The Sinners - Ruby Vincent Page 0,19
academy for a while. Rio’s got some big plans coming up to distract him, so he’ll take a break from fucking with us.”
“What about Hiro?” I asked. “Is he okay?”
Royal tossed his head. “I called the doc when you were in the shower. He didn’t pick up. I’ll call again in the morning.”
“But—”
“Trust us, baby.” Cassius kissed my crown. “Doc lets us all know when we lose a brother. Not hearing from him is a good thing.”
I buried my face in his chest. All of a sudden, I was bone tired. “I want a pillow and a mattress. I need this day to be over.”
“Cool if we stay, Royal?” Clay asked. “We’re not trying to crash with our dad.”
“The couch is all yours.” Hands snaked under me and lifted me free of Cassius’s hold. “Food in the freezer. Drinks in the cabinet. Em and I are heading out early tomorrow, so lock up when you leave.”
Royal carried me unceremoniously to the bedroom. The triplets watched us go. The question in their eyes was the same in my head. Were we going to pick up where we left off with them ten feet away?
Laying me on the bed, he went out, rescued his comforter, and draped it over me. Royal stretched out on my side but very distinctly did not touch me.
“Are we...?”
“We’re all wrecked and you’re a screamer,” Royal said. “None of us will get any sleep once I get you going.”
Heat steamed my blood. “Shut up.”
“Besides,” he said, his chuckles filling the dark. “I was serious about getting up early. There’s something we might have to do.”
“See Hiro?”
“Maybe.”
Rolling over, I tumbled across his bed and landed in the warm crook between his arm and body. “Good night.”
His hand moved down to my waist, keeping me close.
Secure.
Safe.
“Night.”
Chapter Two
A familiar sound burrowed under my unconsciousness and roused me more effectively than an alarm clock.
“Serious question,” I gruffed, my eyes shut. “Will your fingers fall off if you don’t sketch every second of every day?”
His laugh was warm and full. “Never stopped long enough to find out. But you’ll like this one.”
Peeling my eyes open, desire crushed the last traces of tiredness. Royal was truly gifted. He captured my impish smile. Puffy lips. Curled toes. And dampness on my fingers as I toyed with my sex. The exacting detail of everything was so perfect it transported me to last night and my devouring need for him.
“I love it,” I said. “Never been a muse before.”
“It’s a full-time job. You’ll have to pose for me often. Possibly every day.”
I pressed my smile into his bicep. Snuggled in bed with Royal, the morning light streaming through the blinds and casting stripes on his wild hair but serene expression. Outside Clay and Cassius were safe and with me. There wasn’t a word for how I felt, and it scared and thrilled me.
“I’m prepared to take on my duties.”
A swat landed on my backside. “Time to go. Get dressed. We’ll pick up something to eat on the way.”
I twisted to look at the clock. It read seven in the morning.
“To Hiro,” I confirmed. “Did you get on to the doctor?”
Climbing out of bed, Royal grabbed clothes out of the closet, stripping and dressing in front of me. “He texted me saying Hiro was okay, but he’s not coming back to the academy with us today.”
“When will he be back? It looked like his arm was broken and then getting shot on top of it. What will we tell Hart about him being out?”
Royal gripped my ankle under the sheets and drew me out of the covers. I happily let him take my clothes off and dress me.
“That’s on Hiro,” he said. “He’ll tell Hart he broke his arm in some accident and come back with the cast to prove it. She’s got us covered in bandages. No one is going to notice one more.”
“So, we just go on like nothing happened?” I took hold of his chin as he bent to pull up my pants. “Rio gets away with it.”
“What did you think we were going to do, Em?” His eyes were tsunamis of crashing waves. Rage. Resentment. Hate.
“Rio lets you in on his plans,” I said. “His son. His successor. You also know the other three leaders and what they’re planning. Tell me I’m wrong.”
Royal said nothing.
“You could walk into a police station and topple the Horsemen like a house of cards. So, why don’t you?” I stroked his cheek. “It’s not out of loyalty