Sinful Little Nun (Malevolent Sinners #5)

Chapter One

ZENAYA

“Please, Father, give me a sign that this isn’t some form of punishment. I did good. I changed my life and dedicated myself to your service. I have been a good girl and never gone against my faith since joining the convent—”

“Praying for redemption, are you?” Even after all these years I know that voice as well as I know my own.

I drop my chin to my chest and remain on my knees in front of the cross inside the church.

The sound of his boots against the wooden floorboards sends shivers down my spine.

The closer he gets the more I begin to tremble.

When I agreed to take over the church that had been abandoned by the town priest, I had no idea I was agreeing to return to the home town I fled from years ago.

“You always did look good on your knees, Naya.”

The sound of my old nickname from his sinful lips sends desire shooting through me. I try to snuff out that feeling, knowing it’s wrong. My faith comes first now.

“Please—”

He cuts me off before I can finish as he comes to stand in front of me. “Keep begging, you know I love it when you do that.”

Memories of the past slam into me like a movie playing on repeat. I squeeze my eyes closed and fight against it. I chose my faith, my wants mean nothing anymore. I must atone for the sins of my past and not allow myself to be sidetracked.

“I am here by order of the Abyss. I am to complete my task and restore faith and honor to this church before the new priest arrives to fill Father Pierce's place.” Van Pierce was the town priest. He was respected among the town until he broke his faith and chose to live in sin with his two best friends and their girlfriend—he chose love over his vows.

“I don’t give a fuck about your God!” I gasp and snap my head up to lock eyes with one of the devils from my past. Davin Ansel still looks the same.

His baby blue eyes don’t hold the same carefree look they once did, a dark aura clinging to him like a second skin.

His black hair is cut short on the sides and remains long on the top.

His face is hardened and laugh lines no longer mar his handsome face.

He was offered full-ride scholarships to all the major colleges, he was supposed to be gone from this place. It was his dream to finally be free of this town, yet here he stands, vibrating with rage.

“You’re here because I wanted you to be.” His words have my breath hitching.

“Why?” I breathe out.

His eyes darken as he glares down at me with so much hatred. “You took my life from me, stole the two people I loved most and sent them away. You’re going to learn that no matter how much time you spend on your knees begging for forgiveness, we will never grant it.”

“We?”

A sinister smirk touches the corner of his mouth.

“Lakeland County now has a new rehab program where inmates are sent here to carry out the remainder of their sentence.” All the blood drains from my face, which makes him grin like a crazy person.

“That’s right, you’ll get to be reunited with your dear stepbrother and stepfather. ”

I shake my head. “No.”

“Yes. Be ready for a family reunion, Sister.” He spits the name like it burns his tongue. “They will be here shortly and yes, they will be staying in the church.”

Please forgive me, Father, I don’t think this role is for me and if the three of them are back together, I fear I won’t survive. They are going to ruin me for what I did.

I’m a coward!

I have locked myself in the small office of the church and hidden out here since Davin left.

I haven’t been able to sit still and continue to pace the small room.

My nerves are shot and no amount of praying is helping right now.

Guilt is chewing me up from the inside and I hate it—I fucking loathe this feeling.

I finally had my life on track and left the pain of my past behind me.

Being back here after four years has blown my life apart in a matter of minutes!

I crafted walls inside myself to block out the memories of them and the sinful things I did with my stepfather, stepbrother and Davin. I spent years repenting for my sins and all it took was the sound of Davin’s voice to have me questioning my faith!

“Stop it!” I scold myself as I stalk out of the office and head to the back of the church.

There's a small balcony with a lone rocking chair in the corner. I claim it without hesitation and look up at the sky. This is my favorite time of day, twilight. Light is fading and giving way to the darkness that will soon consume everything. I have always felt so attuned with this time of day, almost like it’s a battle between good and evil.

Sometimes I feel like I fight the same battle inside myself every day.

“Help!” I jerk upright in my chair and scan the wooded area out the back of the church, trying to locate the source of the cry for help. I push to my feet and rush down the three stairs and briskly walk to the edge of the trees praying the person in need calls out again. “Help me!”

I snap my head to the right and take off into the woods without thought, trying to locate the injured soul trapped out here in the woods.

“Where are you?” I shout as I try to navigate my way through the brush in the dimming light.

I pause and strain my hearing, trying to listen for any sign of the injured person.

I hear a faint groan of pain and dash to the left.

“Call out so I can find you!” I shout as I continue to push through the heavy underbrush in the woods.

The light is fading fast and if I don’t locate this person soon we will both be trapped out here in the dark.

It was stupid of me to rush out here without grabbing my phone or even a flashlight, but the instinct to help trumped common sense.

“Here!” the voice calls out again. I rush toward the sound, grateful that it seems closer now. I swear when I first heard him call out I thought he was much closer than he is. A sigh of relief escapes me when I burst into a clearing of sorts but the feeling of relief vanishes as quickly as it came.

My breath hitches as I take in the sight in front of me.

Terror fills my veins as I look around the clearing and see lanterns situated around the ground, casting an eerie glow.

Large rectangular mirrors are propped against the trees in a semicircle.

There are at least eight of them, but the thing that has me wanting to turn and flee is the sight of the circle carved into the dirt in the center.

Aztec types of designs are marked into it.

My feet move on their own accord to get a better look at the word etched into the center.

“Shit,” I curse beneath my breath at the sight of the word sinner carved into the center of the circle.

Rational thought slams into me and I know I need to get the hell out of here.

I turn to flee and head back the way I came, but I come face to face with a man wearing a matte black devil mask.

His eyes are bright red—he’s wearing contacts.

A black robe covers his body but it does nothing to hide that he is clearly in shape.

He is easily over six feet tall and dwarfs my tiny five foot four frame with ease.

“Revenge is a dish best served hot, darlin’.” I tense at the robotic sound of his voice, the blood rushing to my feet, leaving me cold and terrified.

“I beg of you to let me go. I am a woman of the church and serve—”

He cuts me off before I can finish. “You will serve us!” he roars, making me flinch. The robotic tone tells me he is using a voice distorter.

“Us?” I squawk out.

“We’re here to ruin you.” I whirl around to the right at the sound of another robotic voice and see another man dressed exactly the same.

“You will beg for mercy.” I spin around to the other side and see a third guy standing there. He is dressed the same and sounds the same as the other two, but there is just something about this guy that screams danger and I’m fucking terrified.

Forgive me, Father, for failing to serve you. I fear tonight will be my last night in your faithful service.