Page 6 of Dirty Little Sinner

SIX

DEREK

I stand here long after she’s gone and stare at the fucking lion that has been the bane of my existence for years.

“What would you do?” I ask Hades, knowing he won’t answer.

“Yo, you coming?” I turn away from the beast and look up the path to see Royce and Cameron standing there. I release an agitated sigh and make my way toward them. We have a new act opening today and we have a lot to prepare before the first live circus show at ten this morning. We only run two shows a day, and are booked out solid for the next year. We are the only circus show in the US that doesn’t go on the road. We have people traveling from all over the country to see us. We also own the local motel, campgrounds and one ofthe trailer parks. Those are all booked out for the next year as well.

I struggled being a single dad and learning how to take care of Cam with my brother. We were teenagers, kids having a kid really, but I knew I never wanted him to have the same life as me and struggle. I wanted more for him and that’s why I started this carnival, which turned into a traveling circus over the years. Then when we got too busy and Cam needed somewhere to call home, we settled down and turned our land into our circus and carnival.

We spend the morning preparing everything for the first show. We’re so under the gun and need this to go off without a hitch that we don’t have two minutes to have a conversation. I’m annoyed because I wanted to speak with Cam about what was happening with him and Maddison. I don’t exactly love the idea of him and Royce fucking but they are both adults and there isn’t a lot I can say about it, plus I know Royce would never do anything to hurt my son or I would break his fucking jaw.

When I finally get a chance to sit down and take five minutes to myself, it’s after nine at night and I still have a shit load of paperwork to get through. I’m behind on all of it and I keep putting it off because I hate the fucking hell out of using computers.

“I knew I’d find you in here.” I flick my gaze up and watch Royce plonk his ass into the seat in front of my desk. I rest my elbows on the desk then bury my face in my hands, utterly exhausted and mentally drained. “I have never seen you this messed up over a girl before.” I part my fingers and glare at him through the gaps, which just causes him to laugh.

“Fuck off and do some work, you prick,” I snap.

“Oh, are you moping about our dirty little sinner?” I drop my hands and glare at Cameron, who is standing in the open doorway with a shit-eating grin on his face.

“Don’t you have work to do as well?” I force out through clenched teeth. The little shit just stalks into my office and dumps a duffle bag I didn’t see him holding onto my desk. I look from him to it then back again.

“You into some shady shit we don’t know about?” Royce jokes. Cam shoots him a dry look then focuses back on me.

“You know when you have a touch screen phone you are more likely to pocket dial your son?” I frown at the idiot.

“What the hell are you talking about, Cameron? I’m too busy and tired as hell for your shit tonight,” I bite out.

“You pocket dialed me this morning. I heardeverything Maddison said to you and I know just the way to help you, and both Royce and I, out with this situation.”

My interest is captured and as much as I hate to admit it, I want to hear what he has to say. I’m four weeks away from being divorced from that bitch and getting her out of my life for good.

“Explain,” I say as I recline back in my chair. Royce mimics my move but crosses his arms over his chest.

“Our little sinner has a primal kink and loves to be chased through the maze and fucked hard by a man in a mask.” Cameron pulls three hoodies from the bag and dumps them on the desk only to reach back in, then holds up three masks. My jaw practically hits the fucking floor, they are disfigured clown masks that are terrifying and could be the star of your fucking nightmares. I reach out and grab one. They are thick plastic and lined with LED lights. This one has red diamonds over the eyes and a vicious smile, the mask an off white color. I don’t miss the voice box inside to distort our voices.

I take in the other two Cameron holds, the three of them are the same except for the color of the LED lights—the one in my hand has red lights, the two in his hands are blue and yellow lights. I notice the color of the diamonds on the eyes match the lighting.

“Put the mask on and be somebody else for thenight. I know she has feelings for the three of us and it's because of that reason I never pushed her to label whatever we were. You aren't taking advantage of her, Dad. She wants you.” I let Cameron’s words wash over me. I understand his reasoning and I want to do as he says, but I am firm on the vows I took even if I hated the woman I was marrying.

I never consummated the marriage…

I latch onto that thought and run with it before I can change my mind and allow reason to creep in. I climb to my feet and don’t miss the way both of those idiots grin at me.

“Where is she?” I ask, hearing the want in my own voice. Tonight I am going to hunt down the girl who has been plaguing my dreams since the moment I met her two years ago.

“Ferris wheel helping Carol,” Cam answers. We waste no time pulling on the hoodies and masks. I go with the red one, Royce chooses the blue and Cam goes with the yellow. Some may think it’s wrong that I’m about to hunt down a woman with my son and fuck her senseless, but not us.

We are a different breed and shareeverything.

With a plan formulated, we waste no time as we all rush out of there and go in search of our prey. The threeof us split up. I hide behind the doughnut stand and watch her. She looks fucking good enough to eat in her denim cut-offs and cropped black tee that shows off her toned stomach. I almost snort out loud when I read what her shirt says.

Snack.

“Thanks, Carol, but I can lock up,” Maddison says.

“Thanks, sweetheart. I’ll see you in the morning.” Maddison waves her off, walks her to the gate, then locks it. When she makes her way over to the power box that will shut off all the lights, excitement rolls through me. The moment we are bathed in darkness I flick the switch on the mask to turn the LED lights on and dart out from behind the stand. The light from the moon casts enough light for me to see her wide-eyed reaction. She chokes on a scream and darts her gaze around us.

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