Complete Sin Box Set

by Georgia Cates

  She looks like she may cry. “That’ll never happen, but thanks for the offer.”

  I dance with numerous Fellowship daughters, some behaving as though they’re in mourning. I suppose they could feel as though the dream of marrying the future Fellowship leader is dead. But it’s the role they’re in love with, not me.

  I come face to face with Westlyn so I’m forced to dance with her. To avoid her would make the situation more awkward. I take her in my arms the way I have hundreds of times but this dance is different. She was hoping to be my wife, and I’ve rejected her.

  “Are you enjoying the party?” I call it that instead of what it really is. I don’t wish to make her feel bad. She’s my cousin. We grew up together so I love her. I’d never want to hurt her.

  “Everything is beautiful. Aunt Isobel went all out.”

  “She did. Exceedingly so, I’m afraid.”

  “She should have. It isn’t every day the future leader of The Fellowship volunteers himself to be beaten in place of the woman he loves so she can become part of his world.”

  “I’m sorry for how this played out.” I’m apologizing again for something I don’t understand. “I had no idea how you felt.”

  She looks confused. “How I felt about what?”

  “You were planning to be my wife.”

  “God, no, Sin. I could never marry you. My father is the one who planned on me being your wife. Not me.” She leans back to get a better look at my face. “Is that why you’ve been avoiding me tonight?”

  “The very reason.”

  “No. Dad came up with that. I’m not at all interested in climbing the chain of command. That’s all him. I’d probably leave The Fellowship if I had a choice.”

  “God, I couldn’t be more relieved.” I adore Westlyn. She grew up tagging along behind me, Jamie, and Leith, so this misunderstanding has been incredibly unsettling for me.

  “I’m happy to have that cleared up.”

  “Me too,” I agree.

  “I’m very much looking forward to becoming friends with Bleu. I’ve never been allowed to socialize with anyone not from within the brotherhood.”

  “She’ll be very happy about that. I’m afraid she’s been here for months and has no friends—except Mum. I’m sure she’d like some her own age.”

  “I’d love for you to introduce us later.”

  “Absolutely.”

  “I have a confession,” West says.

  “Aye?”

  “I don’t plan on marrying a man from The Fellowship.”

  Oh, shite. “You must know your father will never allow you to take a husband from outside the brotherhood.”

  “I don’t really care what Dad has to say about it.”

  Are my actions responsible for her decision? “When did you decide this?”

  “Years ago. It has nothing to do with you and Bleu.”

  Abram will never see it that way. Not only have I rejected his daughter as my wife, he’ll now blame me for putting this idea into her head. “Do us both a favor and wait a while before you drop this bomb.”

  “No worries. I have no prospects at the moment. No need to stir trouble yet.”

  Aye. I have enough problems as it is.

  Abram isn’t finished with me and Bleu. I’m certain of that. All I can do is lie in wait, bracing for his next move. Because it’s coming.

  Chapter 25

  Bleu MacAllister

  It’s official. I’m a Fellowship member, going on two weeks now. I’m completely and utterly in love with its future leader. I want to be with him forever. Undeniably, this isn’t ideal. It’s stupid and reckless but it’s what I’ve chosen because I refuse to live without him.

  And Harry can never know. He’d die of a coronary before the cancer had a chance to take him.

  I’m undecided about my plans for Thane. I only know one thing: I still plan to kill him. But it won’t be soon. I’m not ready to force Sin into his leadership role.

  Clearly, my original plan has gone to shit. But… shit happens.

  I have a dying father four thousand miles away and I’ll need to return home to him soon. No exceptions. I spoke to Ellison yesterday and she tells me Harry is declining. It’s expected, but I need to introduce the idea of going back to the US for a little while. And I know exactly how I’ll do it.

  Sin is working in his office. I stand in the doorway and take a moment to admire how handsome he is before disturbing him. He’s still wearing his clothes from work, minus the jacket and tie. He’s rolled the sleeves of his shirt to his elbows and is wearing his reading glasses. Mmm… I was right. He’s hotter than a freshly fucked fox in a forest fire.

  His eyes lift from the book lying open on his desk to his computer and he notices me standing there. The lopsided grin I love so much makes an appearance just for me. I covet it, especially when it’s accompanied by a single dimple. “Hey, you.”

  “I hate to bother you. Can I have a minute?”

  “I always have a minute for you.” He pushes away from his desk and pats the top of his thigh. “Come see me.”

  I sit on his lap, sliding my arm around his shoulder for support. He pushes my hair away from my face so he can clearly see my eyes. “Everything okay?”

  “Yeah. I just wanted to talk to you for a moment about something that’s been on my mind.”

  “Sounds serious.” He rubs his hand over my back in a circular motion.

  “I’m afraid I don’t make a very good kept woman. I’m used to working. Daily yoga and meal planning isn’t my thing.”

  “Okay. I get it—you’re bored—and I assume you’ve come to me because you have a solution?”

  “What are your thoughts about me moving my photography business here?” I ask, having no idea what kind of response I’ll get.

  “Hmm… I don’t dislike the idea but I think your services could be better utilized by The Fellowship. Working for the public does nothing for the brotherhood.”

  I can sort of see where he’s going with this. “How might I serve The Fellowship?”

  “You’re a photographer. We could often use the services of a professional.”

  I’m liking this idea much better. “You mean you’d have me taking surveillance photos?”

  “Aye. It’s something we require on a regular basis so I think it’s worth considering.”

  Criminals interest me far more than blushing brides and other people’s crying babies. Since I’ve been trained in surveillance, this will work out much better for me. “I like it.”

  Now here comes the part about getting me back to the US so I can spend time with Harry. “All of my equipment is stored at my studio. I’ll need to make a trip home so I can pack it and ship everything here. I have my aunt’s settlement so I can take care of closing the studio for good while I’m there.”

  “I’ll need to run it by Dad but I think he’ll be pleased with the idea.”

  “I wouldn’t rouse suspicion since I don’t look the part of the typical Fellowship member you’d utilize for surveillance. Hopefully, your father would see me as an asset.”

  “I agree. And going home would give you a chance to visit with your father and sister. I’m sure you miss them.”

  “I do, terribly.” He can’t possibly imagine how much.

  “Then we shall get you home.” Sin takes off his glasses, putting them on his desk. “I haven’t given you the attention you deserve this week. For that, I’m sorry, so I’m going to put this work away until another time.”

  “Thank you.”

  “I think we should go out tonight. Maybe invite some friends to go to the casino with us? What do you think?”

  That sounds like fun. I haven’t been gambling in a while. “I would like that very much.”

  There are six of us. Sin invited Jamie and Leith. I invited the only two girls I feel like I know at all—Lorna and Westlyn. That sucks for Jamie since Westlyn is his sister but Lorna is in love with Leith, so maybe I’m doing her a favor by bringi
ng them together outside of work.

  “What would you like to play first?” Sin asks.

  Blackjack is my game. I’m a card counter—but I tell no one. I believe my mother was one as well. Perhaps that’s how she fell into the gaming profession. I guess you can say gambling is in my blood.

  I don’t want to give myself away. “I should probably start with the American roulette table.”

  Westlyn, Lorna, and I take the seats at the table while the men stand behind us. Sin tosses a pile of bills on the table and the dealer changes them for chips. “I’ve got the first round.”

  Damn. He’s spotting everyone.

  We’ve never discussed finances but I know how much money Sin has. It was part of my research—to know how much and where his funds come from. He has legit investments that have nothing to do with The Fellowship. He’s highly intelligent when it comes to capital so he’s a wealthy young man. I’m sure that’s another reason all the single Fellowship ladies are so sad to see him take up with the likes of me. I don’t love the thought of how many women would like to have him.

  I can think of one good thing about Sin substituting in my place for my endurance test. No woman from The Fellowship will ever question his feelings for me. He still hasn’t said those words. I’m not sure he ever will but what he did leaves no question in my heart or mind. Sinclair loves me.

  Everyone places bets but I go straight for the zero and double zero. It’s my favorite wager because the payout is greater. “That’s all you’re betting?”

  “It’s a good bet. If either of the zeroes hits, it’ll pay well.” I’m not going to place stupid bets simply because I’m not using my own money.

  Lorna is clueless about what she’s doing. She’s placed several wagers that will cancel one another out so I turn to Leith behind me. “You should help Lorna. She has no idea what she’s doing.”

  “Lorna makes her own decisions.” He brings his whisky to his mouth and tosses it back.

  “She doesn’t understand the rules of the game. Her bets don’t make sense and the dealer isn’t going to tell her the difference.”

  “Then she shouldn’t play games she doesn’t understand.” Leith can be cold toward Lorna at times. I never noticed him being that way with the other girls at the bar. I’ll need to ask Sin later if he knows what Leith’s problem is.

  I don’t fare well at the roulette table so I decide it’s time to head over for some blackjack. “I’ve lost enough here. I’m going to try my luck at cards. Want to come with me?”

  “Aye.” We sit side by side. “Do you know how to play?”

  I avoid a direct answer. “You try to come closer to twenty-one than the dealer without busting?”

  He seems satisfied with my understanding.

  “Good luck,” the dealer says.

  The first cards dealt are low so I assign them a value using the hi-lo strategy. Low numbers are more beneficial to the dealer but the good news about pulling low ones is that my odds increase for higher ones, which benefits me. For every low number played, the percentage of high cards in the remaining shoe increases.

  I choose to stay while Sin increases his bet. “You shouldn’t have done that. You’re gonna bust.”

  “We’ll see.” He sounds so cocky.

  The cards are dealt and it plays out exactly as I predicted. “Dealer wins.”

  “Told you,” I say.

  “You lost too.”

  I did but that won’t last after I count a few more hands. “I lost the minimum, unlike you.”

  “You have to spend money to make money.”

  “Or you watch and bet wisely,” I argue.

  “All right, lass. Show me how it’s done.” And that’s exactly what I do with the next dozen hands. My stack of chips grows while his diminishes. “You’re a natural.”

  Yes, I am. And he has no idea why.

  I win four more hands and see I’m gaining the attention of the pit boss. We need to roll.

  I lean over to kiss the side of Sin’s face and whisper, “It’s time to leave, Breck.”

  “But you’re doing so well.” Now isn’t the time for him to argue.

  “I don’t want to keep you out too long. You have to work in the morning.” I push my chips in to exchange them for larger ones. “Let’s cash out and go home.”

  “Sin, you have quite the blackjack player with you tonight.” Oh, shit. The pit boss knows who Sin is. I don’t see this going well.

  “This is Bleu MacAllister,” Sin introduces. Now he knows who I am as well. “Bleu, meet Todd Cockburn.”

  “Hello, Bleu. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  We’re in a casino. He’ll refuse my hand if I extend it so I offer a smile and nod instead. “The pleasure is all mine.”

  “We missed you at Bleu’s initiate ceremony,” Sin says.

  What?

  Todd shrugs and gestures at his surroundings. “Someone had to be here running this place.”

  A dealer from across the pit approaches. “Mr. Cockburn, I’m sorry to interrupt you and Mr. Breckenridge, but we have a problem.”

  “Duty calls,” Todd says.

  Sin is wearing a teasing grin.

  “This casino is Fellowship?”

  “Aye.” He laughs.

  “I was ready to dash out of here because I thought I’d been discovered.”

  “For what?”

  “Card counting—as if you didn’t know.”

  I look at the dealer and she smiles. “It took a while for me to catch on.” She looks at Sin and shrugs. “The lass is quite good.”

  “Yes. She’s quite good at everything she does, I’m afraid.”

  Chapter 26

  Sinclair Breckenridge

  Bleu is going home. I won’t see her for two weeks. I’m not sure how I’ll handle being without her for so long since we haven’t spent a day apart in three months.

  We said our goodbyes last night—all night long. There were many times I considered telling Bleu the things on my heart. I. Love. You. They’re three simple little words—but I couldn’t bring myself to say them.

  Work has robbed me of the time I’d prefer to spend with Bleu. That’s why I’m taking the afternoon off to be with my lass. Her red-eye flight doesn’t depart until almost midnight so we’ll have several hours to… say goodbye again.

  I’m already in the shower when I hear her come into the bathroom. I expect her to join me at any minute—but she doesn’t—so I grip the handrail and peek around the tile wall.

  She has taken off her gown and is standing in front of the mirror naked, looking at her body. “Admiring yourself?”

  “No.” She laughs and twists, moving her hand to her hip. “I was wondering what a Celtic shield like yours would look like right here.”

  She wants matching ink? “Stunning—that’s how it would look.”

  “You’d approve?”

  “Of course.”

  She comes into the shower with me, putting her arms around my body from behind. “I know I told you a hundred times last night but I’m going to miss you like crazy,” she says.

  “I’ll miss you too, my Bonny Bleu. I mean that.” I can tell her I’ll miss her but why can’t I man up and spit out the words I so desperately want to say?

  I still have tonight. That gives me all day to think about the perfect way to broach the subject.

  “Will you be seeing your doctor while you’re in the States?” She mentioned making an appointment. I hope she does because I’m very concerned about the way the diabetic medication makes her feel.

  “I doubt I’ll be able to get in to see her on such short notice. You usually have to have an appointment months in advance.”

  “If you can’t, I’ll make sure you get in with the best doctor here when you come back.” She’s let this go on for months. She should have already been seen by someone.

  I turn and wrap my arms around Bleu. There’s nothing better than the feel of her wet body pressed against mine. “I wish I
had time to make love to you in the shower but I don’t. I have early court this morning.”

  “No worries. We’ll take advantage of the time we have before I have to go to the airport.”

  It’s five o’clock and I’m on my way out the door when Heather stops me. “Mr. Breckenridge. I’m so glad I caught you. I have a message from your uncle. He wants you to come by his office.”

  “Now?”

  “Yes, sir. He said it was an urgent matter.”

  No fucking way! If I rushed home, I might have four hours with Bleu before she has to leave. I don’t want to waste that precious time with Abram instead of being with her in our bed.

  I dial Abram’s number. “I got your message but Bleu has a red-eye, so I’ll be in a rush to get her to the airport.” Not the whole truth. “Can we reschedule for the morning?”

  “Absolutely not. It’s pertinent you see me before she leaves.” I doubt that. “Trust me, Sinclair. You’re going to want to hear what I have to say.”

  “I’ll come for ten minutes.” That’s all the time I’ll allow him to steal from Bleu.

  I can walk the distance between our offices in the financial district in about fifteen minutes, but I’m in a hurry so I catch a taxi instead. Abram’s secretary is still there when I arrive. “Mr. Breckenridge will see you.”

  “Thank you.”

  I stand in the doorway of Abram’s office. He’s combing through a file spread wide across his desk, appearing completely engrossed—or obsessed. I tap on the door to gain his attention. “I’m here.”

  “Aah… Sinclair. Come in and take a seat, my boy.”

  He hasn’t called me his boy in years. He’s absolutely giddy, so I don’t expect this to be good. “I can’t stay. I’m in a hurry.”

  “Yes. I hear our dear Bleu will be leaving the country.”

  “Only for a couple of weeks. She’s going home to retrieve her photography equipment and visit her family. She’s not seen them in months.” Why am I explaining this to him?