Page 98 of Masked Sins
I know in an instant that I’ll never stop trying.
I’ll never stop loving her. My obsession might be unhealthy, but I can’t imagine my life without Layla.
She pushed me away tonight, but one day, she’ll kiss me first.
One day.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
THE PREDICAMENT
Layla
Present
My heart continues to race in my chest when the elevator doors open to the parking garage of Orion’s building. I’m just about to walk to the sidewalk outside, heading for a nearby café or anywherethat’s not his apartment when I see a man exit a white Audi in the parking spot closest to me.
Malakai Ravage.Technicallyone of my five stepbrothers.
He closes his door and locks his car, walking over to where I’m standing.
“Hey, Layla,” he says, bending down and pulling me into a friendly hug. “You okay?” he asks when he pulls away.
I open and close my mouth. “Uhh…”
His gray eyes bore into mine, flicking between them as he slowly realizes that I’m most definitelynotokay.
“I was just about to get a coffee down the street,” he says gently. “Care to join me?”
I nod. “Sure.”
We walk in tandem, and the blistering heat makes me feel even more nauseous than I was feeling before.
Before—when I found an engagement ring in Orion’s closet, and then kissed him.
Fortunately, there’s a coffee shop in the next building over, and the small space is cool and blasting the AC.
“What’s your order?” he asks, pulling his wallet out.
I shrug. “Something decaf. I’ve had way too much coffee already today.”
Malakai smirks as he walks over to the counter to place our order. I zone out until he walks back with two smoothies and what looks like two blueberry muffins.
“Got this, too,” he says, sliding one of the muffins over to me.
“Thanks.” I take a sip of the smoothie, and just as I ask what flavor it is, a child’s voice cuts through the ambient noise of the café.
“Miss Rivers?”
I turn my head to see Bradleigh grinning at me from a nearby table. Before I can react, she jumps up from her seat and runs over to me, wrapping her arms around me.
“Hey, you,” I say, my voice cracking with emotion as she pulls away. I’m reminded of the fact that she hasn’t attended ballet intensive all week, but before I can ask her about it, her eyes catch on Malakai, and she smiles even wider.
“Wow! You know Headmaster Ravage?” she asks, rushing over to Malakai.
I laugh. “He’s actually my stepbrother. My dad married his mom.”
Bradleigh beams up at Malakai. “Wow. That’s cool.”
