean away from us.