Sins Chaos

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Aerin

I wanted to scream.

In all the years I had known River Cariad, I had never seen him as much as I had in the last couple of weeks. Thanks to his newfound friendship with Roz and my traitorous father, he was everywhere all the time.

I didn't even see him this much when I was living on Disciplined Inquest.

I saw him consistently at school now, then on our nightly workout sessions. On weekends he all but lived at the apartment.

Anyone else seeing the problem here?

I had no idea how much longer I could keep this up without spilling the beans. Or finding a way to kill him.

Something had to give soon.

We had our reasons for playing the game the way that we did, but he kept changing the rules on me. No one needed to know who he really was, and by protecting his secret, we were also protecting mine.

The complications sucked, but they were a necessary evil.

I knew that. I understood it. Just don't ask me to like it.

Sitting cross legged on my bed, I attempted to follow along with some movie. The boys had gone out to celebrate some stupid thing or another.

I had opted out and let them make it guys' night out. Let them have their fun. I didn't need to be out with Roz all the time, though his opinion was radically different as of late. And I sure as heck needed a break from River.

It was a Saturday night and I had no other plans but to vegetate in my room. I didn't even have a workout session with River scheduled. It was just me, a bag of pretzels, and the television.

Flipping a strand of hair over my shoulder, I bit into a pretzel. I really wished Perla could be here to enjoy this restful evening with me, but, alas, Perla was off world visiting family with Iniko.

I groaned as my cell went off. So much for peace and quiet.

Which one of my handlers are checking up on their charge? Honestly, I wasn't going to break with them gone for one freaking night.

I reluctantly swiped a finger across the screen. "Yeah?"

"Nice way to answer the phone."

Bite me. I stuffed another pretzel into my mouth, calmly chewing it. I swallowed. "I had a feeling it was you."

"Am I really that predictable?"

Nah. If you had your way, you'd just superglue yourself to my hip and call it good. Or find a way to plant hidden cameras wherever I am so you can watch my every move like a hawk. I can seriously play this game all night.

"Not at all, Osric. What do you want?"

"Wow. Love you, too, Inigo."

Okay, so my inner bitch was off its leash tonight and out in full force. I really wasn't trying to be a, well—for a lack of a better term—witch. He wasn't the only guilty party here. He just happened to be the one that chose to call. The proverbial scapegoat.

"I do love you. You've only been gone for three hours," I pointed out. Which isn't nearly long enough.

His warm, deep laugh carried through the line. "Okay, okay! Point taken. I just called to say I'm not coming home tonight."