A Sinner’s Saint (De Bellis Crime Family #4)

Chapter 14

Chapter Fourteen

I t’s almost spring break, our last lot of school holidays before we’re done with high school. I got a letter yesterday afternoon with my early acceptance into the University of Sydney. Over the past few weeks, I haven’t thought much about uni. I’ve been so caught up in Vin and spending as much time as possible with him that everything else has taken a back seat.

Getting that envelope yesterday was like having a cold bucket of water tipped over my head. My parents were thrilled, of course they were, and I did my best to fake my excitement. When Vin snuck into my bedroom last night, I didn’t tell him about the acceptance letter.

We haven’t really talked about next year. I have no idea what his plans are for university. I know his brother goes to Melbourne Uni. I assume Vin will go there too. I had my heart set on moving to Sydney, attending university there. They have a great architecture program. I’ve been planning to study architecture for as long as I can remember. I can’t see myself leaving Vin, which I know is stupid. I can’t make life-altering decisions based around a guy.

I shouldn’t…

It’s not too late, though. I could apply to Melbourne. I could stay here. I wouldn’t have to leave Vin. I would still graduate with the degree I want. Sometimes I wish I could press fast-forward on this part of my life, get to the part where I’m done with school, where I’m an adult, living with a husband who I’m madly in love with. We’d have a puppy. I want to start that part of my life.

All of this lead-up to getting there seems pointless at times, especially when I already know the future I want. Who I want that future to be with. I need to talk to Vin about this. I feel like we should make this decision together. What if he’s not even planning on going to university? He could come to Sydney with me.

“There you are. I’ve been looking everywhere for you.” Vin appears at my locker right as I close it.

“You just left my side five minutes ago.” I laugh.

“Five minutes too long, if you ask me.” He smirks.

“What are your thoughts on ditching school today?”

“Are you feeling okay? What’s wrong?” He scans my body, not once but twice, looking for only God knows what.

“I’m just not feeling it today. That’s all. But it’s fine. Let’s go to class.” I hoist my bag up onto my shoulder.

Vin reaches out and takes it. “I know where we can go. Come on, let’s be rebellious.”

I offer him my palm. “Vin, hold my hand,” I tell him, and he does. “Now get me out of this place, please.”

Once we’re enclosed in his car, Vin’s fingers tap the steering wheel. I have no idea where he’s taking me. And, honestly, I don’t think I care. I just needed to get away. My mind is whirling with how to bring up the acceptance letter.

“Okay, spit it out.” Vin says.

“Spit what out?”

“Whatever it is that’s dimming your smile. What’s on your mind, Cammi?” he asks.

“I, uh… I got an acceptance letter for university.” I turn and look at his profile, watching his reaction.

“Babe, that’s great. Usually people are happy when they get those letters. Why aren’t you happy?”

“It’s for the University of Sydney,” I explain.

“Sydney?”

“Uh-huh. I applied before I met you. They have a really great program there.”

“You’re moving to Sydney?” he questions.

“I don’t know.” I sink down into my seat. “It was always my plan before…”

“Before what?”

“Before you.”

“Cammi, you’re not changing your life plans for me. If Sydney is your dream, then do it,” he says. “I won’t be the reason you’re not living out your dreams.”

“I won’t be living any kind of dream if you’re not part of it, Vin.” I sigh.

“We still have time to figure out the logistics,” he says. It’s not what I wanted to hear. I want him to tell me that he can’t bear the thought of living without me. I want him to tell me not to go.

When Vin stops the car, I look up and see we’re at the beach. I haven’t been here for ages. I love the beach. The sand? Not so much. But I love everything else about the ocean. The sound of the waves crashing. The smell of the sea air. The cool breeze…

Vin steps out of the car and walks around to the passenger side, opening my door. I jump and inhale the salty air. “I haven’t been here in so long.”

“Let’s go for a walk.” Vin picks up my hand without me having to ask him. We both look down at our joined palms, and then I take a step towards the beach. Vin follows.

It’s a huge moment. We both know it. I just don’t think I want to make a big deal out of it. I want him to be comfortable touching me whenever he wants to touch me. Without needing my permission.

We silently walk along the sandbank, stopping just before the water’s edge. Vin sits on the ground, pulling me down with him. Hand in hand, we sit and stare out over the ocean. “I want to be selfish and tell you not to go. I want to tell you that I need you. That I can’t possibly fathom going back to a life without you,” Vin whispers.

“Then tell me,” I say. “Tell me that, and I’ll stay.”

“I can’t.” He shakes his head. “I can’t be selfish with you.”

“Then come with me. Come to Sydney.” I’m practically begging him.

“You want me to come with you?”

“I want to be with you. I don’t care where it is, Vin,” I admit.

“Okay,” he says.

“Okay? You’ll come? Or… okay, you’ll think about it?” I really need him to clarify this.

“I’ll come with you.” He smiles. “You know I would have followed you anyway.”

“You would?”

“There’s nothing that could possibly keep me away from you, Cammi.” Vin’s face drops closer to mine.

“Kiss me,” I tell him. “I want you to kiss me like the world is burning around us, and we only have minutes left to live.” I smile up at him.

“Just so you know, I’d find a way to save you even from a burning world,” Vin says before his lips press against mine. His tongue pushes past the seam of my mouth, twirling around.

I rise to my knees as I straddle Vin’s lap. “I love you,” I tell him, barely pulling away to speak.

“I love you. So damn much,” he says as his fingers brush through my hair. “My little Saint Cammi. I will worship at your altar every day for as long as you want me, whether that be here in Melbourne, Sydney, or fucking Timbuctoo.”

“I have no plans of going to Timbuctoo, but I will follow you there if you ever go.”

Vin’s phone vibrates in his pocket, pulling us out of our bubble. Shuffling off his legs, I plop onto the sand as he pulls the device out of his pocket. “It’s my brother,” he says, tapping on the screen.

“Marcel, what’s up?”

“Santo’s missing.” I hear his brother’s words come out of the speaker of the phone.

“Whoa, slow down. What do you mean he’s missing ?” Vin asks.

“As in, no one can fucking find him, Vin!”

“Okay, I’m coming home.” Vin pushes to his feet and holds out a hand to me. I place my palm on his and let him pull me up. He drops my hand as soon as I’m standing. “There’s no point. He’s not there,” he says into the phone. “Look around the city. And call me if you find him.” Vin shoves the device into his pocket before turning to me. “I can drop you back at school.”

“Or I could come along with you? Help you look?” I suggest. I have no idea how I’d help with anything. I just want to be with him in case he needs me.

“Okay, I think I know where he might be,” Vin says.

We end up parked next to a cemetery. I can tell Vin is worried about his brother. He’s told me a few things about Santo and how the guy’s struggling with his grief. I have no idea what the right thing to say is, though.

“Just wait here. I won’t be long. I’m going to check Shelli’s grave and see if he’s there,” Vin tells me.

“Are you sure? I don’t mind coming with you?” I offer.

“I’m sure. I’ll be back.” He gets out of the car and jogs off.

After five minutes passes with no sign of Vin or his brother, I climb out and go looking for them. It doesn’t take long to find them, and as soon as I do, I wish I hadn’t. I’ve never seen a more disturbing sight in my life.

Vin is sitting next to his brother, their legs dangling in front of them. But that’s not the disturbing part. The disturbing part is the giant hole in the ground. The open casket. And the corpse staring back at me from inside it.