Page 42 of Sinful Lord

When I look down at my hands, though, they aren’t shaking. They’re as steady and as confident as they’ve been in a long time.

They know what they want.

And it’s not to do any more painting.

Still, I force myself to sit on the edge of my bed and take a deep breath. Part of me hopes that I’ll come to my senses. That I’ll realize the danger I’m in hasn’t passed, just changed forms. That I’ll hit send on that email to my brother.

But my eyes won’t leave the painting. All I can concentrate on is how there’s something missing.

I haven’t captured all of Tytus Ryzdon yet. I haven’t seen all of him yet. And I definitely haven’t felt all of him.

He could be my masterpiece.

My heart starts to flutter. My toes curl. The pressure in my core begins to whirl, picking up speed and strength and intensity.

The artist and the girl inside of me collide into one desire.

Him.

I need to stay.

It’s the only way to satisfy my curiosity. To finish what I’ve started. To become the girl I’ve always wanted to be.

Leaning around my incomplete canvas, I pull my laptop forward.

With a strong and steady finger, I delete the draft to my brother. Then I slam the computer shut, place it on my bedside table, and reach under the mattress.

The box slides out. The note slips off. But I don’t care.

I only want what’s inside.

I need what’s inside.

I’m tired of being unprepared, of being overwhelmed.

Tytus sent me this gift so that I could prepare myself for him.

And that’s exactly what I’m going to do.

10

Tytus

From the moment I step out of my car, something feels off.

The two guns tucked beneath my belt instantly grow heavy. A smoky breath curls from my lips.

For a moment, I just pause and scan the unfamiliar area. I’ve had plenty of shady meetings in countless warehouse districts around the world, but this one is different.

Maybe it’s the almost fluorescent graffiti that glows through the darkness. Nearly every inch of every worn-out brick and shattered pane of glass is covered in twisted artwork.

Brightly colored demons mix in with sharp foreign words, taunting me. I don’t belong here.

But that’s never stopped me before.

I have questions that need answering.

I have a girl to avenge. To protect.