Life of Sin Book 1

Chapter Seventeen

The energy was weird as I stepped off the elevator. Nikki spotted and rushed me as she left Ivy’s room. Grabbing my hand, she tried to pull me aside but Falen wasn’t having it.

“You need to tell me what the fuck is goin' on with y’all! Like seriously, why am I even here?”

“You can leave, Falen. Nobody’s here to coddle your fucking feelings,” Nikki said. Clearly something was up and it was clear that she wasn’t in the mood to argue. A few people walked past, looking on conspicuously. It was embarrassing.

“Falen please…” I begged, my eyes pleading for her to stop being so, for lack of a better word, jealous. It was two against one. Falen stood there for a moment, her eyes flicking between us. Laughing to herself, she turned and called the elevator.

“You don’t need to leave, just—"

“You don’t need me right now, Nikki's here. So just call me when you figure out what you want from me.”

“Are you for real right now?”

“Let her go, Dev, seriously. This is way more important than her insecurities.” I cocked my head towards Nikki, giving her a death glare. Rolling her eyes, she walked off and left me alone with Falen.

“What’s wrong with you? Do you even care how selfish you’re being?”

“Selfish? I don’t see how—"

“My focus is on Ivy, yet you wanna take the attention away from her and put it on yourself with this… thing you’re doing. Nikki wouldn’t even be here if you didn’t tell her to come last night, so what's the problem?” Her expression softened, realization taking place. She reached for me but I took a step back.

“Nah, I think… I need space right now.” She looked at me, then at Nikki who had a smug look on her face.

“Yeah… okay,” she said, turning to step into the elevator. I bit my lip, forcing myself to let her go. Alone with Nikki once again. It seemed like luck has been playing into her hands all day. I felt her presence behind me and her breath in my ear.

“Devyn…” The way she said my name gave me chills but instead of entertaining my internal desires, I ignored her and walked into Ivy’s room. Something seemed off about her, she wouldn’t even look at me. Before I could open my mouth to speak, she started crying. A lump formed in my throat as I tried choking back my own tears.

“I’m so sorry,” I said, kneeling beside her.

“I just wanted to protect you. I… I didn’t want this to happen, it’s my fault for not warning you sooner.” She reached for my hand and squeezed with what little strength she had, sobbing harder than before.

“If I’d lost you, I-I—” I stammered. She mumbled my name, her voice barely audible. As she struggled to speak, Nikki took a deep, shaky breath before walking out and leaving us to talk.

“QP… he was here last night and…” She let go of my hand, balling hers into fists. My breath caught as I stood up and wiped my tears, anger brewing deep within me.

“And what?”

“He… raped me,” she said, forcing those words from her throat. For a split second, I couldn’t hear anything but the ringing in my ears and my heartbeat thumping against my chest. The silence was deafening. Suddenly, I remembered the way Janay looked at me last night, animosity in her eyes. I want it to be a coincidence. I don’t want to think she had anything to do with this, but lately there’s been no telling what she’s capable of.

“It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have—”

“No… no. None of this is your fault,” I said, gently turning my sister’s head so she’d look at me.