Page 4 of Sacred Sin

I’d come to Empire Ballet with the purpose of becoming a principal ballerina for one of the most prestigious companies in the country. Okay, so maybe they weren’t in the top three, but fourth was still pretty good. Over a decade later, I’d achieved all I’d dreamed about. Almost all. That was my career goal; my personal goals I’d torched, and there was no going back to yesteryear after what I’d done to Gio and Marko.

The price had been huge, and I was sure there would be no welcome for me if I ever returned, at least not from Gio. In his mind, my leaving meant he’d lost, and Giovanni Vitale never lost.

Marko—assuming they were still a team—would do his best to keep me at bay to protect Gio’s heart. Or maybe I was just full of myself and neither of them cared enough to come after me.

That’s not true. A whisper penetrated my thoughts. I was losing it and shook my head. Maybe those looks from the driver were justified after all.

Whenever life spun out of control, my mind inevitably returned to the two men who had once made me feel untouchable. Gio’s gorgeous face and Marko’s stoic one crept into my mind and this time, I chose not to chase them away… My body tingled each time I thought of them and now was no different. Both men could play my body like a finely tuned instrument. They’d understood my body in ways men twice their age never could.

Giovanni was sexy, and every girl had wanted to date him. He’d been the most popular guy all through school and walked the halls with a confidence and predatory nature that made him king. Marko, his best and most loyal friend, always had his back, not that Gio needed it. Being part of the Vitale family meant he was hands-off. By proxy, so was Marko and anyone else that Gio deemed worthy of his protection. At one time, I would have been included in that, but that was a long time ago.

My life didn’t truly begin until I was transferred out of the shithole school on the east side to West Ridge High. Not only was it academically superior to every other school in the district, but it boasted a fantastic performing arts program, which was where my dream of becoming a ballerina was born.

My father had gone to work for the Vitales, and having me in a better school was an unexpected perk. The first day I showed up in my only pair of jeans, a tattered T-shirt, and my favorite jacket. Upon entering the prestigious building, I stuck to the shadows, hoping to avoid any conflict that could get me into trouble. My father had warned me to do well or else, and I fully intended on complying.

I was given a classroom schedule and arrived at homeroom seconds late. The teacher opened the door wide, and I stepped in. I felt all eyes on me and knew my discomfort showed in the pinkness of my warm cheeks.

In the back row were two gorgeous guys as different in looks as they could be. One was staggeringly beautiful, even sexy. Danger poured off him in waves, and when the corner of his mouth tucked up into a smile, I thought I’d go up in flames from the amount of heat coursing through me.

His friend was handsome with a chiseled jawline and short hair. His eyes were equally intense, but held a completely different message. I imagined he smelled like vanilla cookies, for despite his size, he had a wholesome boy-next-door vibe. An image of his big hand gripping the nape of my neck threw me into an emotional tailspin.

The sexy one lifted his nose as if he could smell my excitement from the back of the classroom and the heat in my cheeks intensified. Almost in unison, they leaned back in their chairs, crossing their arms. Dominant to the core. Holy Hannah, they were hot!

The big one pulled the empty desk in front of them back until it was between theirs. With gazes focused on me, they patted the seat in tandem.

My heart was pounding as my worst fear came to light—being noticed. Hadn’t I skittered along the walls through the school just to avoid trouble? My mouth felt like sandpaper when I tried to swallow. There had to be a mistake—or worse, a joke. I felt obliged to look and see if there was a mistake. Maybe a gorgeous girl stood behind me and that’s who they were eye-fucking.

“Miss Angelucci, I believe Mr. Vitale and Mr. Marino have a space in back for you.”

“Erm, yes, sir. Thank you.”

As I approached, the net seemed to close around me, the two of them drawing me inexorably closer. There would be no escaping them, but who would want to? The sexual energy pulsed from them in waves and had me swooning from all the way across the room. I barely made it to the chair they had pulled out for me before collapsing onto the hard plastic.

It was only then that my brain caught up to what the instructor had said. Mr. Vitale. Sandwiched between the giant and his way too-good-looking friend I tried to think of a way to escape my situation. I couldn’t be around the boss’s son. If things went south at school with him, then my father and I could get sent back to the hole we’d just climbed out of.

Not to mention the punishment my father would dole out. A shudder moved through me. Perspiration trickled down my neck. And then strong fingers were gently massaging my nape.

“Breathe, tesorina.” A rich, velvety voice murmured.

A shiver moved through me at the closeness of that voice to the shell of my ear. Little treasure? Did he have me confused with someone else?

I began muttering, “Hail Mary, full of grace.”

“Mary can’t save you, tesorina, only I can,” said the same sexy voice.

“The Lord is with thee.”

“Yes. And we are his vessels,” said voice two.

I closed my eyes, absorbing the strength, power, and promise woven through the deep voice of the larger of the two.

His vessels. What did that mean? “Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb…” I swallowed thickly, realizing belatedly that I should have omitted that last part.

“I’ll bless your womb,” said voice number one.

“Forget the fruit and let’s discuss our meat filling your womb instead,” said voice two.

My nipples pebbled in response to their dirty words.