Chapter 57: Why you, Annalise?

"What did I tell you, Enrique?" Sin's voice felt slightly dark, his eyes bulging as he held on to me even tighter. "What did I fucking tell you about..."

"Oh, please, little brother. That was years ago. Look at all of this. Did you expect that I wouldn't want a piece?"

"A piece of something you did not work for? Don't joke around with me, I am not that weak bastard. I could kill you right here, and not a single person would bat an eyelash for that waste."

I managed to turn to Enrique, who had let go of my foot and was looking at Sin like he would kill him. They were obviously not close, but in Sin's words, I could tell he was probably the one who was stuck cleaning up after Enrique. It made me wonder if Sin had been the one to clean up after Enrique's destruction of my family, too.

Enrique took in a deep breath, then reached for a cigarette from his pocket and a lighter. "You were never a weak bastard, Sin. Between both of us, I am the one who has had weak moments."

Sin pulled closer, his fingers dropping to my arm and pulling me between his squatted legs so the back of my head rested on his chest.

"Then disappear. Disappear, Enrique, like the fucking weakling that you are."

"I can't," he said, removing the now lit cigarette from his lips. "I can't. I have no money..."

"How much do you want?"

"No. No, Sin. I don't want the money. I want family. I want my people now."

I turned to Sin, and his brows were furrowed, like he genuinely didn't understand what Enrique meant. Enrique, on the other hand, took the opportunity to move closer, his hand resting on Sin's shoulder, a gesture Sin immediately flipped off.

"I miss my little brother," he said, his brows drawing together in something I interpreted as an attempt to gain sympathy. I only felt bile rising up my throat. "I miss Mum and Dad. Everything. I miss the way...."

"If you miss them so much, how about I send you to them? Why does every little hypocrite think reminding me of the past you disrespected on your way out would make me soften for you? My emotional connection to murder only heightens by the minute, so leave. Never show your face to me again, or I will make sure you can never show your face anywhere else."

Enrique's eyes thinned, and he sighed. "Where do you want me to go, Sin? The entire city will point fingers if I am homeless and you are this...."

"Let them. The fingers pointed at me are already numerous. I don't see it suffocating me."

Enrique went silent, and Sin pulled me up to his body, his hand temporarily leaving me. I immediately scrambled back to his body, and he turned to me, his brows furrowed as he let his eyes dart across both of mine.

"You are safe," he said, then removed his jacket and put it around my shoulders. Without removing his hand from me, he pulled me back into his body, his eyes immediately darkening as he turned to Enrique.

"Let this stay a nightmare."

Before Enrique could reply, Sin turned, his steps firm as he pulled me away from Enrique. He waved off all of the people who were trying to exchange pleasantries and make small talk, and without stopping, he led me straight to our parked car.

The driver opened the door, and Sin helped me in, then went around and got in beside me. I could still feel my body shivering, and everything just seemed to blur in front of me.

I could vaguely hear the sound of the car and then the slow motion as we started moving.

"Do you want to lie down?"

I turned to Sin slowly. He was expressionless, and without a word, he moved, reaching his hand to me. For a moment, it was Sin, and then suddenly, I could see that man, touching me, reaching for me.

I gasped and moved back, tightening his jacket around me. His brows furrowed, and for a long while, we sat there in the awkward silence of the car.

His eyes looked slightly confused, but he slowly withdrew his hand and turned away.

"I don't know what is going on, and I hope we stay within the boundaries of the contract..."

"Sin..."

"But my lap is right here for you. It is probably warm, and its owner, patient. You can take as much time as you want.

I let out a small sigh, then nodded, sniffing hard. For a long while, none of us said a word, and I turned to Sin. He was looking out the window, and from the small part of his face that I could see, his brows were drawn together.

Slowly, I started to lean to him, then subtly dropped my head on his shoulder. He didn't say a word, and my eyes closed as I took a few deep breaths.

As subtly as I could, I moved to adjust my head on his waiting lap. I saw him slowly turn to me, and without a word, he leaned, his hand going to adjust my legs. I closed my eyes as I felt my shoes slide off my feet, and his hands brought my legs up on the seat, so I was lying down now.

When he leaned away from me, his eyes had grown tender, and I swallowed, letting my fingers play with his shirt.

His fingers gently buried in my hair, and I closed my eyes, my body relaxing.

"Next time you doubt whether you should come to me, know that I find solace in you too."

I bit down on my lips, my fingers tightening around a handful of his crisp white shirt. "Why would the powerful, invincible Sin need solace, and from me?"

He seemed to turn the question around in his mind before he slowly met my eyes, his fingers patting my hair as softly as possible.

"Maybe I don't know either. Why you, Annalise?"

"I..."

"Are you willing to show me?" he asked again, letting his fingers spread mine and fill the spaces between.

"I... I guess we will see."

He gave one of his smiles which I now knew were as scarce as his tenderness. "We'll see," he echoed, and his fingers held mine tighter.