Garden of Sins

The license plate of the Mercedes has an XX on it and if you live in Chicago, you know what that means. Caden! Are you involved with the fucking mob? Fuck, what? Are you fucking nuts? I have to control myself not to rush over and tear you away from there.

I am uneasy and when you move a little, I move with you so that I somehow end up on the pier and stretch my neck to be able to see something.

I notice too late that Carter and the black-haired girl are standing underneath. They argue, but I keep walking because Carter doesn’t interest me right now if you’re with some gangster. Caden. Why are you with a gangster, huh?

“Hiiiiiiii. Did you fall from the sky? You look like an angel,” a drunk slurs at me and I make a face because he stinks. For a moment, I lose sight of you, which drives me crazy and I blink at the guy.

“Pfft, get out of my way.” I try to walk past him, but he grabs my arm and pulls me back. Uh-oh, okay, what’s this about? I’m freaking out over here, Caden.

“Now wait a minute, you freak!” His beer breath almost numbs me and I have to be careful not to choke or puke on his sneakers.

“Get the fuck off me or I’ll kick you in the nuts!” Goddammit, Caden!

“You can do something else with my nuts, babe!” His greasy blond locks fall across his forehead and he squints, that’s how drunk he is. Maybe he looks good when he has taken a shower, but right now, he’s repulsive.

“You are so disgusting. Get out of my way. Now! Do you know who I’m with? Do you want to die?” I ask him seriously because he isn’t playing with a full deck. No one here voluntarily speaks to me. Everyone gives me a wide berth.

“Wow, you have a boyfriend and he lets you roam around alone. I’d never do that with such a bombshell.” He nods and checks me out from top to bottom.

“Caden Rush,” I say and raise my eyebrows. He immediately widens his eyes and the next minute, he squints again because a tattooed fist appears out of nowhere and hits him full force in the face. I barely dodge the blood as it shoots out of his nose. Then there’s Carter’s hand on my arm — and this time he pulls me away.

“Shit, why are you walking around here alone?” he hisses, irritated. “Where’s Caden?”

“He told me to wait for him! And now he’s over there talking to that man with a gun, Carter!” I point with an outstretched index finger in the direction you were, but I can’t see you anymore, so my heart slides into my stomach. Oh, God. Did he kill you?

“What kind of fucking armed man, Alayna?” Carter follows my gaze with a furrowed brow, but the Mercedes is gone, the guy is gone, and you’re gone. “Are you drunk?”

“Carter.” I look at him with a worried expression. Why can’t he understand me? “XX. It was on his license plate, Carter! It’s the Mafia! CARTER!” I widen my eyes.

“Alayna, you’re full of shit. Now just calm down,” he says calmly, still holding my arm.

“I’m not talking shit! I’m telling you! There was this man who was really broad, just massive! And Caden was talking to him and there was an XX and...”

“Alayna, you’re hysterical. STOP IT!” Carter orders like I was a dog. “Stop it, Alayna!”

I suddenly shut my mouth. Okay, he doesn’t believe me. I’ll just talk to you then.

“It’s all fucking good. Take a breath.” Your brother looks at me and widens his eyes.

I breathe.

“And again.”

I breathe again and frown when I notice that Carter has targeted my lips and his gaze has darkened. Okay, now what the hell is this? Why is he looking at me like he’s about to kiss me or even fuck me? Caden? What is this?

As I slowly pull my head back because I don’t want that, I don’t want to kiss him...your harsh voice disrupts the situation.

“Carter, no!”