A Necessary Sin (The Sin Trilogy 1)

His eyes lift from the book lying open on his desk to his computer and he notices me standing there. The lopsided grin I love so much makes an appearance just for me. I covet it, especially when it’s accompanied by a single dimple. “Hey, you.”

“I hate to bother you. Can I have a minute?”

“I always have a minute for you.” He pushes away from his desk and pats the top of his thigh. “Come see me.”

I sit on his lap, sliding my arm around his shoulder for support. He pushes my hair away from my face so he can clearly see my eyes. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah. I just wanted to talk to you for a moment about something that’s been on my mind.”

“Sounds serious.” He rubs his hand over my back in a circular motion.

“I’m afraid I don’t make a very good kept woman. I’m used to working. Daily yoga and meal planning isn’t my thing.”

“Okay. I get it—you’re bored—and I assume you’ve come to me because you have a solution?”

“What are your thoughts about me moving my photography business here?” I ask, having no idea what kind of response I’ll get.

“Hmm … I don’t dislike the idea but I think your services could be better utilized by The Fellowship. Working for the public does nothing for the brotherhood.”

I can sort of see where he’s going with this. “How might I serve The Fellowship?”

“You’re a photographer. We could often use the services of a professional.”

I’m liking this idea much better. “You mean you’d have me taking surveillance photos?”

“Aye. It’s something we require on a regular basis so I think it’s worth considering.”

Criminals interest me far more than blushing brides and other people’s crying babies. Since I’ve been trained in surveillance, this will work out much better for me. “I like it.”

Now here comes the part about getting me back to the US so I can spend time with Harry. “All of my equipment is stored at my studio. I’ll need to make a trip home so I can pack it and ship everything here. I have my aunt’s settlement so I can take care of closing the studio for good while I’m there.”

“I’ll need to run it by Dad but I think he’ll be pleased with the idea.”

“I wouldn’t rouse suspicion since I don’t look the part of the typical Fellowship member you’d utilize for surveillance. Hopefully, your father would see me as an asset.”

“I agree. And going home would give you a chance to visit with your father and sister. I’m sure you miss them.”

“I do, terribly.” He can’t possibly imagine how much.

“Then we shall get you home.” Sin takes off his glasses, putting them on his desk. “I haven’t given you the attention you deserve this week. For that, I’m sorry, so I’m going to put this work away until another time.”

“Thank you.”

“I think we should go out tonight. Maybe invite some friends to go to the casino with us? What do you think?”

That sounds like fun. I haven’t been gambling in a while. “I would like that very much.”

* * *

There are six of us. Sin invited Jamie and Leith. I invited the only two girls I feel like I know at all—Lorna and Westlyn. That sucks for Jamie since Westlyn is his sister but Lorna is in love with Leith, so maybe I’m doing her a favor by bringing them together outside of work.

“What would you like to play first?” Sin asks.

Blackjack is my game. I’m a card counter—but I tell no one. I believe my mother was one as well. Perhaps that’s how she fell into the gaming profession. I guess you can say gambling is in my blood.

I don’t want to give myself away. “I should probably start with the American roulette table.”

Westlyn, Lorna, and I take the seats at the table while the men stand behind us. Sin tosses a pile of bills on the table and the dealer changes them for chips. “I’ve got the first round.”

Damn. He’s spotting everyone.

We’ve never discussed finances but I know how much money Sin has. It was part of my research—to know how much and where his funds come from. He has legit investments that have nothing to do with The Fellowship. He’s highly intelligent when it comes to capital so he’s a wealthy young man. I’m sure that’s another reason all the single Fellowship ladies are so sad to see him take up with the likes of me. I don’t love the thought of how many women would like to have him.

I can think of one good thing about Sin substituting in my place for my endurance test. No woman from The Fellowship will ever question his feelings for me. He still hasn’t said those words. I’m not sure he ever will but what he did leaves no question in my heart or mind. Sinclair loves me.

Everyone places bets but I go straight for the zero and double zero. It’s my favorite wager because the payout is greater. “That’s all you’re betting?”

“It’s a good bet. If either of the zeroes hits, it’ll pay well.” I’m not going to place stupid bets simply because I’m not using my own money.

Lorna is clueless about what she’s doing. She’s placed several wagers that will cancel one another out so I turn to Leith behind me. “You should help Lorna. She has no idea what she’s doing.”

“Lorna makes her own decisions.” He brings his whisky to his mouth and tosses it back.

“She doesn’t understand the rules of the game. Her bets don’t make sense and the dealer isn’t going to tell her the difference.”

“Then she shouldn’t play games she doesn’t understand.” Leith can be cold toward Lorna at times. I never noticed him being that way with the other girls at the bar. I’ll need to ask Sin later if he knows what Leith’s problem is.

I don’t fare well at the roulette table so I decide it’s time to head over for some blackjack. “I’ve lost enough here. I’m going to try my luck at cards. Want to come with me?”

“Aye.” We sit side by side. “Do you know how to play?”

I avoid a direct answer. “You try to come closer to twenty-one than the dealer without busting?”

He seems satisfied with my understanding.

“Good luck,” the dealer says.

The first cards dealt are low so I assign them a value using the hi-lo strategy. Low numbers are more beneficial to the dealer but the good news about pulling low ones is that my odds increase for higher ones, which benefits me. For every low number played, the percentage of high cards in the remaining shoe increases.

I choose to stay while Sin increases his bet. “You shouldn’t have done that. You’re gonna bust.”

“We’ll see.” He sounds so cocky.

The cards are dealt and it plays out exactly as I predicted. “Dealer wins.”

“Told you,” I say.

“You lost too.”

I did but that won’t last after I count a few more hands. “I lost the minimum, unlike you.”

“You have to spend money to make money.”

“Or you watch and bet wisely,” I argue.

“All right, lass. Show me how it’s done.” And that’s exactly what I do with the next dozen hands. My stack of chips grows while his diminishes. “You’re a natural.”

Yes, I am. And he has no idea why.

I win four more hands and see I’m gaining the attention of the pit boss. We need to roll.

I lean over to kiss the side of Sin’s face and whisper, “It’s time to leave, Breck.”

“But you’re doing so well.” Now isn’t the time for him to argue.

“I don’t want to keep you out too long. You have to work in the morning.” I push my chips in to exchange them for larger ones. “Let’s cash out and go home.”

“Sin, you have quite the blackjack player with you tonight.” Oh, shit. The pit boss knows who Sin is. I don’t see this going well.

“This is Bleu MacAllister,” Sin introduces. Now he knows who I am as well. “Bleu, meet Todd Cockburn.”

“Hello, Bleu. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

/> We’re in a casino. He’ll refuse my hand if I extend it so I offer a smile and nod instead. “The pleasure is all mine.”

“We missed you at Bleu’s initiate ceremony,” Sin says.

What?

Todd shrugs and gestures at his surroundings. “Someone had to be here running this place.”

A dealer from across the pit approaches. “Mr. Cockburn, I’m sorry to interrupt you and Mr. Breckenridge, but we have a problem.”

“Duty calls,” Todd says.

Sin is wearing a teasing grin.

“This casino is Fellowship?”