One Last Sin (The Sin Trilogy #3)(4)

Maybe I take chances but now isn't one of those times. "This cannot be considered my fault. My cellmate jumped me with a shank. The only reason he didn't get a better jab in was because I was awake-too worried about Bleu."

If I had been asleep, I'd be a dead man.

It's my guess that Buchanan put me in with someone from The Order. And while my cellmate was obviously privy to knowing I'm Fellowship, I wasn't given the same courtesy regarding his allegiance. Again, likely thanks to that bastard Buchanan.

"Your wife is going to be all right. You're going to get out of here soon and rescue her like a white knight should. You'll be her hero and she'll love it."

It's time to make good on my promise to protect her. And I'll do whatever it takes, even if it means wiping out every member of The Order.





Chapter Three





Bleu Breckenridge




I offer to prepare lunch since Lainie cooked breakfast this morning. There are two of us eating from the supplies for one. The man she calls Deacon hasn't come with groceries so the cupboard inventory is shrinking fast. "Pickings are slim. How do you feel about BLTs?"

"That's fine. I'm not accustomed to gourmet meals around here."

I'm nauseated. I don't really feel like eating but I'm fatigued more than usual today. I need iron from a food source since I don't have my vitamins or iron supplement. Pork is the best option I see from what's left in our scant food supply.

We're eating our sandwiches when Torrence arrives with Broden, Reuben, and the third man present during my kidnapping. I never heard them say his name so I call him the short one.

Terror spreads over Lainie's face. "Don't be afraid. He's here for me," I whisper.

"Mrs. Breckenridge. I trust your accommodations suit you."

Like he cares if I slept well. I won't whine. He'd enjoy that. "Can't complain."

"Did you become fast friends with my wife?"

He doesn't need to think Lainie and I are chummy. We can't afford for him to suspect we're partnering. "No. She's not terribly friendly."

He looks at her and snarls, "She certainly isn't. But the two of you will have time to become better acquainted. You're staying a while longer."

I don't care for the sound of that but I need to keep up my charade. "Let me guess. Sinclair is refusing to come for me." I shake my head and purse my lips. "That son of a bitch will be sorry when my father finds out what he's done."

"Sinclair isn't coming because he's still sitting in jail. Which I don't mind, except it's putting a wrench in my plans for you."



       
         
       
        

Rodrick should've gotten him out first thing this morning. What's taking so long?

I should use this opportunity to convince Torrence that Sin and I aren't in love. He needs to believe killing me in front of Sin won't accomplish what he hopes. "Good. Maybe they'll keep his ass in jail until it rots so I don't have to look at him again."

"Your hatred for Sinclair Breckenridge seems passionate, yet you defended him. You said he didn't mean to kill my son. That sends mixed messages."

Shit. He's right. I shouldn't have defended Sin.

Now is the time to steer this in a different direction. "I was trying to save my own neck. I thought you might consider releasing me if you thought my husband didn't intentionally kill your son. But he did. The bastard even boasted about Jason's murder. The Fellowship celebrated his death."

"My son was so young. He had a promising future ahead of him. He was going to take my place as leader one day."

I hate speaking about the man I love this way but I have no choice. I must win Torrence over. "If you intend on making Sinclair suffer, I can assure you that killing me isn't the way. He loves another –  – a woman Thane wouldn't let him marry."

"That's interesting. If it's true."

"It is. And he's kept the whore as a lover after marrying me."

"You're jealous." He's laughing.

"Not jealous. Pissed off and determined to get even is more like it. I was forced to leave the man I loved in America and move to Scotland to become Sinclair's wife. I lost my beloved. He deserves to lose his as well. And I won't be happy until I make that happen."

"He deserves to lose much more than a woman."

I think I could be persuading Torrence in the right direction. "I absolutely agree."

"Who is this woman?"

I call off a bogus name. "Kenna McGregor. He brought her into our home as a housekeeper. As though I'm too stupid to know what they're doing behind my back."

"This is good information. Definitely something I can work with. Many thanks, Mrs. Breckenridge."

Torrence and his men are barely out the door when Lainie releases a heavy sigh. "Quite the tangled web you've spun. But I think he walked face first into it."

"It sounded good?"

"Hell yes. I know the truth and I almost fell for it. You're very convincing."

"Good." I have to be. I have a lot to lose.



* * *



Two days have passed and nothing. No Torrence. No men from The Order checking in. Most importantly, no Sin. What is happening with my husband? He hasn't come for me yet. Something is wrong. 

I've tried everything I know to find a way out of this place but Lainie is right. It's locked down. There's no way out until someone opens that door from the outside.

So I wait. I have no other choice. But sitting on my hands is killing me. I'm accustomed to a proactive course. This pussyfooting around doesn't cut it.

"We're running out of food. Do you expect your brother's friend to come today?"

"Aye."

I've been thinking about this. I believe it's time to make a move. "We should make a break for it when he comes."

"No. Torrence will kill Deacon if he allows us to escape."

Does she forget that the alternative is killing us? "Your brother's friend won't be allowing anything. We'll take him by force. Torrence won't kill him if he's overpowered."

"You're wrong. It isn't possible for Torrence to be rational about anything."

"That's exactly right. He is irrational. He killed his other wife because she couldn't give him an heir. If you don't become pregnant soon, he will do the same to you. You'd better wise up and think about that."

She says nothing.

"That monster will come for you tomorrow night. Would you prefer to be raped again or be gone when he arrives? Your choice."

She still doesn't answer. Maybe her priorities aren't in order but mine are. "I don't plan on being here tomorrow night."

"I can't put Deacon in that kind of danger. I love him."

"You love Deacon because he's your brother's friend, or you love love him?"

"I love love him."

Things are beginning to make a little more sense. "Is he in love with you?"

"I think he was before my parents traded me to Torrence." She covers her face with her hands and her voice cracks when she continues. "It's like he looks right through me when he comes."

I'd bet money Torrence knows Lainie loves Deacon. It's another cruel way to torture his wife for trying to run away. And the bonus is tempting poor Deacon with the accessibility of helping her escape. But every time he doesn't, he proves to Lainie how little he feels for her.

I need to be brutally honest with Lainie so there's no mistake. "It boils down to two options: stay to protect Deacon, or make a move to get out of here. Regardless of what you choose for yourself, this is happening when he comes."

"How do I condemn the man I love to death so I can go free?"

"You do it because staying could leave you with one choice. Death. He has the option to make a run with us if he's so inclined."

"But he won't."

"If he doesn't, that's his choice."

There's a sound at the door. Someone's coming in. "Stay out of the way if you aren't going to help."

Torrence and two of his men enter. Shit. He's either come early for Lainie or something has happened with Sin.

"Good afternoon, Mrs. Breckenridge."

He ignores Lainie sitting next to me. "Evening, Mr. Grieve. To what do we owe this pleasure?"

"I'm guessing you're hoping I'm here to say your husband has been released from jail and has come forward to trade for you. But that isn't the case."

"I thought I was clear about my feelings regarding Sinclair Breckenridge."

"You were. Except everything you told me was a lie."

I have fucked up.

I knew Torrence would eventually disprove my story but I thought I'd be out of here before that happened. Now it's come back to bite me in the ass.



       
         
       
        

I must remain convincing. "I don't know why you'd think that."

"It began when I learned Carrick Abban doesn't have a daughter. At least not one who still lives and breathes."

Cassidy is dead? That must have happened recently.

"I don't know who told you that but they're lying."

"I think we know who the liar is."

"I may have glossed over the truth a little. I'm his other daughter. The illegitimate one by his mistress. I'm sorry I lied but he's still very much my father and will be upset should anything happen to me."