Free Reckless Karma (Sinners & Saints #2) by Chelsea Ballinger Page A

geeks.”
                “Not
knowing that it is all an act for her benefit and mine.”
                “She
will be begging you to fuck her.”
                “She
texted me yesterday. To say hi. I asked her for a study session.”
                “Where?”
                “I
said here, but of course the smart girl insisted on the library.”
                “Too
bad.”
                “But…
I decided to even the playing field and said Central Park. I’m gonna surprise
her with a picnic.”
                “Wow,”
her grey eyes widen, “you really are going to great lengths.”
                “Ugh,
I know. What I do for the woman I truly adore.”
                She
kisses me again before I get out of her bed and throw on my black robe.
                “Don’t
want to sleep here for the night?” she asks.
                “No.
If I do, when Chad sneaks in he will try to spoon with me or worse.” I let Chad
go down on me a year ago when I was high and drunk. He enjoyed it and ever
since then I find him watching me the same way he watches everyone else he
finds attractive—men and women, even though he won’t admit it.
                “He’s
obsessed with you,” she laughs.
                “He’s
obsessed with you more.”
                “All
my boys are.”
                I
laugh and head out, opening her door.
                “Gabriel.”
                I
look back at her.
                “You’re
my favorite boy though.” She says it the sincerest possible way Scarlett could
ever say it.
                “I
know, baby.”
                I
leave out and head upstairs to where my room is, but not before slipping into
the room across the hall. I walk in and of course August is drawing a maze in
his sketchbook on the floor. Fourteen years old and can probably draw the best
and most intricate mazes anyone has ever seen. I walk over to his bed and lay
on it and watch.
                “I
just lied to Scarlett. For the first time.”
                He
doesn’t answer. He usually doesn’t. I don’t blame him. I ignored him first.
Hugo was always better with him than me. They’re twins. Identical in every way
but their souls. August was born limited but never broken, while Hugo was made
to be that way and will continue to be probably. It’s not like I can help him.
I’m as fucked up as he is.
                “I
asked Karlie Dale to have a picnic. I didn’t coerce her into it. I did it
because I wanted to. I don’t know when it happened, but I like her. I hate her
too. It scares me. As easily as I want to ruin her… I want to take care of her.
She’s so pure of light. It shines like fucking diamonds. Two months and all it
takes is text messages and glances and smiles to bring me to my knees in
confusion and peril. She makes me sick… literally. My heart beats fast around her
and I have to stop myself from tearing it out. I imagine bad things happening
to her… and I imagine me weeping for her if bad things did happen to her. I
can’t let Scarlett know. If she found out… she would…”
                “Destroy
her,” August sounds out. “Destroy her.”
                “Yes.
She will and you know the worst thing about the fear for me… is that I will be
the one to help her do it.”
                August
finally puts down his pencil and turns his head towards my way, scratching the
back of his head and smirking. “I- I like it when you tell me stuff, Gabriel.”
                I
smile. “I do too, little brother.”
                “I
won’t tell them.” He shakes his head. “I won’t tell the monsters.”
                “I
know you won’t. I know you won’t let this monster