Sins of the Father: A Paranormal Prison Romance (Sinfully Sacrified Book 1)

by Mary E. Twomey

  “Arly!” he shouts in the dark. Then I hear movement. A few seconds later, he’s picking me up and lying me atop our mattress, as if my body is made of silk that he’s afraid of wrinkling. “Wait right here.” He darts to the corner and I hear a tender, “I got you, Cass. Easy, now. You’re going to sleep with us tonight.”

  Cass’ body is deposited beside mine, her shouts quieting to mere sniffles as she shudders.

  Forgetting my own pain, I gather her in my arms once more, offering my shoulder for her to cry on. “It hurts! It hurts!” Then the real crux of her agony bursts forth. “Charlotte hurt me!”

  My chilly, wet fingers trail down her face, cooling her as much as I’m able. “I know, Cass. I’m here for you. It’ll fade. It won’t be so terrible.”

  Though, I can only sort of believe my own promises. My hips are screaming at me to douse them in ice.

  But when your family is in pain, your own agony doesn’t matter so much.

  It’s then that it hits me how mired in each other’s lives we’ve become. Cass isn’t just my cellmate, or even a mere friend. Cass is my sister, and her terror is mine to fight through until we reach the other side together.

  Gray reaches across Cass and cups my shoulder. “Charlotte’s passed out. I laid her on your top bunk, Cass. I’m going to let Rafe out, so I can guard the two of you tonight. Tuck in and do what you can to rest. I’ll watch Charlotte.” He leans over and kisses my cheek. “I’m right here, got it?”

  I nod in the pitch black, knowing that none of us are going to get any sleep now.

  Cass sniffles into my shoulder. “Charlotte hurt me! Why would she hurt me?”

  I know Charlotte doesn’t have it in her to swat at a fly, but I don’t argue when Cass is still processing the multiple levels of distress. Instead, I hold my sister, hoping tomorrow will bring us some answers.

  34

  Rearranged

  I can’t believe any of us dozed off, but when morning comes, the lights turn on and wake us from our half-had slumber. Cass finally fell asleep with her arm around my ribs and her breasts pressed to my side. She’s so prickly during the day. I think it’s cute that she’s cuddly at night.

  She groans at the intrusion from the lightbulb overhead. “Please tell me I dreamt all that.”

  I turn my chin toward her and bite down on my lower lip. “I wish. The good news is that it looks like there aren’t any marks.”

  Cass sits up, touching her face all over. “How is that possible? It felt like Charlotte seared my skin to the bone. I was all panicked because I thought I’d wake up disfigured. Look closer. Nothing?”

  I lean in, turning her chin this way and that. “Not a scratch.” Then I glance down at my hips, marveling at the same thing. “Nothing on me, either.”

  Rafe is the size of a fat, overly tall horse, but with the light shining on him as he yawns, he’s not nearly as terrifying as the first time when he mutated in the dark. He sniffs the bed before plopping his enormous head atop our mattress, whining for me to pet him.

  “Baby,” I coo, running my fingers over his gray fur. His teeth are elongated and jut out at frightening angles, but I can’t pull back from my sweet pup. Whenever he begs me with those big eyes for me to scratch behind his ears, I’m a goner. “You alright, pumpkin?” I kiss the top of his head, smiling and squirming as he licks my cheek.

  Gray pulls back and transforms into his man body, turning to give me a juicy gander of his tight backside—bare, bronzed and beautiful. He doesn’t bother with shame over his nudity as he dresses. “I’m okay. You sure you don’t have any burn marks?”

  I stand and show him my hip, which he thumbs with a lusty rumble in his throat. “Like it never happened.”

  He kisses my lips, his arm slinging around my hips to marry my pelvis to his.

  I love waking up to him.

  Charlotte turns over and lifts her head. She smacks her lips, her hair sticking up on one side only. Her eyes half-opened as she peers down at us from her top bunk. “Did I dream it?”

  Gray’s face is stony as he turns. He keeps his arm affixed around me. “I wish. Want to walk us through what happened?”

  She looks so small when Gray reaches up for her and helps her down, like she’s his kid sister.

  Shame tugs at Charlotte’s features, looking all wrong on someone as blameless as her. “I ignored my vision.” When her feet tap on the floor, she glances down, clearly disappointed in herself.

  Cass climbs out of the bunk but keeps her distance, clinging to the metal frame. “What did it tell you to do?”

  Charlotte tugs on her fingers, still waking up, but coherent enough to know this isn’t what she wants to be discussing. “It said you needed to leave the cell, Cass.” Her lower lip quivers. “I don’t want that, so I didn’t listen.”

  Cass’ nose scrunches. “What? Why? You tell that vision it can go ahead and bite me.”

  Charlotte looks impossibly smaller. “I think that’s what it was trying to do, more or less. If I don’t tell you to leave, it’s going to take matters into its own… Well, you know.” She covers her face with her hands. “I hurt you! I couldn’t stop it! I didn’t know that would happen if I kept ignoring the path. But there’s some sort of timetable the vision has, and I’m not moving fast enough. I was hoping it would choose a different direction. I don’t want us to split up! We belong together.”

  My stomach is hollow, watching this slow train wreck. I want to give them space for this conversation, but the doors are still locked.

  The stunned expression on Cass’ face breaks my heart. “The vision wants us to end? We have to break up?”

  Charlotte shakes her head so quickly; I’m surprised her eyes don’t rattle. “No! We’re supposed to be a cell of three. I don’t know why. You’re supposed to go into a different cell.” She tugs harder on her fingers. “I don’t want this! I’m still trying to fight it. But the vision hurt you! I know what happened when my mum ignored her visions. She murdered my brother without meaning to! I don’t want that to happen, but the vision’s made it clear that I don’t have other options. This has to happen, no matter what I want. If you don’t move to a new cell, fate is going to intervene.” A plump tear rolls down her cheek. “Please don’t let me hurt you again! I couldn’t stop it. If you don’t leave, it’s only going to get worse!”

  Cass looks like someone’s punched her in the gut.

  Gray backs his body and mine into the corner, then turns so he can fold me in his arms. We’re trying to be invisible as best we can, ducking behind the bunk so they have the illusion of privacy. His pulse is thudding, as is mine. We hold tight to each other because I cannot imagine if fate or anyone tried to tear us apart. Without Gray?

  Without Gray, I would be trapped in the dark.

  He cups the back of my head and cradles my face to his chest, making it clear where my true home lies.

  Too many seconds pile together into whole minutes of dread and heartbreak. When Cass finally speaks, her voice is quiet and choked with emotion. “You don’t want to break up?”

  “Never!” Charlotte explodes, tears dotting her freckles. “Don’t you know that I love you? Isn’t it obvious that we belong together? Before you, I never… Everyone was wary of Mum, so I didn’t have many people in my life growing up. But you saw me. You saw me and decided I was worth the risk. You’re my first girlfriend, and I want you to be my only.”

  Now I’m getting choked up, but I’m doing my absolute best to keep my emotions silent, so as not to intrude.

  Gray touches my chin so my gaze lifts to his. I know he won’t say that he wants me to be his only. That’s a fae thing, so I try not to put those expectations on us. We have each other for now, and I’m grateful for each moment.

  I run my tongue over my lower lip. I know in my heart, there will always be a space carved out for this man who brings warmth to my cold existence.

  Cass taps her chest. “My only,” she agrees. Then she does something only Cass can do, beca
use she’s just that strong. Cass smiles, forcing bravery and bravado to the forefront. “This is no big deal. You should have told me you were struggling with this. If your vision is being a buzzkill, then we can play by the chaperone’s lame rules. I’ll request a transfer at breakfast. If we have to be apart at night, that’s nothing.”

  I can smell the bold lie in Cass’ words, but I respect her so very much for this selfless act of taking the angst out of Charlotte’s dilemma, as much as she is able.

  Charlotte sniffs. “It’s not nothing. It’s everything. I don’t want to be without you.”

  Cass steps forward, finally reaching out to hold Charlotte’s trembling hand. “It’ll get us one step closer to being able to be together on the outside. You’re worth the wait.”

  Charlotte bursts into a puddle of tears, throwing her arms around Cass. “I love you. I’m sorry this is happening. I tried so hard to fight it—to force it to find any other option. But this is the way it has to be. Please don’t leave me.”

  Cass combs her fingers over Charlotte’s lovely, fluffy hair. “Never. I’m already planning out which nights are going to be yours to cook when we get our own place. I think we should have Gray and Arly over once a week for game night or something. We have to keep an eye on them, right?”

  Charlotte nods, sniffling as they hold each other.

  Gray grips me tighter, his voice quiet and his brows bunched as he speaks only to me. “The four of us work well together. I don’t get it. Why would the vision want Cass in a different cell?”

  I hold on to him like my life depends on it, suddenly fearful that one day, Charlotte’s visions might tear Gray away from me. “I don’t know, but we can’t have another night like last night.” I raise my voice to reach the girls. “We’ll watch out for her, Cass.”

  “I know you will. It’s only nighttime we’ll be apart. Everything else, we’ll be glued together.” Cass feigns lightness. “It’s all going to be fine. Come here, my little burrito supreme. We’re okay.”

  That’s honestly got to be the weirdest sweetheart name ever used.

  Cass and Charlotte twine their fingers, as if daring fate to try tearing their hearts apart.

  35

  Matching Misery

  Breakfast is a grim affair, no matter how Cass swears up and down how fine she is with it all. By the time we get to sewing detail, Cass’ new cell arrangement is already squared away. “Apparently the only opening is in a room with Liana and two others, none of whom have ever given me any grief. Transfer’s already approved.”

  I try to keep an upbeat demeanor, because I know Charlotte’s dying inside. “That’s great.”

  “Eyes on the prize,” Cass reminds us, her focus on threading the sewing machine. “Just because the four us aren’t sleeping in the same cell, doesn’t mean we’re any less together.”

  She says it with a hint of a threat, reminding us that whatever plan is being cooked up, she will not be edged out of it.

  When lunch rolls around, I’m not sure any of us could feel lower. I’m so distracted that my tray is easily banged from my hands. I sigh as my food clatters to the floor. It’s a stark reminder of where I am, and where I might always be if the vision doesn’t come to fruition.

  Officer Johnson gives a decent dressing down to the person who accosted me, but as I don’t even know the dude, I’m not invested in my anger. Just tired. Tired from not sleeping. Tired of it all. Though, I do appreciate that Johnson seems to be earning his keep, sticking up for me so I can do fancy things like, you know, eat.

  Gray’s temper is far more controlled than it was a couple months ago. He and Rafe have made peace with each other, so Gray is back to his normal tranquil temperament. He fixes a new tray of food for me while Charlotte and I dump my ruined one in the receptacle. The lunch lady, who usually has something to say about people asking for seconds, doesn’t bother protesting anymore. My food is taken from me so often that I would starve if they didn’t cut me a little slack and let me replace my meal.

  I get two bites into my stale bread before a guard comes up to us, a no-nonsense look about him. “Up, the three of you.” Then his eyes slip over to Cass. “Not you.”

  I shovel as much as I can into my mouth, because I know we won’t get another chance to eat.

  We don’t bother asking questions, but my nerves are on high alert as we’re taken out into the hallway and marched to the warden’s office. We aren’t offered seats, but are instructed to stand behind the two chairs with our backs along the walls.

  “We’ve got a new inmate coming to Prigham’s tonight,” the warden informs us, staring me down in particular. “Since yours is the only room with an opening, he’ll be staying with you.”

  The three of us glance at each other, and I wonder if this is standard, us being pulled aside to be told we’re getting a newbie.

  Trepidation prickles over my skin. Charlotte shoots me a look of warning.

  This must be what her vision was preparing us for. Cass had to be out so that we would be the only cell with an open slot for whoever this new person is. Perhaps this new inmate is crucial to the plan for our escape.

  No wonder the dramatics were amped up last night; the vision was working against the clock to make room for this new prisoner.

  The warden doesn’t bother standing, but leans back in his seat, his fat arms crossing his belly. “It’s procedure to give cellmates the option of requesting a switch-out if the new inmate took less than two weeks to get through acclimation.”

  I mirror his body language, crossing my arms just to have something to do with my hands.

  “Let me know by dinner tonight if any of you wants to switch out. Otherwise, you’ll have a new cellmate before lights out. I trust you can help him get the hang of this place, Arlanna Scarlett Valentine?”

  I can’t believe the warden is asking me. Gray and Charlotte have been at Prigham’s way longer. And I’m not exactly winning any popularity contests in here. I still haven’t learned how to blend in. I can’t even get through a day without being accosted. “Me?”

  “I’m looking at you, Princess.”

  Gray stiffens at my side. He hates when people use my nickname as a dig.

  “I mean, sure. I’m fine with a fourth.”

  Gray purses his lips. “How fast did he acclimate?”

  “Two days, twenty-three hours. Set a new record. Beat yours by one hour.”

  As if that’s something to be impressed by. Though, if I’m being honest, I don’t like being dethroned by whoever this guy is.

  “Fine by me.” I raise my chin in defiance, as if it doesn’t bother me at all.

  Charlotte nods, giving her consent, and Gray mumbles that he’s fine with it.

  “Good.” The warden glances up at the guard who escorted us in. “Bring in the new inmate. He’s still got to get his uniform. There are a few things to finish up before he goes into gen-pop, but you can at least meet him now.”

  The warden’s eyes are on me, even as the door opens and he stands.

  So, he’ll stand for this inmate, but not when I enter a room.

  Noted.

  The air stills in my lungs when Prince Paxton enters, his face fixed with a defiance I recognize well, as it matches my own.

  “Hello, Arlanna.” His voice is even and every syllable perfectly enunciated, just like his father’s. He looks just like his dad, only younger and without the air of flickering deceit about him. Though I’ve seen him in the papers hundreds of times with a neutral, pleasant expression, right now there’s a well-earned anger beneath the bland acceptance that this is now his life.

  I understand completely. I understand and I’m horrified.

  The king passed his sentence off onto his son? That wasn’t part of the plan. In no part of this was that even something Sloan and I considered as a possibility. The king wouldn’t dare send his son here to pay for his crime.

  “Paxton?” I breathe, turned around and worried that the world will never make sense ag
ain.

  I should comfort him. Maybe apologize. I should do something, but I’m still stunned to be this close to the man I’ve been forbidden to go near for the past two decades of my life. I haven’t seen Paxton up close since he was far too young for facial hair and the hardened edge to his eyes. He’s tall now—tall and leonine—but solid enough to withstand just about anything life throws at him.

  I jerk my head toward the warden, freshly bathed in confusion. “I thought… How is…” Then I step toward Paxton, as if approaching a memory come to life, a tangible dream I can’t believe is real. “How are you here?”

  “You don’t watch the news?” Then Paxton delivers a deadpan speech I can tell he’s memorized. “Prigham’s is no punishment. My father has much important work to do. He made a mistake, and I’m happy to pay for my family’s sins. He gave up much to raise me; I can do him this one favor to repay him for all he’s sacrificed for me and our people.”

  Though the words are perfectly delivered, there’s a current of agony he sends directly at me, letting me know with a look that he didn’t see this coming, either.

  He’s always wearing sunglasses. In every clip and photograph, sunglasses. But they’re gone in here, revealing dark blue eyes that stun me with their ability to look calloused and simultaneously vulnerable.

  I’m sick to my stomach at the regurgitated steaming pile of crap that no doubt hurts his tongue just to say. “Paxton, I’m so sorry. I had no idea.”

  Paxton stares at my face in the same way I’m drinking in his features. In fact, it seems his crisp demeanor is only punctured by our piercing gaze. His veil of composure drops only for me, and I read a clear cry for help in his eyes. He wants me to save him somehow. He knows I understand his plight more than anyone else.

  Our misery matches. I can feel the shift of molecules in the air making room for the both of us to attach far quicker than any two public figures have a right to.