Unleashing Sin - A. M. Wilson Page 0,21
her alone in Elias’s bedroom, use the bathroom, then make my way into the kitchen.
As I enter the open-plan room, I’m not surprised to see Elias is already up, dressed, and at the stove.
“You makin’ enough for all of us?”
“Am I a piece of shit?”
I grin. “Not usually.”
“Thanks, asshole. I have eggs and bacon almost done. There’s a pot of coffee too.”
I help myself to coffee, then set out two plates on the island. Elias already has a plate ready for himself.
I wake up with my hot cup of black coffee, and a few minutes later, the girl wanders into the room.
“Good morning,” she says in a shy voice and hops up on a stool.
“Good morning, honey. You sleep well?” Elias asks, taking on his role as the gentle, caring man.
I feel like I’m intruding on a moment. Like I should duck out of the room and give them some privacy, and the thought alone pisses me off.
“I slept great, Elias. Thanks. That smells delicious,” she says, changing the subject.
“Hope you’re hungry. There’s a lot.”
“Starving.” The girl smiles his way, and for some reason, it hits me straight in the chest. The years of pain melt away with that small tilt of her lips.
Elias turns off the stove, and we all dish up, silently digging into our breakfast. I find myself glancing over at her plate every few bites. She must be feeling more relaxed because she’s taking down that plate as quickly as Elias and me.
“Can I get your opinion on something?” She interrupts the silence after taking a sip of coffee. I know because I watched her do it. The entire meal, I couldn’t help my eyes from straying over to her face.
“Of course,” Elias replies before I have a chance.
“I think I need a name. A new one. I can’t go back to who I was before, and I’ll never be called Chloe again. You two have saved me. I think it’s only right that you help me pick a new one.”
“This is a big deal. Are you sure you want to just pull a name out of thin air?” Elias asks.
I’ve lost the ability to make words. This moment is so pivotal in her recovery, but I’m a bit shocked she’s entrusting us to help her. I shouldn’t be, though. She’s trusted us since she woke up in the bed in Elias’s spare bedroom surrounded by strange men. She’s trusted Elias, at least. I think the jury is still out on me and my asshole-ish ways.
The girl wrings her hands together nervously. “I already have something in mind.”
“Tell us,” I reply, finally finding my voice. The words come out harsher than I intended.
She looks startled but pushes through the discomfort by giving me a one-word answer. “Shelby.”
“I like it,” I declare the second the ‘y’ leaves her lips. My tone holds an unwavering confidence that can’t be argued with.
Her head snaps in my direction. “You do?”
Elias’s eyes burn into the side of my face as I turn to Shelby. I don’t know what his problem is, but it’s pissing me off. “Yup.”
Her brown eyes flit back and forth between mine before moving to Elias. “Elias? What do you think?” she asks in a quiet voice.
From the corner of my eye, I can see his face soften. His eyes smile with his lips, and his furrowed brow smooths out. “I think it’s a beautiful name. Good choice.”
Fuck the way her face lights at his praise. Fuck it all to hell.
Picking up my plate, I leave the counter and stalk to the garbage can. My foot kicks the lever, and once the top opens, I chuck the whole fucking thing inside—plate and all. The lid slams shut with a bang that makes the two of them jump. Avoiding eye contact, I bid out to no one, “Don’t call. I’m sure you and Princess Shelby will have plenty to do while I’m out.”
With that parting shot, I take off to the place that’s quickly becoming my new home—Sinclair’s bar.
The morning was spent putting in much-needed orders from our various liquor suppliers and checking in the overall status of the bar. One thing I learned is my pop was shit at keeping books. I made a note to find an accountant as soon as I finished sobering up. At the rate I’m going, that’ll probably be next week sometime.
Around noon, while I’m nursing a bottle of IPA, the office phone rings. I don’t have the patience for this business bullshit,