The Sinners - Ruby Vincent Page 0,84
place.”
We broke in for the second time and ate her warm, delicious meal in the cold, dark living room. Afterward, we got on the road for home.
“Say it.”
I dragged my gaze away from the window, frowning at him. “What?”
“Say what’s bothering you.”
I considered him. “Do I have to?”
“Yes.”
“Do I have to tell you that my head is wrecked too?” I drew my feet onto the chair and hugged my knees to my chest. “Not for a single second did I believe there was another explanation. That they hated me and left Eli because he’d put up a fight was my cold truth and I accepted it. But now... What’s true, Royal?”
“They were selfish bastards,” he stated blunt and hard as a man for me had to be. “That’s true. They lied, cheated, and stole. That’s true too. They did not treat you the way you deserved. All of that is true, Ember.” He cupped my chin with a gentle touch. “But it can also be true that deep down they loved you, and that part of them couldn’t leave you with nothing.”
“You truly believe that?” I whispered.
“You’re not the kind of girl that you can easily let go of.”
I reached for his hand. “You don’t talk much, but when you do, it’s always to say the right thing.”
We didn’t talk much on the rest of the five-hour drive. I sat there with my phone and the letter, typing in random things and looking up possible codes. We passed the Welcome to Raven River sign and I was no closer to deciphering the letters and numbers than I was at the start.
“CMB,” I said aloud. “I’ve tried three different codes with the numbers and get gibberish when I replace them with letters. There are more I have to try, but I have a feeling I have to figure out what CMB is to know what the numbers mean.”
“So far these clues have been connected to you.” Royal slowed to make the final turn into the forest and on to the academy. “Do you know anyone with the initials CMB? Or is it a place you’ve been?”
“Someone’s name...” I repeated. “There are one or two people I know with the initials CB. I overheard Hart call Mrs. Blanchett, Cecilia. I’m pretty sure my parents never met her though. And Grandpa’s house manager’s name was Charles Bernadetto but I haven’t seen him since the funeral and I bet my parents could say the same. We— Wait. What is that?”
Headlights blotted out the horizon. Squinting in the high beams, I raised an arm to shield my eyes.
“What’s wrong with this guy? Royal, flash your lights.”
“It’s more than one guy.”
“Wow. Are they for real?” I made out three or four cars blocking the road. “Academy kids thought the middle of the road was the best place to party?”
“No.”
“Wha—”
“Ember, hide the letter!”
His shout made me jump. Royal hit the brakes—his pale-knuckled grip strangling the steering wheel.
“What’s wrong?”
Just as the question left my mouth, I saw him. Elegant and impassive, a man of equal beauty and savagery stood lone before the pack. The headlights illuminated him to mocking effect, encompassing his body like a halo.
“What is he doing here?!” I cried, scrambling to hide the letter.
“He called me. Said to come see him.” Royal rolled to a dead halt inches before his father. “I fucking told him I was out of town and coming back late tonight.”
My nails ripped through his leather seat. “But why is he here? What does he want?”
Maybe Rio read lips too because the question no sooner left my mouth than he smiled. The handsome black-suited devil gestured to us, telling us to get out of the car.
My heart raced erratically out of control. The gun. The office. The look in his eyes as Rio promised we weren’t done. All of it flashed through my head in the time it took Damien to advance on us.
“Get out,” Royal said softly. “Let me handle this.”
I gripped the latch as the brute made to do it himself. Damien moved back, letting me pass, and flashed out to grab the door, preventing me from shutting it.
“Dad,” said Royal. He strode up to his father—shoulders loose, hands in his pockets, irritation etched in the lines on his brow. “What’s up? I told you I’d swing by your place tomorrow.”
“So you did,” he replied, almost pleasantly. “But I forgot to mention it’s not just you I needed to see. Since you two were out together, I saw the