Envy (Criminal Sins 1)

Well, if she ever was innocent, I’ve taken that from her. Nothing but sin and danger has surrounded our whirlwind relationship so far. I wonder if she’d take anything back if sh

e could?

“You’re limping...” I notice. Cat makes her way over to our bedroom closet, completely naked.

“Just a little sore,” she replies. I lick my chops at the sight of her tight little ass. Her long legs wash down to the floor like heavenly milk-chocolate waterfalls. I’d pounce on her again right now, if I didn’t want to give her some room to breathe, to recover. I’ve put my wild little jungle bird through so much already, and she’s still chugging.

That’s my girl.

“No, wait,” I say, sitting up in bed just as Cat’s about to slip on one of my oversized t-shirts.

“Oh, I thought you’d be okay with me wearing one of your shirts?” she lilts, her brightness taking on a slight downcast. I don’t let that pout last long.

“I am, I just want to see you naked for a little longer.”

She smirks, “It’s not like we’re going anywhere.”

The lightness in my heart is suddenly crushed by the weight of reality. Like hell we aren’t leaving as soon as possible. I turn away from Catalina and stare out of our bedroom window. At least it’s not raining today...

“Good news,” Cyrus seems to be in a jolly mood, but it’s really impossible to tell with him. I’ve seen him beat a man half to death before, all the while keeping a happy smile on his pale face.

He’s just as vicious as I am, but it’s always hidden behind that Cheshire grin of his. “Tell me you have more info on this Enzo fucker.”

“Oh yeah,” Cyrus nods. “That stinky American has got his shit smeared all over the underworld. It looks like he’s making some sort of push for global domination.”

“Idiot,” I growl. Yeah, he’s sure made you look like an idiot. “So, is he behind what’s been happening to my empire in Cali?”

“That’s yet to be seen. All I know for sure is that he’s the one pulling the strings behind my troubles. There are also rumblings that he’s got his hand in uprisings in Russia, Italy and Japan, too. This guy has got a big head. Who the hell does he think he is!?”

“He must be behind what’s happening in Cali, but how the fuck did he pull it off? Have you found out what he offered your rivals?”

Cyrus shrugs. “Probably just power, sprinkled in with some promises of revenge. We all hate each other’s guts here, it’s what keeps things so stagnate—no one’s willing to work together to overthrow anyone else because our ancestors once flipped each other off or something.”

“Lucky you,” I grumble.

Cyrus brushes his lip. “We’ll figure this shit out,” he assures me, low and cocksure. I don’t doubt it, but the fact that I’ve already been forced away from my home and my territory is enough of a loss that I may never get over it. How will any of my men ever be able to trust me again? Power isn’t just big muscles and loud guns, it’s how people think of you, and right now, I’m a refugee, not a king.

At least I got something decent out of this little detour...

A clue... and Catalina’s virginity.

Our fake relationship doesn’t feel so fake anymore. Any contract she signed went up in flames with her home town, with her past; what we have now feels more real, it’s fiery but also warm enough to surrender to without getting burned. It’s intoxicating; I want more of her, but I also know that if I don’t retake control of my world, then we won’t have any future together; hell, we won’t have any future at all.

“How long have you been hiding out in this castle for?” I ask Cyrus. It’s a nice place, but obviously not preferable for a young rich Irish playboy.

“Too long,” the brawny ex-football player stretches out, before pointed a playful finger my way. “I don’t like to call it hiding out, by the way,” he nudges. “That’s bad for morale. It’s more like... a vacation... a forced vacation in a secluded fortress...” he shrugs. “We could all use some time off every once in a while, huh?”

“I used to think that,” I shake my head. “But now that it’s being forced on me, I can’t imagine ever wanting to take a vacation again.”

Cyrus chuckles. “Ah, well, you might as well take advantage of this getaway, then.” He looks out of a nearby window, sunlight peaks through the grey overcast above. “Let’s go grab some drinks. There’s a cozy pub in the village down the way.”

I raise a cautious eyebrow. “You think it’s smart to go galivanting outside?”

Cyrus clasps his hand around my shoulder. “I have more guards there than the villagers have sheep, and that’s saying something. We’ll be just as safe there as we are here. You know I think better in a bar... I seem to remember that you do as well.”

I bite my tongue. “I don’t drink much anymore.”

“Maybe that’s what’s gone wrong,” Cyrus teases. “You’re becoming too tame, too predictable. Let’s get some poison in that gullet of yours and see if we can’t shake things back up in our favor. Plus, who knows, we might even get lucky and find a fight or two.”