Page 72 of Sin

With the softest steps known to man, I crept out of my room and down the hall to Mal’s lair. Grim was probably locked in his tower with his plants and storm clouds, for which I was incredibly thankful in this moment. But Sin and Chaos could return at any time, if they hadn’t already. The last thing I needed was for one or more of the Grumpy Gang to find me somewhere I didn’t belong.

I paused outside his room so I could take a centering breath. Technically I wasn’t breaking and entering since the door was already cracked open. So why did I feel like I was about to set off an alarm that would have the horseman running my way prepared for battle in under a second?

Because you know he wouldn’t want you snooping around, and after everything he just shared with you, it feels like a major violation of his trust?

I scowled at that pesky inner voice, muttering, “Shut up. I’m just reclaiming what belongs to me. In and out. Easy peasy.”

Clearly I wasn’t buying what I was selling because my hand was totally trembling as I pushed Mal’s door the rest of the way open and stepped inside. I hadn’t been in here before, and I barely knew the man, but somehow this room felt likehim. For starters, his cologne or natural musk or whatever it was filled the air. Right now, all that served to do was make my body react tomemories of his ragged breaths and the way he’d grunted as he spilled his seed all over me.

Down, girl.

The room itself was pretty sterile, which was hilarious, all things considered. The bedding was a blend of navy and gray. The wooden bedframe was the same deep color as his desk, which housed a couple of computer monitors, both of them currently dark. Aside from the impressive display of tech, this could’ve been a dorm room for all the personality it didn’t have.

Understanding how private and locked down Malice was, the lack of personality made sense. There was nothing here anyone could use against him. No photos, no trinkets, no potential weakness to exploit.

That worked in my favor. It simply meant fewer places to hide things, like pilfered phones.

Yanking open his desk drawers, I rifled through each one, finding nothing more than pens, sticky notes, a few random cables that must’ve gone to his electronics, and a headset or three. Boring, and not at all what I wanted.

With a huff, I spun around and eyed his closet, thinking that maybe there might be a secret stash or safe of some kind hidden at the back. I opened the door, and another wave of his scent accosted me. I had to ignore the flutters it set off in my lower belly.

Not the time, Meredith.

A cursory search revealed nothing beyond a startling amount of flannel and dark hoodies. Maybe when this was over, he’d let me take him shopping for a wardrobe refresh?

I shook my head. Once this was over, he’d be long gone. They’d be rid of me.

“If I were a sneaky horseman of the apocalypse, where would I hide my captive’s phone?” I murmured, narrowing my eyes as I scanned the room.

All that remained were the bed and a nightstand. The nightstand was way too obvious. He definitely wouldn’t hide a contraband item there. But maybe under the bed?

Dropping to my knees, I crouched low so I could peer under the footboard. Besides a few stray dust bunnies, there was nothing to find.

Under the mattress, then?

I was more than a little sweaty and breathing hard when I finished checking under both the box spring and the king-size pillow-topped mattress. Hell, I even stuck my hands inside the pillowcases to make sure he hadn’t squirreled it away in there.

Nothing.

Sighing, I sat down on the bed in defeat before making a last-ditch effort and pulling open the nightstand drawer. And there it was, plugged in and everything.

Well, fuck. I wasn’t sure what that said about Malice and his thoughts about me. Was he not worried about me finding my phone? Did he think I didn’t have the lady balls to try? Or was I supposed to find it?

My hand hovered over the slim device, wondering if this was some sort of trap.

Didn’t matter. If it was, there’s not much more these men could take from me anyway. I’d rather risk it so I could talk to Andi than fear the repercussions. Better to beg forgiveness than ask permission.

Snatching the phone, I unplugged it and tapped the screen, surprised when it woke up and I saw the passcode had been disabled. Had he been snooping? Of fucking course he had.

I sighed, knowing there wasn’t a whole lot to find. I kept all my X-rated content on my computer. My phone was strictly for chatting with the handful of friends I’d managed to keep over the years and Lilith. Not really titillating stuff.

I tapped open my messaging app, my eyes widening when I saw that there were multiple threads that showed activity within the last few days. And I didn’t mean unread messages. I meant responses. Fromme.

“You sneaky shit,” I growled, clicking open my thread with Andi.

Andi:

Hello, gorgeous. I’m back, refreshed, and can’t wait to hear how you’ve been doing.

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