Page 10 of My Forever Sin

A waking chill runs down my spine. That’s what he is now. My stepbrother who should be staying the hell away from me.

“Fuck you, Kain,” I seethe.

His stifling presence crowds me. He's sucking all the air out of the room, bringing the smell of ash with him.

My back is pushed against a door that rattles when I hit it. “That’s not the way to greet your stepbrother, is it?” His voice is in my right ear, low and arrogantly teasing. But of course, it would be. He completed his task of luring me in. He lives in luxury now. That was his reward.

The smell of him invades every single one of my senses and I almost melt into it. It’s the same smell he was wearing that night, and our many romantic nights before. It’s a smell I’ve learnt to associate with safety. But it’s only my brain tricking me. I will not allow him to be my safe space anymore. Not after what he did.

I don’t recognise this asshole standing in front of me, relishing in knowing where I was.

“You make me sick,” I say and it’s in this moment I realise, maybe I’m not the only one who changed.

He hums as smoke fills my throat and I cough, neck seizing with a wheeze.

“Ugh!” I shove at his hard chest—a little buzz shooting through my fingers—then the air immediately lightens.

Frantically searching the wall behind me, my hands snag on a metal lock. I click it open, letting the dark blue hue of the evening dawn inside the corridor. It lights up Kain’s sharp cheekbones and jawline, and his perfectly symmetrical lips painted with a cocky grin as he leans against the wall, that cigarette sitting lazily between his teeth. A rose tattoo adorns the side of his neck that wasn't there before. It’s clear he’s been working out because he’s much more muscular and taller now and I hate the way my throat dries just a fraction.

Ripping my eyes away from his mouth, I award him with one more glare before I slam the door in his face.

Twirling away, I lean my back against the cold stone, exhaling a sharp breath, and letting the crisp night be a balm for my heated body.

I don’t stay out here long before the door squeaks open and closes. Kain strolls right in front of me and stands next to me. All the muscles in my body tense anew and I fight with myself not to look in his direction. I don’t want to.

Maybe if I don’t move, he won’t see me.

The click of a lighter breaks through the tense silence between us.

Another one?

Despite myself, I glance at him without moving my head and see another cigarette trapped between his lips.

Why is he here? Why am I still here? I should be putting as much distance between us as possible.

Get yourself the fuck together.

“Where did you go?” he rasps.

I didn’t notice the staleness in his voice before. Like he hasn’t used it for years, and he’s been saving it for me.

My eyes stay fixed on the endless forest in front while the hymns from inside the church begin their final tune, signalling the end of the service. “You don’t have to fool me anymore, Kain. Your job is done.”

A shuffle. Out of the corner of my eyes, I see he nods to himself again.

Stop talking to him.

The muscles in my fingers twitch, reminding me I still have not moved. I’m hyper-aware of how hard my heart is beating against my ribcage, but I don’t mind. Anything to not focus on him.

By some divine miracle, the side-door of the church squeaks open and people flood out in the opposite direction to the car park.

“Welcome back, daughter.”

Not a voice I’m delighted to hear, and not exactly the miracle I wanted, but it’s a reprieve from this painful situation.

I straighten and meet her eyes. Those cold, dead eyes that she always looks at me with. Taking a deep breath, I compose myself. I let go of my anger, of the former love of my life standing behind me, and the past memories that haunt me. Then I blow a quiet breath out and let my cheeks lift to showcase my teeth. “Hi, Mother.”

Heath sidles up next to her, throwing an arm around her dainty shoulders and raises an eyebrow at me. Mother assess me head to toe, displeasure forming quickly on her face. Not unexpected since she most likely wanted to see me in those goddamn habits.