ASHLEY.  "Why did you think he would be here?" I sigh as we watch the man walk away from us with a strange look on his face. Heather shakes her head, and says, "I honestly don't know. He told me he comes here once in a while and I just... I don't know. I thought his first escape would be here. " I lean back against the wall as I try my brother's contact again, and just like the last ten times; it says the same thing—unavailable.  Where the fuck is he? "Do you think he could have gone to the girl?" I question Heather.  "No, " she protests. "Vincent isn't that dumb. He wouldn't chase her around. Especially not after the ugly past they had. " An ugly past I do not know. The thought brings me to the actualization that I have little to no knowledge about what goes on with my brother's life. Was I not paying attention adequately, or was he being discreet about it?

ASHLEY.  Did he go to his father's place? I didn't think he goes there deeming how their relationship is.  "You did?" I repeat and he nods, meeting my eyes before pressing a hand against my back—aiding me to bury my face in his neck. Somehow, I know whatever it is he's attempting to tell me is tough to get out from his part, and I appreciate the fact that he's willing to let me in. At least for whatever it is. He's letting me in farther.  "There's something I have to tell you. " He speaks, his hand fondling my back through the thin fabric of my clothing and I hum, letting my hands fall on his shoulders as I press my lips to his neck.  Sinclair shudders at the contact and there's a short silence before he says, "I have a sister. " The words take me by shock and I try drawing back but he keeps his hand clasped against my back and says, "No, stay that way.

ASHLEY.  "So you guys resolved things?" Lucinda questions as she walks in and falls on the space beside me. "Judging by that smile on your face, I guess you did. " She mumbles and I give her a playful hit before hurling my phone to the side.  "We did. " I confirm.  "And where did he say he was all day?" She lifts her brows and I narrow my eyes, saying, "And why do you need to know that?" "Come on! Tell me!" She whines and I laugh before laying on my side so I'm turned to her view. "He was thinking. " "Thinking? Did he spend the whole day thinking and avoiding you? " She queries in an odd tone and I nod.  "Okay, what was he thinking about?" "How am I to know that?" I hiss and she watches me with a bizarre look on her face as she says, "So let me get this straight—Your boyfriend was out of reach the entire day, and

HEATHER.  "I feel bad for Ashley. " I tell Vince as I move into his arms and he wraps his hand around my waist, caging me between his body and the counter.  "She can handle it. " He responds. "I warned her about this. I told her Sinclair will only hurt her, but she wanted me out of her business. She told me she will handle it when that time comes so I expect her to. " "So you're not a tad worried about your sister?" I spin around to meet his gaze, my ass pressed against the counter and he shakes his head; his voice firm as he says, "I'm not. " "Are you sure about that?" I chuckle. "I know how much you care about her, Vincent. It's alright to admit you are furious with what's happened. " He gazes down to meet my eyes and says, "I want to fucking kill him. " And I know he does. The love Vincent has for his sister is immeasurable. You can see it in his eyes, feel it in the

SINCLAIR.   "Huh, I feel so lightheaded." She grumbles as I wrap my arms around her waist and nudge her head against my shoulder. She smells fucking divine and all I want to do is bury my face in her neck, for a sniff of the feminine smell I have been dying for, but I know I can't. I can't do that to her. I can't do that to me. I can't do that to us.    Peeping behind me, her friend is nowhere in sight and I snatch her hand before dragging her down the hallway.    "Do I know you? Where are you taking me?" She questions in that drunk voice of hers and when I look back at her; her eyes are half-opened. I try not to dwell in the fact that I want to push her into one of these rooms and take those tempting lips in mine— like I have been dying to do for months. I want to brush that fucking short dress of hers against her waist and leave those fresh thighs bare to my gaze. I want to thrust my hand against her pussy to