Page 126 of Sinful Lord

Still, there’s so much emptiness. So much darkness. The four kids huddle together in the middle of it all. They only have each other.

And though they look happier together than Tytus did alone, I can still sense the same terrible fear lurking behind each of their little faces.

The fear of losing this little slice of light.

It keeps them together, but it also keeps them from being completely happy or relieved or grateful. No one smiles. In fact, their lips are shut so tight I can’t imagine anyone of them ever smiling. Not for real. Not genuinely.

A sadness fills my heart as the vision fades.

When I come to, I turn from the laptop screen and look at Tytus. Those silver-blue eyes gaze right back at me.

On his lips is the subtlest smile.

My heart nearly breaks. Have I done this to him? Have I made that lonely child smile?

Before any tears can fall from my eyes, I turn back to the screen.

“Were all these mugshots taken at the same time?” I ask, trying to distract myself from the emotion clogging my throat.

Tytus only laughs. “Yeah. This was from one of the first jobs we ever did together. One of the last too.”

“What went wrong?”

“Just your typical bickering. Gabriel and Krol got into an argument on the steps of a bank in Krakow… right after we’d robbed the place. I was waiting in the getaway car, just a few feet away. We could have easily made out like bandits. Shit. I can still picture the look on Roz’s face. She’s said I had the same look on mine. We were both completely fucking bewildered—that is, until Krol brought us into the argument. Then it was just four orphans swinging at each other on the street, our hard-earned cash flying like leaves from our ripped burlap sacks. We didn’t even hear the cops arrive. It just happened. Luckily, Drago eventually came by to bail us out…”

Tytus trails off and his subtle smile fades.

“Who’s Drago?” I ask.

“He was our adoptive father.”

Was.

That makes everything as clear as it needs to be.

“You want to see your family again, don’t you?” I realize.

“Yes,” Tytus whispers.

“I wish I could help you...”

My chin drops at the heaviness of it all. But then I feel Tytus’ fingers spread across my jaw.

I sink into his palm as he turns me to face him.

Those silver-blue eyes shimmer. The subtle smile returns.

“You want to help me, angel?”

“Yes,” I nod.

Leaning forward, Tytus plants a gentle kiss on my lips. When he pulls back his smile widens.

I try to hate him. But I can’t. Not right now.

“You already have, angel,” he says, brushing my cheek. “But there’s something else you can do for me.”

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