Page 92 of Sweet Sinners
With a reluctant sigh, he presses play, and I brace myself, tension coiling tight in my stomach.
And there she is.
Anna’s face is illuminated by the dim glow of her phone screen, shadows darkening the sharp angles of her features. Her expression is twisted, lips curled into a chilling smirk, eyes locked hungrily through the kitchen window. My heart lurches painfully as nausea rises, thick and bitter in my throat. She lifts her phone, deliberately capturing every intimate, damning detail—me, on my knees, half-naked, oblivious, utterly vulnerable.
"Oh God," I choke out, my voice strangled by panic and humiliation. The room spins, and suddenly I can barely breathe.
Anna knew exactly what she was doing. And now she has everything she needs to destroy us.
"Connor, she saw everything. If those pictures get out…"
His jaw tightens, muscles flexing as he visibly struggles to control his anger. He opens his mouth to say something but stops, as though words aren’t enough to ease this.
I pull away, shaking my head frantically, humiliation burning my cheeks. "I'm supposed to be CEO, Connor. This could destroy the entire company. My reputation, my father's legacy—everything. She took my dad’s life, your mom’s life, and now she’s coming for mine. Oh God, I can’t—" My voice chokes off, heart racing so fast it feels like it's about to shatter my ribs.
"Cali," he says firmly, stepping toward me, voice calm despite the storm brewing in his eyes. "Look at me. Stop."
I barely hear him, panic spiraling through me. "What would our grandparents say, Connor? They raised us to protect this family, to uphold the reputation. And now I've ruined everything. I'm falling apart, and I—"
He closes the distance in an instant, gripping both my wrists gently but firmly and lifting them over my head. My eyes snap to his, startled into silence. His chest presses against mine, steady and reassuring, his heartbeat strong beneath his shirt.
"You’re going to breathe with me," he commands softly, a quiet intensity in his voice that makes me shiver. "Just breathe."
I nod shakily, barely able to hold his gaze, but I follow his lead. Connor inhales deeply, slow and even, and I copy him, forcing air into my tight lungs. Again. And again. Until gradually, my pulse steadies,my breathing matches his, and the panic begins to fade into something manageable.
As the tightness in my chest loosens, he pulls me closer, wrapping me securely in his arms. I cling to him, desperate for his strength, listening to his heartbeat—the only steady, unbroken thing left in this chaotic mess of our lives.
"What do we do now?" I whisper, the question barely escaping as the weight of it presses down, nearly suffocating me. Connor’s touch is the only thing holding me steady.
"You call her," he says, his voice quiet but firm. "Tell her you made a mistake—that you're sorry. Ask her to talk things out in person. She hasn't released the photos yet; they're not online, or we'd already know. I've got Nathan running searches constantly, monitoring your name. Anything that shows up, he’ll take it down immediately, no questions asked. We still have options."
I nod slowly, sinking deeper into his chest, drawing strength from his steady heartbeat beneath my ear. His hand slides along my spine, comforting, calming me inch by inch. He dips his head, pressing a soft, lingering kiss against my temple.
"I might be stuck in this house, Angel, but trust me—I still know how to handle problems."
"I trust you," I breathe out, the words so quiet they're nearly lost between us, but I know he hears them.
"Good," he murmurs, brushing his lips against my hair. "Then call her. Tell her you acted hastily and you want to understand—she’ll come. She's desperate, Cali. And when she does, I'll be there with you. We'll confront her together."
My throat tightens again, fear winding itself around me like a rope. I grip Connor's shirt tightly, needing him closer, needing to feel solid ground beneath my feet. He tightens his arms around me,like unbreakable walls protecting me from the world. I close my eyes, breathing him in, slowly feeling the panic ease. For just a moment, I can almost believe we’ll come out of this okay.
But doubt still gnaws at the edges. "And if it doesn't work? What's our backup plan? What if she won't listen, Connor—what if she just keeps threatening me?"
Connor tilts my chin up, his emerald gaze unwavering, fierce, refusing to let my fear win. "Cali, you're one of the strongest people I know. You handle crisis after crisis without blinking. You run a company, fix problems, and you're doing it all while living under a microscope—living with someone the whole city thinks is a cold blooded killer." His thumb strokes gently along my jaw, eyes burning into mine with conviction. "You jumped straight into the fire when I got hurt, fearless and determined. You protect everyone around you with more heart and bravery than anyone I’ve ever met. I see that fire in you, and I’ve seen how deep your compassion runs."
He takes a breath, voice steadying into something softer but equally powerful. "I'm convinced there’s nothing you can't handle. And if she does threaten you or tries anything, I'll have every second of it recorded for the police. I'll call them myself, anonymously if I have to. I promise you, Calliope, she’ll pay for everything she's done."
My voice trembles, barely hanging onto control. "We'll do this together?"
Connor's eyes soften, intense yet gentle as he cups my face in his hands, bringing our foreheads together. "Yes, Angel," he murmurs fiercely. "From now on, it's you and me. We started this together, and we're going to finish it—no matter what it takes."
Chapter forty-three
Connor
Cali'sbeenfiddlinganxiouslywith her phone for the past hour, even though she's sitting right beside me, supposedly helping with my stained glass project. She bought me everything—gloves, glass cutters, metal-working gear—all carefully researched, all perfectly laid out. But right now, she’s completely checked out, her attention drifting elsewhere.
"You don't have to just sit here, you know," I finally say, glancing sideways at her.
