One Last Sin (The Sin Trilogy #3)(21)

"I told Dad I remembered everything and that I was going after my mom's killer."

"You can't be serious."

"My intentions were to murder her killer –  – shoot him exactly the way he did my mother. I told Dad I was doing it with or without his training. He feared for my safety so he agreed to teach me."

Ellison's brows are scrunched. I know her so well, I easily recognize it as her "thinking hard" look. "You expect me to believe that Dad taught his twelve-year-old daughter how to kill? Do you even know how crazy that sounds?"

This story has so much more crazy to it than she can possibly imagine. "He trained me until I entered the police academy. My entire career as an officer and then as an agent was so I could further my education to learn how to infiltrate an organized criminal organization called The Fellowship. Everything I did was so I could get close to her killer, Thane Breckenridge. The plan was to do that through his son, Sinclair. Which I did."

Breck takes my hand and squeezes it. "But then I fell in love with Sin and couldn't go through with any of it."

"Your father-in-law is your mother's killer?"



       
         
       
        

"I thought so, but I was wrong. We still haven't figured out who he is but we're getting closer every day."

I put my hand on my belly. "I've hired Dad's old partner Debra to take over the investigation since it isn't safe for me to be out tailing potential killers while I'm pregnant."

"What is Fellowship?"

This part is going to be trickier. "A group of people, much like a family, with designated leaders. Thane is the head authority. His son, Sin, is second in charge and will one day step into his shoes as leader when Thane decides to retire."

Sugarcoating what we are will be lying. I won't do that to my sister. She needs to understand everything about The Fellowship if she's to consider staying. "We're similar to what you know as the Mafia, but not Italian. The Scottish version."

"They're criminals and you're part of it?"

"Sin is my husband and this is his way of life. As his wife, I'm a part of everything he does."

"You're an FBI agent and you've chosen to marry into a family of criminals? That doesn't make sense."

She's stuck on the criminal part. "We're more than that. These people are my family. I love them dearly."

"I am your family." She looks hurt. That's not at all what I want.

"You are and always will be, but my place is here with my husband within The Fellowship."

"Dad is rolling in his grave."

I'm about to burst her bubble –  – and I hate that. "Dad knew. We told him everything before he died."

"You're lying."

"I'm not. Dad gave us his blessing."

"He wouldn't have if he'd understood what this was all about."

"He understood everything. We watched The Fellowship for years so we could find the best way for me to infiltrate. Dad knew every detail about the Breckenridges and their circle. He came to like Sin very much and was happy to see us marry."

The next hour consists of a lot of things: honesty. Tears. Yelling. Lots of explanations about what The Fellowship does or does not believe in or practice. What becoming a part of this world really means.

The conversation with my sister isn't pretty but Sin never leaves my side. He clarifies things about The Fellowship that I cannot.

"I feel like I don't know who you are anymore."

The truth is Ellison never knew the real me, but this is my opportunity to show her. "I'm the sister who loves you. The one who wants you to stay and become a part of my world. I need you. And my babies need you. You're the only Auntie Elli they'll ever have." 

Yeah. It may be a low blow to use my babies as a means to convince her to stay but I don't care. I'm prepared to be a little selfish if it means I get to have her in my life.

"Becoming a part of your world means accepting this culture as my own. I'm not sure I can do that."

I understand her hesitation. This is a lot to learn about in one sitting. I've had years for it to sink in. "I have a wonderful life, Ellison. I couldn't be happier."

"You're on cloud nine. I don't dispute that at all, but we're very different people. I'm not sure I'm cut out for this."

"I wasn't certain I could do it, either, but now I can't imagine being anywhere else in the world."

"It's bizarre that a man would volunteer himself to be beaten in my place so I can become his. And part of this."

I understand her confusion. I was once the outsider looking in. It isn't an easy thing to comprehend. "It's extreme for a reason –  – so the act of bringing a person into the brotherhood isn't taken likely. Only a man who truly loves you would volunteer to do it. It's a huge sacrifice but I can promise you this: you'd never doubt his love for you and no one within The Fellowship would, either."

"It's barbaric."

Sin bursts into laughter. "I think your sister is understanding our ways perfectly."

I punch Sin's arm. "Not helping."

"If I loved the man back, how could I let him put himself through that?"

"If he's anything like Sin, he'd do it without telling you." Which is probably best. I don't think I would've gone along with it had I known. Especially since I wasn't planning to become a member of The Fellowship at that time.

"You found out after the fact?"

Boy, did I ever. "Yeah. Sin looked like he'd been run through a meat grinder."

Ellison shakes her head. "That's horrible."

"You'd think it would be, but it's not. When you're over the shock of it, you're able to see his sacrifice for the beautiful thing it is –  – his choice to suffer in your place."

Ellison looks at Sin. "You got him. I'd probably get some old fart in a kilt."

"First of all, your consent would be necessary for Sin to make any kind of match on your behalf. Secondly, there are some seriously hot Scotties in The Fellowship."

I look at Sin and shrug. "Sorry, but it's true."

Ellison sighs. "Jamie is so beautiful. I go completely stupid whenever I try to talk to him."

"And he's a great guy. I've come to love him dearly." I wouldn't mind seeing my sister with him at all.

"You don't view being in this world as a sacrifice, but to me it is. It would be a huge concession on my part. I'd be leaving my whole life behind. I need time to think about this."

I'm asking Ellison to change her entire existence. I don't take that lightly and neither should she. "Of course. Take all the time you need. No pressure. Sin and I are both here if you have any questions."

"We've been in here a long time. We should probably check on Leith." Sin's right. Time has gotten away from me. "And Lorna too."

I poke my head into the office but no Lorna. We go to the guest room where Leith is but the door is shut. I'm not sure what's happening on the other side but my gut tells me to walk away.

We go into the living room and find Jamie. "Is Lorna all right?"

"She's fine. She's in with Leith now."



       
         
       
        

Oh. That sounds promising. My husband's plan must have worked.

Ellison goes to the coat rack and puts on her wool peacoat. "I'm going to take a walk. I have a lot to think about."

Oh dear. I don't want to tell her it isn't safe, but I have to. "I'm sorry, Elli. You can't go out alone."

"I'll walk with you, if you don't mind my company," Jamie says.

"I'd like that." Ellison looks at me for approval. "Is that all right?"

I trust Jamie to protect my sister. "Absolutely."

"Call if there are any changes with Leith. We won't go far."

I'm dying to know what Leith said when Sin told him about Lorna. "The guest room door is shut. I take that as a sign things went well with Leith."

"Oh, Bonny. It didn't go well at all. The whole thing went sideways."

I recount the events of the night for Bleu.

"Oh no." She must be completely heartbroken.

"I've never wanted to hurt him so badly in all my life."

"I want to hurt him now." Had I known this an hour ago, I'm not sure I would have allowed him in my home to be treated. I might have told Sin to leave him on the sidewalk.

Sin and I go silent when we hear Leith's voice carry down the hall. "Please don't go!"

No reply.

Lorna comes into the living room. "I'm sorry to trouble you but I need a ride. Would you mind asking Sterling to take me home?"

"Of course. It's no problem at all, but you're welcome to stay as long as you like."

She's covered in Leith's blood. "Let me get you a change of clothes," I say.

She puts her hand up. "No. I really just want to get out of here now that I know he's going to be fine."

I feel like I should say something about Leith's reaction. "Sin told me what happened. I'm sorry."

This isn't my friend I'm used to seeing. This person is shrinking into herself, her posture telling the story of how she feels. "I've never been so hurt or humiliated in my life."