Sins Inked in Blood (Inked in Blood Duet #1)

Chapter One

Mom’s perfume fills the room—lavender and peonies, soft and sweet like always.

Lightning flashes brightly outside the window, thunder booming so loudly it shakes the glass.

A whimper escapes my lips as I duck deeper under the covers, my heart beating fast. “Shh, sunshine,” Mom says with a gentle giggle, the sound warm and light.

“There’s nothing that can get us in here. But would it help if I sang our song?”

I nod quickly, peeking out just enough. “Yes, please! I love it when you sing to me.” She climbs into my bed, pulling me closer against her.

Her fingers stroke lazily through my hair as she starts humming You Are My Sunshine, her voice soft and comforting.

My eyes start to feel heavy, the storm sounding far away now.

Her arms wrap around me tighter, keeping me warm and safe.

Her perfume settles around me like a blanket.

I fight my hardest to keep my eyes open, to just live in this moment with her, but they keep closing anyway.

I barely register her whisper against my hair, “You’ll always be my sunshine.

” The door clicks softly from nearby as sleep finally pulls me under.

I can feel my face warp with confusion, not understanding what I have to do with the files, but whatever it is, Dad sounds really mad about it.

Guilt twists low in my stomach for spying.

I know better than to listen to adult conversations.

I start to back away toward my room when a loud thump echoes through the passageway.

I freeze, then turn around and press my eye back to the peephole.

I see Dad standing over Mom, holding something sharp.

Pulling his arm back, he swings it down hard across her throat.

Red liquid leaks out like a deadly waterfall, soaking Mom’s pretty nightgown—pooling on the rug beneath her.

A cry claws up my throat, desperate to escape, as I slap my hand over my mouth.

Tears blur my vision, hot and fast, as they run down my cheeks.

No one can ever know I was here. That I saw this.

Mom turns her head slowly towards the peephole, as if she knows exactly where I’m hidden; her eyes find mine.

Even though I’m scared, my hands shaking as I press my small hand to the cold wall and whisper so only she can hear as the light in her eyes drains. “I’ll fix this, Mom. I promise.”

The memory fractures, leaving a sour wave of nausea twisting in my stomach as my mind returns to the land of the living.

I’m standing in the sealed servant passage again, staring at the door I need to board up.

My hands tremble as I pull it shut and twist the key in the lock.

The familiar weight of Mom’s pearl necklace rests against my chest as I slip the key back into its chain and shake off the memory.

I glance over at my old bedroom door one last time, the room where my innocence bled out on the floor that night.

Dad put Hawthorne Manor up for sale after what happened to Mom.

It stayed on the market until I was eighteen, and I bought it back through a private trust he’ll never trace.

He still doesn’t know it belongs to me now.

I kept my apartment in the complex Dad owns, but I could never let go of the last place Mom ever loved me in.

Sixteen years later, I still don't know what the Cicada files were. But her death wouldn’t be for nothing.

I’ll burn the world down if I have to. One way or another… I’ll find out the truth.

My phone chimes. Probably Lila, gloating that she got us into a new exclusive club downtown. I don’t know how she does it, but she always manages to slip us past velvet ropes into places we have no business being.

Lila: I got us in!!!! Like that was even a question,

but I digress. Wanna grab food before we go?

We have to be ready and there before nine.

Don’t make me drag your ass out of that

Creepy manor!

Me: Never had a doubt lol.

Yeah, let’s meet at my apartment

around five. We can order Chinese

takeout while we get ready.

Lila: Um, duh! Love ya, See ya then!

I let out a small laugh at Lila’s text. If anyone can drag me out of this suffocating feeling of impending doom, it’s her.

We met as freshmen in high school after Dad moved us to a new district.

I was quiet, broken, still carrying the weight of what I’d witnessed that night.

Still am. Lila didn’t hesitate. She marched right up, grabbed my hand, and pulled me over to her table as if I had always belonged there.

We've been inseparable ever since. She knows what happened to Mom and knows I watched it. But she never understood why I didn’t go to the police.

Honestly…neither do I. Not really. The only remotely closest answer I have is the promise I whispered through that peephole—a child’s vow to a dying woman who probably never even heard it.

I gather my things and head downstairs, the echo of my footsteps loud in the empty manor. “I’m leaving, Mrs. Whitley,” I call out as I reach the entrance hall. “I’ll see you soon.”

“No need to shout, dear, I’m right here.

” Mrs. Whitley appears in the hallway, giving me a familiar, heavy-hearted smile.

“Are you sure you can’t stay longer? I miss watching you wander these halls.

” She’s been with our family since the day I was born—more mother than housekeeper in many ways.

Dad sold her off with the property like she was just another piece of furniture.

I bought her back with it. I couldn’t leave her in his hands for one more day.

“Sorry,” I say softly. “Lila got us into this new club, and you know how she gets if I don’t show up.

I’ll stay longer next time. I promise.” I pull Mrs. Whitley into a tight hug, wrapping my arms around her small frame like I can squeeze the sadness out of her.

She hugs me back just as fiercely, the familiar scent of her soap filling my nose.

“Of course she did,” Mrs. Whitley laughs lightly, the sound loving but tired. “Y’all be safe tonight. No going off alone—I don’t want to hear about you two on the morning news.” She rolls her eyes dramatically and gently ushers me towards the door, her hand warm on my back.

“I would never do such a thing!” I gasp in mock offense; my hand flies up to my chest for extra exaggeration. Mrs. Whitley chuckles, swatting at my arms. “Love youuuuuu,” I sing out as she shuts the door behind me.

I slide into the driver’s seat of my blacked-out 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

The second I turn the key, Specter by Bad Omens explodes through the speakers, Noah’s voice raw and haunting.

I peel out of the driveway, letting the melody swallow me whole as I leave the Manor behind.

The drive back into the city is short. Peaceful at first, nothing but dense woods lining the winding road, but the further I go, the more the trees thin out, until the Welcome to Nashville sign greets me like an old enemy.

Home sweet fucking home. Thirty minutes later, I’m pulling into the garage beneath my building.

Lila is already waiting by the elevator, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, checking her phone like I’m the one running late.

I kill the engine and hop out, heading straight for her.

“I thought we agreed on five,” I say, frowning. “I was planning to nap first.”

“Yeah, like I was going to wait that long,” Lila replies, rolling her eyes with a smirk.

“You should know this by now.” She loops her arm through mine as we walk into the elevator.

“Plus, I figured we could catch up after you went to Hawthorne Manor.” Her gaze slides over to me, concern flickering across her face. “You feeling okay?”

The elevator doors slide open onto the top-floor hallway.

The weight of Hawthorne Manor is clinging to my skin like smoke, even after it’s long gone.

“I’m fine,” I say, forcing lightness into my voice.

“Mrs. Whitley wanted me to stay a little longer. Oh, and she says she'd better not see us on the morning news!” I swipe my key card and push the door open. Lila shoves past me, making herself at home. Floor-to-ceiling windows greet us with a view of the Nashville skyline, with sparks of glitter catching on other buildings’ windows.

The city looks deceptively beautiful and peaceful—the soft lights and quiet crowds moving in and out of shops—while a storm rages violently inside my head.

Lila rolls her eyes as she plops down on the couch. “Of course, she’s worried about us making the news," she says with a snort. “What could we possibly get into?”

“Apparently, a lot,” I reply dryly. “So, spill it. Why are you here this early?” I grab two bottles of water from the fridge, tossing one towards Lila.

“Okay, so you remember the guy I’ve been seeing?” Lila asks, gauging my reaction. “I kind of invited him tonight…along with his friend.” She gives me the biggest, most pathetic puppy-dog eyes. “Please don’t be mad.”

“Why?” I groan, already regretting it. “Fine. But you’re buying dinner, and this is not a double date.”

Lila jumps up off the couch and launches herself at me at full speed, tackling me onto the other sofa with a squeal. “Yay! Okay, deal!”

“I’m serious, Lila,” I say, giving her the best stern look I can manage. She refuses to loosen her death grip. “After everything with Asher…I’m over dating.”

“I promise, no funny business. Unless, of course, you want funny business,” Lila laughs as she wiggles her eyebrows with a wicked grin. “Let me order Chinese food, and then we’re raiding your closet.”

“Fine. Get me my usual,” I say, shoving her off me and onto the floor to stand up. “I’m going to shower.” I call over my shoulder as I head to the bathroom, “Oh, and don’t forget the pan-fried dumplings.”

“Ma’am, yes, ma’am!” Lila mocks me with a sharp soldier’s salute as I close the door to the bathroom.