Page 6 of Sins of Bliss

“Sylvester Lucchetti,” I croak, my voice hoarse.

“Good. Wonderful. Can you tell me why you’re here?”

“There was a shooting. I was shot.”

“You were. You came in with a gunshot wound to the chest. The doctor will go over everything with you—he should be in shortly. Can I get you anything in the meantime?”

My mind is racing, memories flooding back from the shooting. The roar of engines from incoming motorcycles. The gunfire ringing out into the middle of the barbecue I attended.

“Is Rosie okay?” I ask, my voice cracking as I say her name.

Shortly after my arrival in Ridgewood, California, I joined a motorcycle club. The Sinners Warlord became my unexpected salvation. The group of men was the city’s very own vigilante group, taking it upon themselves to assist the local police department with keeping horrible people off the streets. Protecting Ridgewood’s women and children was the main priority of The Sinners.

Joining them and helping to protect the new place I call home seemed like a natural choice for me.

I left everything behind in New York.

Everything.

My family. My profession.

My love.

The Sinners became my family when I so desperately longed for mine. Without even knowing it, they helped me through some of the darkest weeks of my life. They gave me a purpose.

A reason to continueliving.

And then there was Rosie.

When I joined The Sinners, the bar that they resided above was for sale, and within a matter of weeks, a new owner came in. A clause within the sale was that The Sinners’ rental agreement was to be carried out for the full five-year term.

Which didn’t pose a problem until the new owner realized our club's prez was her ex’s brother. The same man who just so happened to break her heart.

She and I had parallel pain. I understood the heartache she faced when she looked at him, as it was a similar pain to what I felt simply thinking of Vincenza.

And Cain didn’t make it easy on her to continue her healing process. He didn’t want her to close the door on him. He wanted a second chance.

Rosie took me by surprise by slipping into the role of my best friend, filling the void left by not speaking to Sully and Enzo. She was firey, independent, and headstrong. I admired her and her strength.

Our friendship naturally progressed one evening when we both desperately craved an escape from the emotional turmoil we faced. I could not be with amore mio, and she was determined to push hers as far away from her as possible, but through each other, we were able to find friendship, comfort, and release.

She became my lover, and while our physical connection was there, as was our friendship, there was no further emotional connection. Neither of us wanted to pursue a relationship. We were content in our physical arrangement and used each other as such.

There were no expectations or hopes.

And while I was able to find release when I had sex with Rosie, the hunger to seek pleasure in my dominant sidewithRosie was lacking.

Almost as though that side of me was completely reserved for the one person I couldn’t share it with.

I almost died.

The thought comes rushing back to me, reality sinking in further. By jumping in front of that bullet, I saved Rosie.

ButdidI save her?

“Mr. Lucchetti?” the kind nurse prods, her eyes sweeping over me with concern as I retreat back to the present from the recesses of my mind.

I attempt to clear my throat as I meet her gaze. “Rosie Adler. Is Rosie alive?”

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