The Sinner's Club [18+] Complete

chapter fifty-two.

"PUT IT THERE. Be careful with it!"

"I am." Nathaniel sends me an annoyed look over his shoulder, carrying a heavy cardboard box into Elodie and I's new townhouse.

Large windows let sunlight stream in across the white, tiled floors. The stone kitchen counter is piled high with boxes waiting to be unpacked.

At the moment, everything is a little chaotic. But things will get better. We'll settle in, and Elodie will be happy here.

I wander out to the backyard; it isn't big, a patch of grass really, but it is large enough to house the swingset Nate purchased for her.

She's going to love it.

The sound of a car engine makes me spin on my heel. I fly through the house, past Nate as he places down the box he's carrying, and out the front door. In the driveway, Reaper's black SUV is parked. The passenger side door opens, and my little sister bounds out, throwing her bag onto the grass of the front lawn and leaping into my waiting arms.

I fall to my knees clutching her so tightly I'm sure she can't breathe. She holds me back hard as well, her face buried in my neck.

"Baby, I'm so glad you're here," I manage to get out. It has been an entire month since I last saw her, an entire month since I left the farm. Being separated for that long was so difficult but also...I think maybe it was a good thing. I feel healed, like I was finally able to concentrate on myself for a short while after the incident with Anthony.

When El and I were together, it felt like we were feeding off each other's trauma and, in a way, making it worse.

I pull back so I can look at her face and make sure she's ok, smoothing down her blonde curls.

"I missed you so much," I tell her, rubbing my nose against hers.

No part of me expects a response, so it shocks me when she says, "I missed you too, Ammy."

I stare at her, wide eyed and open mouthed. Did she just...talk? I am frozen in place, my brain processing this new piece of information slowly.

"El?" I breathe.

"I missed you more than all the cows in America, and there are more than eighty million cows living in the United States," she says with a strong nod of her head. "Luka taught me that one."

Tears have flooded my eyes. I lean my forehead to hers, trying not to sob in utter relief.

"I missed you," I whisper, repeating myself. But I mean it differently this time. Not the physical presence of my sister, but rather who she was before the lighthouse: a beautiful, bright and outgoing girl.

"I know," she says, wrapping some of my hair around her fingers. I pick her up, resting her on my hip even though she's getting way too old for me to carry. She'll always be my baby, no matter how big she grows.

The driver's side door slams closed, and Reaper walks slowly around the car. His expression is dark and serious, his movements more hesitant than usual, like he isn't sure he's allowed to intrude on my moment with my sister.

"Hey," I smile at him. "Thank you for bringing her home. And taking such good care of her the past few weeks."

He nods once, but says nothing.

"How was the flight? Was it–"

"Everything alright?" Nate's voice interrupts. He comes up behind me, sliding his arm around my waist possessively. Immediately, Reaper stiffens, his lip curling as though in disgust.

I shoot Nate a disapproving look—he knows exactly what he's doing—but he's too busy meeting Reaper's gaze.

"I was just leaving," Reaper mutters, turning back toward the car.