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

Chapter 38

Chapter Thirty-Eight

I look over my shoulder. He’s not there. I kind of expected him to just appear when I parted ways with Elena. I’ve been hanging outside my next lecture for the last ten minutes.

I don’t know where he went, but I can’t stand around and wait for him any longer. So I turn and push through the door. As I sit down, my phone, which is already in my hand, vibrates and a message from Vin pops up on the screen. A body falls into the seat next to me, but I don’t pay it any mind as I read the text.

Vin:

Something came up. Running an errand for G. Call me if you need anything. I’ll catch up with you later.

He’s running an errand for his brother. He didn’t show up because he needed to do something, not because he didn’t want to. I breathe out a sigh of relief. But as quick as that relief comes, it’s gone.

What is he doing? Is he safe?

“You know, if you keep frowning like that, you’re going to get wrinkles. Not that it’ll matter. I’m sure Vin will be just as obsessed as always.” The voice grabs my attention. Dash.

“What are you doing here?” I question him. “Wait… Am I in the wrong place?”

I’m ready to jump up and find my actual lecture when he responds with, “You’re in the right room, Cammi. Relax. I’m here under strict orders to keep you alive and calm.”

“Whose orders?” I ask stupidly, like there would be anyone other than Vin asking Dash to babysit me. “I don’t need a babysitter.”

“Don’t kill the messenger, babe.” Dash holds up his hands in surrender. “I’m just looking out for my mate’s interests. Which happens to be you.”

“You’re really just going to follow me around until Vin is finished doing whatever it is he’s doing?”

“It’s what friends do,” Dash says.

“Okay, then.” I pull out my laptop. I need to focus this year. I barely scraped by with passes last year, and I really want to improve my GPA.

Dash, thankfully, is quiet throughout the entire lecture. And as promised, when I pack up and walk out, he’s right by my side.

“You know I’ll be fine. You really don’t need to follow me,” I tell him.

“You should give yourself more credit, Cammi. You’re a hoot to be around. Best company I’ve had in years.” Dash laughs.

“Thanks.” I roll my eyes at him.

“Cammi? Hey, how are you? I heard you had a… um… incident yesterday.” Scarlett stops in front of me.

“Oh, hey. I’m fine. It was a blip. Everyone overreacted,” I tell her.

“Is this the ex?” she asks, looking at Dash.

“Ew, god no,” I spit out and then cover my mouth. “No offense,” I tell Dash before returning my attention to Scarlett. “This is Dash, a friend of the ex—though I guess he’s kind of the not-so-ex again.”

“Oh, that’s great,” Scarlett says. “Well, I have to get going, but let’s catch up again tomorrow.”

“Sounds great. I’d love that,” I tell her.

When Scarlett’s out of earshot, Dash turns and walks backwards, watching her go. “Who is that? She single?”

“That’s my new friend Scarlett, and I actually have no idea.” I realise we spent the whole time yesterday talking about me. I’m officially a shitty person. I didn’t ask a single thing about her. “How have you been this past year, Dash? Anything new going on in your life?”

“Do you want the honest answer or the version that doesn’t make people uncomfortable?” he replies.

“The truth,” I tell him.

“My mum passed away. My dad’s drinking too much, and my little sister is determined to send me into in an early grave by way of heart attack,” he says. “Shit… Sorry, bad choice of words. Make that a stroke.” Dash waves a hand around. “Add onto that, the whole watching my best friend fall apart because he was a fucking idiot thing.”

“I’m sorry about your mum,” I tell him. “I didn’t know.”

“No one does,” Dash says.

“What do you mean no one knows?”

“I didn’t tell anyone. Marcus has had his own shit going on and Vin, well, he’s been through a lot.” Dash looks away as he says this. “So, where to next, princess?”

“Dash, that’s horrible. And you’re right. Vin was a fucking idiot.” I smile.

“Anyone who walks away from you is a fucking idiot.” Dash winks. “Now, back to this new friend of yours. Scarlett? When are we seeing her again?”

“ I’ll be seeing her tomorrow. Want me to find out her relationship status?”

“Please do.” Dash nods.

“Okay, I need to go home. So, I guess I’ll just see you later? I’m sure you have a lot of other things you need to be doing.”

“Actually, I’m free. Let’s go.” Dash wraps an arm around my shoulders and starts leading us towards the car park.

“Okay, then. But don’t say I didn’t warn you. My mum will be home and she’s… sad,” I tell him.

“Sad? Why?”

“My dad cheated on her, left her, and now they’re divorcing.” I check my phone but there are still no messages from Vin.

“He’ll be fine, you know,” Dash says.

“I know,” I lie.

When Dash pulls into my driveway thirty-five minutes later, I send up a little prayer that my mother isn’t on the sofa crying and eating a pint of Ben & Jerry’s. She’s getting better. I only find her like that maybe once a week now.

Unlocking the front door, Dash is right behind me. “Mum, I’m home.” I call out. “I’m not alone, so I really hope you’re decent.”

“I don’t.” Dash chuckles, and then moans when my elbow connects with his stomach. “Argh, fuck.”

“That’s my mum, dude. Just… no .” I set my bag down before leading Dash through to the kitchen, where I can hear my mum banging around. “Hey, what’s going on?” I ask, finding the counters covered in everything that used to fill the cabinets.

“Oh, shit, I didn’t hear you come in, sweetie.” Mum blows at the loose hair covering her face.

“Ah, yeah. This is my friend. Dash.” I point to Dash, who is now privy to the insanity of my mother.

“Oh, finally. I can’t believe you’re bringing a boy home, Camile, and he’s so handsome. Hi, I’m Katrina, Cammi’s mum. You’ll have to excuse the mess. Spring cleaning and all,” Mum says.

“Mum, it’s summer,” I remind her.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs Taylor. Although I would have picked you for Cammi’s sister, not her mother.” Dash holds out a hand, charm wafting off him in waves.

“Oh, I like you.” Mum smiles. “So, what are you two kids up to anyway?”

“Oh, no, Dash is a friend, Mum. A platonic friend,” I emphasise.

“I’ve heard friends make the best lovers. They’re always generous.” Mum winks at me.

“Gross, Mum.” I turn to Dash. “I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be. She’s not wrong,” he says. “Although I like to keep my heart in my chest, so platonic is all we’re ever going to be. Sorry, princess.”

“I’m ordering pizza, Dash. You’re staying for dinner?”

“I’d love to. Thanks, Mrs Taylor.”

“It’s Katrina,” Mum corrects him.

“I’m going to go shower quickly. Mum, don’t embarrass me,” I plead before turning back to Dash. “And I warned you. So, well, you’re on your own.”

As the sky got darker, so did my mood. Dash refused to leave and he’s currently sitting on my bed, while I’m curled up on the sofa, pretending to read a book. I can’t focus on the pages. All I can think is…

It’s happening again. He’s not coming back.

I was a fool to think everything would be okay this time around. This is why I kept my heart guarded. It’s going to hurt, but not as much. I hope.

I was the idiot, fool me once and all that. I wanted it so badly I jumped in head-first and hoped for the best. That’s the thing with hope. It doesn’t always work out. Times like this, I wish I was the saint Vin claims me to be. If I were, I’d perform miracles and make Vin mine. Really mine. I’d make his nightmares disappear, and I’d make sure we got the happy ending to our story.

“Cammi, you’re thinking so loud I can hear you all the way over here,” Dash says.

“I’m reading,” I tell him.

“Some talent you have there, reading upside down and all.” He laughs.

I look down at the book I’m holding and quickly turn it the other way. “Don’t be jealous, Dash. We all have talents.”

“You know he’s going to show up,” Dash says.

“I know.” The lie slips from my lips.

“Do you?”

“I want to,” I admit.

“But you’re worried.” Dash nods. “Understandable. But trust me when I tell you that boy loves you, Cammi. More than loves you. He’s downright obsessed.”

“I know he loves me. It’s not that, that I’m worried about,” I tell Dash.

“What are you worried about then?”

Before I can answer his question, my bedroom window opens. Dash is about to get up off the bed when a foot pops through, and he relaxes back against the headboard with a smirk.

“Told you,” he says to me.