We Are All Sinners (Saints #1)

4. Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Evie

I walk out onto my porch quickly as I shut and lock my door. I don’t know why I am in such a hurry to get to the shop today, but I have a feeling I need to be, and my gut feelings are usually correct.

Plus, I couldn’t get a wink of sleep listening to Emily and Liam laughing and yapping all night.

He came back over to check on her and she let him in, against my protests.

I’m practically vibrating with anticipation to hear the full scoop when I get home tonight. I mean, I got a hefty dose of their cuteness overload last night, and a few more morsels of it this morning over coffee, but I’m so ready for her to spill the tea on all the parts that I missed.

Liam was adorable! He made her coffee to help her sober up after she drank two bottles of wine that Lily sent over for us, so she would still remember him today.

He was a perfect gentleman from what I could tell. He even helped Em with a little bonfire with all of Kevins shit in the fire pit and even smudged her room with her to cleanse the evil out. He tucked her into her bed around two in the morning, then just went home. I was impressed.

Yes, I’m a creepy little stalker. I had to make sure he wasn’t going to take advantage of my best friend.

She may have taken her breakup with Kevin a little harder than I thought she would have, drinking herself into more tears.

I can’t wait to make that son of a bitch pay for hitting her. From what she told me last night, he looked one hundred times worse than she does when Liam drug his ass down the stairs, before the ambulance got there for him.

She still isn’t sure how much of the damage she actually did. She said she just saw red and put those Krav Maga classes we took last summer to beneficial use.

She has been through the ringer with guys. She had one big shot real estate guy that she had been on a few dates with drug and kidnap her for three days. She told me that he kept her in some sex room and did unspeakable things to her. Shit that no one should ever have to live through.

I had only met her a couple of times when she first came into town, and then she asked for me when she went to the hospital, after somehow escaping from the guy. She couldn’t remember most of what happened, or how she got away, but ended up safe in the hospital.

She didn’t want to face anyone that she knew and didn’t feel like she could go home and face her family.

I will find that mother fucker someday, and when I do, he will know what it is to suffer.

I practically jog down to the gate, jumping when I slam it, angry, once again, thinking about how fragile she was that night.

We both hunkered down in the bayou for about eight months, making sure he didn’t get anywhere near her. She quit her job and switched to marketing and editing for a local author.

Her business took off like a rocket, thanks to some serious word-of-mouth buzz. Before long, she was juggling work with several up-and-coming authors.

Working from home made her feel safe and kept her out of town, where she didn’t have to deal with any potential drama. I made sure she had everything she needed while she healed, both physically and mentally.

When she was ready to move into the house on St. Charles Avenue, she had her own money, to do with as she pleased, that she had made while building a business that she could be proud of. She has been with me ever since, kicking ass at the career she had always dreamed of.

I’m so proud of her.

Mama had already been in the hospital for almost a year when Emily moved in. She passed away two weeks later.

Emily was there for me like I had been there for her.

I look back just as Jinx, my cat comes running around to the sidewalk as well, stopping me. I look up to see a local furniture store truck pulling up to the old Victorian manor next door.

“Looks like the new neighbors are finally getting more settled in, Jinx. We better be on our best behavior from now on buddy, don’t want to scare them off. Especially since they are definitely not gay.” I bend down as he jumps into my arms, nuzzling my neck.

I think about the handsome Brixon again before trying to shake the guy’s eyes from my head. Blue green like the ocean, and if I’m being honest, fucking mesmerizing.

I set Jinx down and spin on my heel, hurrying down the sidewalk. I barely register the remnants of Christmas decorations that are starting to come down, soon to be replaced by Mardi Gras bling in the next week.

I’ve been feeling off lately, like something big is about to happen—whether it’s bad, or against all odds, good, I’m not sure. I just can’t pin it down. It’s like my gift has a glitch.

When I round the corner and see Brook’s car parked by the back door of the shop, my pace quickens. I can’t believe she was able to make bail.

I knew that cunt was bad news the moment her and her bitch mother, Beth Haleigh, stepped foot in my store. I remember them from the coven, but it had been years since I had been face-to-face with my family’s enemy number one.

Brook has worked for me for the last few months. Her mother is not just one of the elders of our coven, she is the High Priestess. The same coven that cast out my mother and grandmother because of my father.

I was welcomed with open arms by fake ass women who belittled me. I just choose to stay away from them, but when the Priestess herself asks for a favor, you don’t exactly have the option to say no.

I quickly make it through the back door, which Brook didn't even bother to lock, and tiptoe toward my office, trying to stay as quiet as possible. The light from my office spills out into the dark hallway, casting eerie shadows.

I pause at the door, peeking around it to see what Brook’s up to. My chest tightens with a white-hot rage I can’t quite explain. I’m about to storm in and fuck her up when her phone rings. I hunker back, listening intently.

I hear a familiar voice crackle through her speaker. “Did the combination I gave you work? We only have one shot at this!”

“Yeah, babe, I’m here now. You were right—she’s got about ten grand in the safe along with the crystal, but no grimoire, or necklace. I’ll bring it over when I’m done here. I love you, Jeff.” And just like that, the call ends without another word.

She hangs up the call with no one other than the guy I have been talking to the last few weeks. I mean I technically have only gone on two dates with the guy and never even considered sleeping with him, but still.

I see fucking red! My balled-up fists clench digging my nails into my palms, trembling with the need to obliterate her face.

Motherfucker! I never really liked Brook, but what the fuck? I thought we were starting to come to an understanding. All the conversations venting about how controlling, manipulative, and conniving her mom was. All she kept saying constantly was how wrong Beth had been all these years with how she has run the coven into the ground. Burning too many bridges to count, yada, yada.

I burst into my office, throwing my purse at the bitch, knocking her off balance.

“What the fuck do you think you are doing!?” I yell as she whips her head around, still on the floor next to my desk with my safe wide open.

I smirk at the white tape on her face, noticing that Emily broke her nose. There is not enough makeup in the world to cover the bruising under both of her eyes. I’ll give her points for trying though.

“You weren’t supposed to be here.” Brook rolls her eyes as she moves to stand up, attempting to grab the duffle bag full of cash, among other particularly important things to me.

My mothers’, fathers’, and grandmothers’ things—items the witches are desperate for. Things neither of the women who raised me would ever part with.

I’ll be damned if they get them from me.

“I knew you were a spineless cunt like your mother!” I rush her before she can stand up or grab the duffle bag.

I grab Brooks stringy ass, ditchwater, brown hair right before her hand is able to grab the bag, catching her off balance, and slam her forehead into the side my metal desk. The blow knocks the thieving bitch out. I let go of her hair and watch her lifeless body fall to the floor.

I can’t help but chuckle at the sound her head made against the metal.

PING! I still hear the echo bouncing off the brick walls.

“Bitch down!” a male voice shouts, catching me off guard.

I turn abruptly to the familiar, yet unfamiliar voice, startled.

“That’s definitely going to leave a mark.” He speaks again when I just stare at him wide-eyed.

Brixon, Liam and their very buff and very good-looking buddy, who is just a bit smaller than Brixon, and a lot smaller than Liam are standing inside the doorway to my office. They are staring and smiling at me like I’m some kind of freak show.

I’m stunned momentarily as I look Brixon up and down, mesmerized by just how fucking hot he is. I blink several times, trying to break my eyes away from him, but I can’t.

I swallow, sizing him up! Fuck!

He is showing off sleeved tattoos that disappear under his green button up collared shirt sleeve, rolled up to just below his elbows.

I shake my head, squeezing my eyes shut, then open them again after counting to five.

“What in the hell are you guys doing here?” I ask as I step over Brook and grab the duffle bag, holding it securely as I back away from them.

“Well, fuck, we screwed this up.” Liam, the tall blonde with a crooked grin, who was with Emily last night, cocks his head as he strokes his chin like he is thinking about something as he stares at me.

“Get the fuck out before I call the cops!” I yell at them, but they all three bust out laughing.

“Call the cops, this chick was obviously stealing from you.” Brixon says, trying to sound stern, but failing.

I can’t break eye contact with him if I tried, which I am trying, but it’s like he has me hooked. He smirks, knowing he is winning this battle between us that I’m not sure is even a battle.

Cocky fucker!

My eyes jolt to Jinx trotting in, moving around Brook, who is still knocked out on the floor.

I drop the duffle bag and step towards them doubling up my fists, ready for a fight if that’s what they want.

“Calm down, little witch, we aren’t here to hurt you. We heard a scream as we were walking by and I just wanted to make sure everything was okay, that’s all. Does she need medical attention?” He pauses for me to answer, but I just stare blankly. “You know me, and Liam, but you didn’t get to meet Noah last night.” His voice sounds strained, yet enticing as he holds his hands up pointing to the big one to his left, then the surfer boy on his right.

Fuck, it should be illegal for a man to look like that. After last night, I know he knows the effect he has on women.

The new one, Noah, holds out his hand to introduce himself and I retreat.

I look at the new guy’s hand. He drops it when he realizes I’m not going to shake it.

“She’ll be fine.” I lie, not wanting to touch him. For some reason, I know if I do, everything will change.

I’ve never just looked at someone and known that. Even now when I’m trying not to look at any of them, I know that they have the potential to break me. I don’t know how I know; I just do.

I can’t tear my eyes away from Brixon. I try to break his gaze, but this time I’m powerless. As he draws nearer, it’s as if I’m rooted to the spot, immobile, helpless. I can’t look away or move, even when his hand reaches out and clasps mine.

The instant our skin touches, it's like a jolt of electricity surges through me, pulling me into another world. Images of us as children all the way through our teenage years flash in my mind like a slideshow on fast forward. I feel every emotion we’ve ever shared, every experience we’ve had together, each memory striking me with an increasing force.

Then the images slow down, settling into a moment of us as teenagers. We’re lying on the soft earth of the bayou, my secret place… Our sanctuary. Candles flicker around us, casting a gentle glow on the air mattress covered with fluffy blankets and pillows. The warmth of the scene wraps around us like a comforting embrace.

I watch as blue and red butterflies swarm our bodies as we become one, so do they, cocooning us protectively.

We are somewhere else in a flash, and I see his friends running behind me towards him. I feel a panic in my soul like I have never felt before.

My breath is taken away in a moment, stopping me before I can reach him. I feel a sting in my back. I look up into his eyes as his arms wrap around me. I smile as I hear the gunshots coming from Brixon’s gun, knowing he is going to be okay now.

I saved him. I feel pure happiness as I get cold. So fucking cold, before everything goes black.

I jerk away from his grasp with a shriek.

My chin starts to quiver as my teeth chatter. A shiver runs through my body still feeling how cold I was in my vision.

I suck in a deep breath as I clutch my chest with both hands. I will myself to look up at him. I feel everything all at once again, losing touch with reality as what I just saw gnaws at my gut.

Tears fall down my cheeks as I continue to try and catch my breath. I’m fairly sure I just watched myself die!

I drop to my knees as I let the pain I just felt, not just in my back, but in my heart dissipate.

I always feel whatever the emotions are of who I see whether it’s me or other people. I can feel emotions through touch if I want to know if someone is genuine or not.

I don’t always get visions, but for the last couple of weeks visions have been constant, but blurry. Which is why I prefer not to be touched.

Unfortunately, I get them from objects, and people. That’s how I know who needs to pay for their sins.

The ancestors give me visions with emotions, so I know the difference.

“What the fuck was that? Are you okay?” Brixon drops to his knees next to me, cupping my face.

I look up into his beautiful ocean, blue, green eyes, and feel his torment. He felt what I felt. How is that possible? I’ve never projected what I feel from a vision onto anyone else before.

Then it all hits me, and I know exactly who he is. I know all of them.

“Brixon?” I ask not understanding how or why. I move out of his grasp, not wanting to feel anymore. That was too much too fast.

“I’m your Saint, remember?” He says simply with a hopeful smile, touching me again.

Tears continue to fall freely as I remember everything about him. I move away from his touch and get up as I shake my head, trying to make it make sense.

“Look, Evie, I was going to try and take this at a slow pace, but with what I have felt the last couple of weeks, and with what just happened, that’s not going to be possible.” He moves to grab my hand again and I back away.

“One, I didn’t give you permission to touch me. Two, I don’t know how I projected what I was feeling onto you, but I can’t deal with this right now. We will talk about this. Trust me, I have a ton of questions for you Brix, but right now, I need to take care of this bitch,” I wave my hands in Brook’s direction, “and the shop isn’t open yet, I’m fine, and you can leave the same way you came in.” I wave my hands around trying to avoid touching him again, but if I move, he moves, like a fucking magnet.

I need them to leave so I can get everything ready for Jeff and his little side piece.

“What are you going to do with her? We can help if you let us.” The blonde, Liam, with hard as steel grey eyes speaks up as his tree trunk arms fold over his wide chest.

The guys who were at one time my best friends, look like they are abusing roids now. It’s nice to see that Liam grew up to look very much like the nickname I gave him as a kid. Just a very clean-cut adult version.

“I’m going to put her in the trunk of her car and take her to Jeffs house, who she has apparently been fucking for a while. Then I’m going to take them both out to the bayou and feed them to my gators. Still wanna help, Thor?” I laugh, using the nickname I gave Liam at fifteen, telling them the truth even though they think I’m joking.

“Ahh, my little pipsqueak. I’ve missed you!” Liam bellows, spreading his arms wide, only to be met with a death glare from me. He lets out an exaggerated huff, rolling his eyes. “You’re obviously not as much fun anymore.”

“Oh, I’m sure she’s still a blast. I’m all in for some bayou shenanigans—how about you guys?” Noah grins, glancing back at his friends as my jaw practically hits the floor. “Remember those epic nights when we’d get plastered while the little witches played with their crystals and gators?”

These mother fuckers don’t even look deterred in the least by my admission. It’s been at least ten years since I have laid eyes on any of them, and it’s like I still know them. It’s as if what I just saw in my vision was yesterday.

Jinx moves over to Brixon and starts moving back and forth over the front of his legs. He bends down, picks him up, and starts petting him. “He loves me, huh little buddy?” he asks my cat, surprising the shit out of me. Jinx hates everyone except me.

“Don’t get used to it.” I say as I stick my tongue out at Jinx. Little fucking traitor. That’s the guy that’s going to get me killed cat! Familiar my ass. I grumble to myself in my head.

He is also the man that I am supposed to have been with all this time. He was… Is the love of my life. I chew on that thought for a moment, trying to still make sense of what just happened.

My head hurts from all the images that keep popping in without warning. Images that are memories of us. How could I forget him?

“Fine, load her up in the trunk of the Tesla out back while I gather a few things I will need to keep them sedated. Oh, leave your cell phones here. We don’t want to be traced today.” I sigh as I move towards the front of the store.

I turn back to look at my old friends as they place their phones on my desk and snatch up Brook’s lifeless body off the floor, like she weighs nothing for the two of them.

Noah helps Liam toss her over his shoulder, as she lets out a slight groan getting thrown around like a sack of potatoes.

They move out of eye and ear shot so I move to grab what I need quickly as Brixon follows me around, watching my every move.

Why did I agree to let them come to the bayou with me? I never let anyone go there unless I plan to kill them, except Emily.

For some reason, I know I can trust Brix. I loved him and trusted him with my life back then. I feel the love I felt then, only stronger now. Apparently, I feel enough for this man to die for him.

I felt his anguish at my death as he clung to my body, I hung limp in his arms as I tried to give him one last smile.

Fuck it’s been ten years? Really?

“So, were you spelled to, or were you in on it, and left me willingly?” I look back at him, not able to control my voice as it cracks slightly.

Not knowing is what is killing my soul at the moment. Could he have just left me?

“The spell lost its power the moment I locked eyes with you the first day we moved into the house next door,” he says, his gaze dropping as he picks up a black tourmaline crystal. I can’t help but smirk at his choice. “This is your favorite. You gave me one for my nineteenth birthday, made into a keychain. I didn’t realize why until I saw you again, but I’ve carried it with me ever since.”

He sets the crystal down and pulls out his keys from his pocket, dangling the beautiful stone from a fleur-de-lis attached to the silver key ring.

“I remember making that for you. I added my own protection spell specifically for you on the fleur-de-lis that I made to match the Saint symbol. I saw your dad’s tattoo and remembered your mom telling me what the symbol meant to the Saint getting it before their wedding night. I wanted you to have a symbol for our first time to make it as special for you as it was for me.” I swear his eyes light up at my revelation, remembering the most special night of my life.

A night I forgot about for ten years.

Now I know why I felt the way I did about what I thought was my first time back in college. Now that I have the memory of my first time, I don’t know what to think or how I feel about the other people I have been with over the years. I didn’t even have feelings for that guy or any of them, not that there are many. I was such a different person with Brixon than I have been without him.

“I remember that night too,” he says, his voice softening. “Honestly, I haven’t thought about anything else since I saw you. I’ve been trying to get your attention ever since, Evie. It’s like you were completely oblivious to everything around you. I followed you home every night, watched you through your bedroom window—reading, dancing, scribbling your naughty little thoughts in that pretty leather journal of yours. You’re obviously not in a relationship, though even if you were, it wouldn’t have mattered. We both know you’re mine. You always have been, and you always will be.” He gives me a smoldering look that I remember all too well.

“Heart and soul, till we are ghosts.” His eyes lock with mine again and I start to melt. I remember our vows to each other that night, the night it all fell apart. The guys were there, with Cami and Charlie. We were all getting drunk in the cemetery and decided to take the party down to my gran’s childhood home in the bayou to give us a makeshift kind of wedding.

The bayou is where my mama and gran were able to continue to practice and carry on our traditions. I grow all of my herbs down there and take care of that area of the gator conservation that has been in our family for generations.

“Come on let’s go before the chick wakes up.” He offers, letting out a sigh. I wish I knew what he was thinking.

Do I trust him after all this time? Is this my destiny that I’m somehow supposed to blindly fulfill without question?

“Wait!” I grab a blank piece of paper and sharpie, writing in big letters, closed for inventory, and hold it up to show Brix. I get the tape and rush to the front door, slapping it on, and make sure the door is still locked.

“Good idea.” He smiles, shaking his head.

We make our way to the back door. He stops me, taking my hand, placing it over his heart, “My heart has always been yours, and yours alone. I have never loved another person the way I love you, Genevieve.”

My heart stops at the contact and the images of us together that night. I feel my panties getting wet at the thought of him touching me like that again. I let out a slight moan trying to pull my hand away from his.

He grips my hand tighter, moving his lips close to my ear, and whispers, “Remember how just my touch always made you feel? Remember how I used to make you come over and over again with just the touch of my hand? Before I ever took what was mine, what you gave to me that night. We will continue this later.” He leaves a soft kiss on my neck, making every nerve in my body come to life, before he lets go of my hand.

He backs away towards the door, leaving me practically panting.

I never really understood how he always did that, but I’m glad he still can, I grin at the thoughts I’m having. I try to right myself and take a deep breath before I set the alarm and follow Brix out the back door. I turn to wait for Jinx to bolt out at the last minute before I shut and lock it.

We all load into Brook’s little car, of course I’m in the back with Brix.

I can feel the heat rising up my cheeks as I try not to make eye contact.

Noah looks through the GPS history and hits the one that’s labeled Jeff #1. I never got his address, so I have no idea.

“What if it’s Jeff two or three?” Liam asks chuckling.

“Then I guess Jeff one got very unlucky to be her top Jeff today.” Noah laughs as he starts driving.