One Last Sin (The Sin Trilogy #3)(8)

Bleu touches my back. "Don't get up."

I twist to kiss her forehead. "I'll only be gone long enough to reprimand whoever this is disturbing us."

I open the door and find Kyle, one of two men I've assigned to guard Bleu's door. "I told you no disturbances. My wife needs rest," I growl. What part of that does he not fucking understand?

"We have a problem, Sin. A big one," he whispers.





Chapter Five





Bleu Breckenridge




"I need to step out with Kyle. I'll only be a minute."

"No." I try to sit up but stop when the pain is too great. "Don't go."

"I'm not leaving you. I'll just be right outside the door for a moment. Promise."

Wrinkles crease Sin's forehead. The deep ones only make an appearance when he's worried. "Something's wrong."

"Fellowship business. Nothing for you to be concerned about. Rest and I'll be back before you can miss me."

He leaves, shutting the door behind him, not giving me the chance to argue further.

Rest? He has to be kidding. Like that's going to happen when I know there's a problem.

God, I hope nothing has happened to Lainie.

Sin returns and plants himself in the chair next to my bed. "I'm going to tell you what's going on but do not get upset. It isn't good for you or the babies."

"Telling me to not get upset makes me get upset."

"Ellison is in Edinburgh."



       
         
       
        

"What! Why? It's only been four days since we spoke. She doesn't know this happened, does she?"

"I don't think it has anything to do with your kidnapping. I'm inclined to think she's here as a surprise."

Shit. Talk about bad timing. "She's going to have a come-apart when she finds out I'm in the hospital and haven't called her."

"She's at Agnes's because I can't let her into our flat." Right. That damn bloody message on the wall. She'd flip the fuck out if she saw it, as would any normal person.

"I have a crew working to erase all evidence of what happened. New paint in the living room. New furniture. But they'll need at least a day to make it happen. What should we do with her in the meantime?"

There's nothing to consider. "I don't have a choice. I have to see her." Like this.

For a moment, I push away the worries of how I'll explain everything. I'm happy. I get to see my sister after being apart for months.

"She's going to want answers."

"Of course she will. And she'll get explanations."

But they won't be the truth.



* * *



Sin's phone alerts him to a new message. "It's Jamie-texting to let me know he and Ellison just arrived."

I may throw up. Really. "I'm more nervous than a fox at a hound convention."

"At least you still have your humor." Sin sits on the edge of my bed and places his hand on my leg. "Don't be so tense. The story's a good one. She has no reason to suspect it's a lie."

"Anyone still here?"

"My parents are in the waiting room. And Mitch, but he's still with Lainie."

"He's been with her for hours."

"I sent Kyle to relieve him but he said he was fine and wouldn't leave." That's a little strange.

"Will you tell Kyle and Blare to not allow anyone in my room while Ellison's here?" The less contact she has with The Fellowship, the better.

"I've already put out an order for everyone to stay away from the hospital. A large crowd draws attention. I'd prefer the staff didn't figure out it was my face all over the newspaper the past few days."

Agreed. I don't want my nurses to realize who Sin is, either, but right now I'm more concerned with my sister figuring it out.

There's a light tap on the door. Ellison doesn't wait for an invitation to come inside. I'm not sure if that's a nurse thing or a sister thing.

The smile she's wearing when she enters fades when she sees my face. "My God, Bleu!" 

She looks at Sin and back to me before darting to my bedside. "No one told me you were in the hospital because you looked like this. What the hell happened to you?"

Lacerations decorate my forehead. Edema has almost forced both of my eyes closed. The discoloration of my face darkens by the hour. This must be a terrible shock for her.

I put my hand to my cheek and smile. Even that hurts. "I assure you it looks much worse than it really is."

"Who did this to you?"

"That's the question of the day. I was mugged while walking to the market."

"What kind of mugger stomps the hell out of a woman while stealing her purse? And how did you let anyone best you? You're able to kick anybody's ass."

She isn't buying what I'm selling. My sister knows I've been trained well to handle such situations. "The guy was huge and I was caught off guard."

"Bleu. You're never caught off guard."

She's right. "Even I get preoccupied sometimes."

"So this guy just walked up, kicked the shit out of you, and then ran off with your purse?"

I need to add something more to the story to make it seem real. "Yeah. He was acting like a raving lunatic. He had to be high or something."

"Are the police doing anything to find the asshole who did this to you?"

"They are. Two very nice detectives came to see me and assured us everything possible was being done." That part is true.

"Are you sure there isn't more to this? There are two men guarding your door."

"That's just Sin being overprotective."

"I don't think he's being a bit overprotective after what you just went through. What about the babies?"

I'm not going into details about the tear in the placenta. She'll freak out. I know I did when Sin finally told me about it. "I've had some bleeding so I'll be on bed rest for a while."

"Then it's a good thing I'm here. You're going to need me."

There's an impending war with The Order. I can't think of a time when I need her here less. "We spoke four days ago and you didn't mention a word about coming."

She looks away, avoiding my eyes. That's not a good sign. "I wanted it to be a surprise."

I don't believe her. "Liar. Something happened."

"You using your human lie detector skills on me again?"

"Maybe."

"Well, a little something might have happened."

My idea of a little something and Ellison's often differ greatly. "What kind of a little something are we talking about?"

She drops her face and pats the top of her head. She always did this when she was a kid and got into trouble. "Oh God. It's so stupid, Bleu."

She looks over at Sin and Jamie before whispering, "And embarrassing."

I look at my husband and nod toward the door. It's my cue for him and Jamie to give us some privacy.

He understands and comes to kiss the top of my head. "Need anything while I'm out?"

It's been hours and no one has told me anything about my new friend. "I'd love an update on how Lainie's doing."

"Of course. Want anything to eat?"

I still don't have an appetite. Getting your gut stomped doesn't do much for that. "I don't think so. But don't worry. I have the IV."

"Will you try to eat something for the babies?"

God, I'd kill for some Lipton's sweet tea with lemon. The good ol' syrupy kind. But it's a southern thing. People around here look at you like you're crazy if you ask for sweet tea.



       
         
       
        

I can't think of a thing that sounds good right now. "Surprise me."

"A double order of haggis it is, then." I wrinkle my nose and pretend to gag.

"Sorry, Bonny. Couldn't resist." Sin chuckles.

Ellison waits until they're gone. "I take it you don't love haggis?"

"Nope."

Ellison plops in the chair at my bedside. "You aren't going to believe the level of stupidity I've been able to achieve since you've been gone."

She's stalling. I hate that. "Come off it already."

"I had to leave my job at Southaven."

I don't have it in me to drag this out of her. Not today. "Because?"

"I was given a random drug screen  …  and I failed."

What? My sister doesn't take drugs. "There must've been an error."

She shakes her head. "No. It was no mistake."

"What did you test positive for?"

"Ecstasy."

"Since when do you take that?"

"Since never  …  except for this one time. I went out with some friends from work. We met these really cute guys on Beale Street  …  and they were musicians  …  and I guess we got a little carried away. It was supposed to be a fun night but now I'm totally fucked."

"You said you left your job. Does that mean you weren't fired?"

"The hospital told me I had to take a leave of absence and enter a voluntary rehabilitation program if I wanted to maintain employment with them."

"So do it."

"No way. It's ridiculous." She looks completely outraged. "I don't have a drug problem. I took ecstasy one time while I was partying with friends. Why would I commit to a drug rehabilitation program when I don't have an addiction?"