Page 158 of Sinful Lord

Roz isn’t the least bit intimated. A primal snarl twists her painted red lips as she glares over at Rian.

“And you were supposed to NOT hurt my brother—so I guess we’re fucking even.”

“You saw the email,” Rian defends himself. “He’s holding Mel captive. She’s in danger. We need answers. Fast. I did—”

“That wasn’t the only email your sister sent,” Roz stops him. “Mel sent me one too. I just forwarded it to you. Give it a good once over, maybe it will be enough to knock some sense into you.”

“Another email?” Rian asks, flabbergasted.

“You aren’t the only person in this family she trusts.”

Brushing by her partner, Roz sets her eyes on me. It’s so nice to see her again that I could smile—that is, if it didn’t hurt so much.

“Boys,” Gabriel nods, coming up behind Roz. “Maksim, you look well.”

Maksim just grunts.

“And you look like shit,’ Roz huffs, shaking her head at me. “How’d you manage to get caught so easily? Huh?” she teases, kneeling down.

“The old man caught me off guard,” I cough. “Thought we were becoming friends…”

“Well, there’s still time for that,” Roz laughs.

“What are you doing?” Rian asks, stepping forward when Roz begins to untie my restraints.

“I’m freeing my brother.”

“I didn’t say you could do that.”

“Good thing you don’t get to tell me what to do.”

The playfulness in my sister’s voice sits in stark contrast to Rian’s. But even Roz hardens as she turns to him and flashes a bejewelled ring finger in his direction.

“Or did you already forget our arrangement? I agreed to marry you on one condition. You don’t change. This doesn’t change. We don’t change. That means no orders. No wifely duties. No doubts. We trust each other. Do we still trust each other, boo?”

Rian stiffens against Roz’s words, but when his green eyes fall onto the shimmering engagement ring, he melts, if only just a little.

“I trust you with my life,” he mumbles.

“And I trust you with mine,” Roz nods. “I fucking love you Rian Kilpatrick. Now, throw me your knife. I’m freeing my brother.”

“I love you too,” Rian grunts, only hesitating for a moment before tossing his knife toward my sister. She effortlessly catches it by the hilt and starts cutting my ropes.

“Congratulations you two,” I rasp, swallowing the blood I can’t spit out. “Can’t say I ever expected it to happen.”

“It took a lot of convincing,” Rian grumbles, turning his back on me.

“And it’s going to take a lifetime of commitment to keep this heavy cuff on my finger,” Roz reminds him.

My ankles go free and I stretch my legs as Roz gets to work on my wrists.

“Thank god Bianca isn’t as stubborn as you two,” Gabriel chuckles. “Don’t know if I could stand being in such a competitive relationship.”

“It’s the only way I could stand to be in any relationship at all,” Roz jokes back.

My hands go free and I slink into the chair, free at last. But there is no relief. Mel is alone and in danger. Krol is looking for her. I can’t sit around and wait until my body is ready to go.

“We need to move,” I grunt, trying to stand up. But I’m too weak. Gabriel and Roz both have to jump forward just to keep me from hitting the floor.