There was a brief pause as she sipped her drink. She set it down on the little plate that came with it and looked at me with raised eyebrows. “You left with the woman.Why?”
“Because I love her,” I said through gritted teeth. “This isn’t just casual.”
She shook her head with decision. She dismissed my words with a wave. “Love means nothing. It’s a temporary feeling. She dies. You’ll find someone else to warm your bed.”
“This isn’t about sex. I fell in love with her before we even started sleeping together.” I continued to argue my case, but her eyes were bored. She leaned on her hand and sighed.
“She’s tied to my curse,” I told her. That got an eyebrow to raise.
“How so?” she asked.
“She was cursed too. Her curse took her memory. So did mine. She then broke hers, and now she knows something about mine.”
Corrine leaned forward. An honest to God expression on her face.Interest. “Go on. What does she know?”
“She won’t tell me.” I shook my head. “When it happened, she tried to leave, but I caught her. And then she let a thing here or there slip, confirming that she knew me at some point. I just don’t know where, when, or how.”
“Hm,” she said. “I’m sorry, Desiderio, but this doesn’t change anything. You guys could be perfect for each other, but that doesn’t mean you can be together. You know the rules.”
“What about Ginata?” I threw at her. My hands went up in frustration. “She’s got a fucking harem!” I stood and went to the fireplace. I began to pace.
“Yes. I know of her lovers. All of them are idiots. Soldiers, but nothing up on top.” She knocked on her skull. “They know nothing, and she keeps it that way. You made the mistake of telling your lover about us, and now you must pay the consequences.”
I spun around and slapped my chest wildly. “Fine! Make me pay then! Me! Leave her alone. She is innocent. She doesn’t even know who is who.”
Corrine’s eyes flinched, but she continued to drink her blood and shake her head. “No.”
I stormed over and slapped the China out of her frail hand. “Fuck you.” I spat. I leaned down and got right in her face. Our noses were inches from each other. “Why are we all stuck being punished because you couldn’t keep that dick from straying? I bet if you didn’t act like you’re a hundred years old and your pussy is dried up, he would have stayed and kept his fucking mouth shut!”
With lightning speed I hadn’t seen coming, her hand came forward, and she slapped my cheek, causing my head to snap. I took a step back and glared at her. I deserved it, but it was still infuriating. She stood and stalked over to me. “Are you done? You sound like a child.”
“I’m not going to stop fighting for her. There’s no reason I can’t be happy and still continue to be a part of the Seven Sins.” I shook my head. My cheek stung so bad I brought my hand up to rub the skin.
“It’s unsafe. You’re risking everyone’s lives by letting someone into our private affairs. What happens if you separate? She’s bitter and decides to tell someone about what she’s seen. Or maybe she’s taken by someone, and they’ll do just about anything to get her to talk. You don’t think she’ll expose us all in favor of keeping one of her hands?”
I swallowed. She had a point. She stared at me, eyes cold. She knew she had me by the balls, and I couldn’t deny any of what she imagined as a possibility because I had done those things to other people. Anyone I had pissed off in the twenty years I’d been a Seven Sin could go after Scout to get to me.
“Fine. I’m out. I don’t want to be a Seven Sin anymore. You can take my money, whatever. I don’t need it.” I shrugged.Good fucking riddance.
She shook her head, her eyes shining with tears. “It doesn’t work like that, Desiderio. You know that. If you leave, you will be killed. Both of you. You lose the safety of our circle the moment you leave. Do you really want to do that? Give up your life senselessly? For what? A woman you’ve known for a few months? In the span of eternity, will you even remember her?”
I spun back toward the fire. “Yes. I will.”
I could never forget Scout.
What did I do? Corrine was refusing to budge. I couldn’t leave this place without her telling me Scout could live.
“You want out of the Seven Sins?” she asked suddenly. I turned.
“You’ve forced my hand, Corrine,” I said sharply. “If I have to choose between my soulmate and my friends, I will choose her.”
She laughed, sending shivers through me. “Soulmate? That’s new. I didn’t think you believed in such nonsense. I guess if anyone were to, it would be you, my dearest Desiderio.” She stared at me for a long time. “You want out, and both of you to not be killed? Do one more hit for me.”
“That’s it?” I scoffed. “Deal. Who is it?”
“The man who made me make the rule. His name is Charles.”
“He’s still alive?” I was genuinely surprised. When Corrine wanted someone dead, she got what she wanted. “Why haven’t you asked me before?”
