Chapter 67: How to hide a body

SIX YEARS AGO.

SIN'S P.O.V.

"The money is complete, Sin."

I turned to Aldo, then gave him a slow nod. These people seem rather shady, and I am not ready to lose any money. At least not now when Enrique has almost sent me straight to bankruptcy.

If there was a place I knew I would never be able to watch myself in, it was right back to the pits I dug my way up from. I didn't work that hard, sweat that much only to go back to the penury I found myself in.

And honestly, I didn't blame anyone. Not even the parents who abandoned me. They must have seen an opportunity and run with it, and it's good for them. I hold no grudges, but they also have no right to name me something quite as foolish as the name Lucian. Or tie me to a brother as dumb as Enrique.

I slowly stood up and covered the distance to the briefcase. The drugs were lying pretty, and the money was even prettier.

"I heard you are quite meticulous. I guess it is true."

I gave a small laugh as I looked up to Dante. I liked his confidence. Even though I was yet to properly establish myself as the leader around here, a lot of people made me feel that way. All except Dante and his consigliere, Callum. That either made them really good friends or very bitter enemies. I can't wait to find out.

"I need to be," I answered, sweeping my fingers through the money. "You never know who still hasn't left the streets."

"We are all from the streets, Sin. Born and bred."

"We left it behind. That is why we don't stab each other in the back. That is why we don't bring fake drugs or money. We aren't circus lions anymore. If we ever have to dance, we are dancing to our tunes."

Callum gave a small smile, then nodded to Dante. I liked the lack of animosity. Lately, there has been too much blood. It was probably time to conduct business amicably.

The money was real, and I let it pass, as another man standing next to Dante grabbed the suitcase filled with drugs. He locked it, then turned away to the entourage I could still see from the outdoor relaxation area we had chosen to settle in.

The interior of my house was something I preferred to be private about, especially with first-time business partners like Dante and Callum. Not just the interior of my house, but my soon to be wife, Larissa.

The only woman I have ever felt anything for. Like she could read my thoughts, I smelled her perfume, and I knew she was close. I turned towards the entrance, and she was slowly making herself to me, her smile small.

I turned to Dante and Callum, pride in my eyes as I drew envy from their gazes, especially Callum's.

"My wife, Larissa."

Callum gave a small smile. "You are more trusting than you let on, allowing a woman this stunning to greet your business partners."

I shrugged, leaning forward to grab a cigarette. Larissa leaned slowly to me, then lit it for me before kissing my forehead, the way she knew I loved so much. So much that in that moment, she could make me do anything, and I happily would.

"I trust her, and I do not believe in keeping a person where they do not want to be."

Dante smiled. "Does that mean if I convince your wife to go with me, you would let her?"

We all broke into laughter, but I knew I wouldn't. I would never. She would never.

"Don't let it get to you," she whispered in my ear, slowly stroking my hair. "No one is convincing me to go anywhere."

I only nodded, letting it slide, even though it wasn't my favorite type of joke. The rest of the evening passed slowly, and Dante and Callum were rather too friendly.

I could tell they wanted some sort of alliance, and hence why they kept dragging out a meeting that should have finished in a few seconds. I, however, wasn't so keen.

I could see Callum's lingering gaze on Larissa, and if that wasn't enough disrespect to me and the massive diamond ring on her finger, I didn't know what was. Also, Dante was so obviously a weak man. Easily subdued. Maybe I would want him, but not Callum. At least, not right now.

"Gentlemen? I guess that is enough."

Dante gave a shrug. "I must have gotten carried away. You are a more enjoyable company than you give yourself credit for."

I laughed the compliment off, then leaned back as the men behind Dante walked away, obviously preparing to leave.

"Can we talk about something, though, Sin?"

I met Dante's eyes, then nodded and waved my men away. "Go on."

"If you do not mind, I want you to come to the opening of my precious art gallery next week. It is a piece very close to my heart, and even though I did not come here with the intention... "

"We are merely first-time business partners, Dante. I do not know if I want to cross that line of familiarity."

"We had dinner together, Sin," Callum chipped in, and it made me realize that contrary to what Dante had said, they had, in fact, had this in mind from the very beginning. "We enjoyed a lovely chat with your wife."

"Part of this business is dining with your enemies, isn't it?"

"Sin..." Dante started to say but was rudely interrupted by the reckless, dangerous screeching of car tires.

I turned to the source of the noise, and I could see a black jeep come to a stop amongst the other fleet.

My eyes squinted as I looked closer. The door opened, and I saw a figure, shielded mostly by the darkness of the part where he had parked the car in, coming out of the car.

I grabbed my gun as I slowly stood up, waiting for him, or her, or whatever to come into the light. It soon did, and to my surprise, it was Enrique.

He was breathless, his eyes wide, his chest heaving, and there was a shit ton of blood all over him.

I turned to Dante and Callum, who were just as surprised. I didn't want them involved in my personal business. I didn't want them to find leverage in Enrique's constant stupidity.

Without a word, I grabbed Enrique and pulled him to the side of the house, my eyes wide with both anger and a thin line of curiosity.

"What the fuck is happening? I told you I was going to...-"

"I...I think I killed a girl, Sin."

Color drained from my face as I let go of his arm. He was trembling, his chest heaving.

"What?"

He swallowed. "I... I swear, I swear, I was just trying to fuck, but... I thought she would like it. I thought she... "

"What the fuck did you do?" I said again, trying my best to keep my voice down. "Did you force her?"

He went quiet, his jaws clenching.

My patience was running thin, and before I could think, I turned the gun in my hand and hit his face hard, sending him reeling away from me to the floor.

"There is an entire house for bastards like you with no self-control, and yet you had to force a girl?"

"Sin, please, please. I just... "

I shook my bead, tightening my hand around the gun once more. The rage was blinding, and I knelt to Enrique's height, hitting him with the gun over and over, till his face was covered in blood, till I was covered in his blood.

He wasn't talking anymore, and I leaned away, my heart thumping hard. I had condoned so much, but how could he force a girl to the point of death?

"How dare you?" I asked again, leaning away from his limp frame, the gun now lying between us.

"I don't think that is what you should be doing, Sin."

I froze, my eyes closing. Hell. This bastard.

"Dante."

"I guess we were meant to be very good friends, Sin. My friend, Callum, knows very well how to hide a body."