When Sinners Dare

When Sinners DareCharlotte E Hart Rachel De Lune Contents Title PageWhen Sinners DareAbout Hart De LuneDedicationCHAPTER ONECHAPTER TWOCHAPTER THREECHAPTER FOURCHAPTER FIVECHAPTER SIXCHAPTER SEVENCHAPTER EIGHTCHAPTER NINECHAPTER TENCHAPTER ELEVENCHAPTER TWELVECHAPTER THIRTEENCHAPTER FOURTEENCHAPTER FIFTEENCHAPTER SIXTEENCHAPTER SEVENTEENCHAPTER EIGHTEENCHAPTER NINETEENCHAPTER TWENTYCHAPTER TWENTY - ONECHAPTER TWENTY - TWOCHAPTER TWENTY - THREECHAPTER TWENTY - FOURCHAPTER TWENTY - FIVECHAPTER TWENTY - SIXCHAPTER TWENTY - SEVENCHAPTER TWENTY - EIGHTCHAPTER TWENTY - NINECHAPTER THIRTYCHAPTER THIRTY - ONECHAPTER THIRTY - TWOEPILOGUEThe EndHOUSE OF SKIN – BOOK FOUROTHER HART DE LUNE BOOKSCHARLOTTE E HART BOOKSAlso By Rachel De LuneAbout Rachel De Lune When Sinners DareHouse of Skin – Book Three ByCharlotte E Hart and Rachel De LuneHART DE LUNE HOUSE OF SKIN – BOOK THREECopyright © 2023 Charlotte E Hart and Rachel De LunePublished by Rachel De Lune, United KingdomNo parts of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. Under no circumstances may any part of this book be photocopied for resale.This is a work of fiction. Any similarity between the characters and situations within its pages and places or persons, living or dead, is unintentional and co-incidental.Proofreading by Roxanne LeblancImage Copyright © 2023 About Hart De LuneCharlotte E Hart writes Dark romantic suspense novels, which are strictly for the over 18’s.She’s a lover of all things dark and slightly disturbing. Rachel De Lune writes emotionally driven contemporary romance.She’s a lover of books, chocolate and gin. DedicationThis book dedication goes out to those who struggle to be heard in their own right. In a man’s world, it’s a constant battle for acceptance, and sometimes you need to shout louder than ever before. CHAPTER ONEMARIANAWhat the hell just happened? I remain standing and watch as Abel drives off with Mother in the car. We all do. Stunned and silent – a first for the Cortez family. I look over to Lexi as she smiles and stays where she stands, looking over everything that was once my mother’s. Does that make her a rival or an ally? She’s certainly changed my brother. Although, for the better or not remains to be seen. Today, yes, for the better. Tomorrow, maybe not. But at least I have an ally against Mother. Melena Cortez has another female to shower with disappointment. I glance over to my brothers. Shaw looks uneasy – of course he does. But it’s Knox that worries me. He’s never been like this. “Everyone okay?” I try.Dante looks up at me and I can see the damage Abel inflicted. Wren walks over to him with a drink in one hand and a bag of ice in the other. I didn’t even realise she'd gone inside. Dante takes the glass and knocks it back before shoving the ice over his eye. “Knox?” I ask again. “We’re fucking peachy,” Shaw answers, attitude firing. “You, I’m not that concerned with.” My eyes flick to Knox and Dante.“Not now, Bella,” Dante warns. “Seriously? Why the fuck not? And Knox, do you need to see a doctor?” He’s been holding his ribs pretty tight. “No.” His answer is clipped and full of anger. “A couple of broken ribs. I’ve suffered worse.” “Dante?” I check, feeling a little helpless. “We’re good. Don’t push this.” He levels me with a glare that speaks volumes. Heeding his warning, I look around. Lexi’s vanished, as has Shaw, and I can’t help but feel shut off from the family. Clearly, something’s going on. Abel and Knox have never had a physical altercation, not to my knowledge, and we’re still just sitting around, waiting for news about what really happened with Elias. Nothing’s been done since they came back from England. None of them are the same, and now things are beginning to crack. “Knox, you can crash here. Might be easier than driving.” “What’s it been, like, ten minutes, and you’re already giving me permission to stay as if it’s your house? Nice.”“I’m not fighting with you. Stay if you want. Or go. What do I care.” I storm back inside and slam the door behind me. Sometimes being the baby of all those brothers is the best thing in the world. They are fierce and loyal and dangerously protective. But other times, it can be isolating and lonely. Like now. I walk through the house, listening. It’s incredible how Mother’s house staff are precisely where they need to be but nowhere to be seen at the same time. And despite my residence being in the same location, they are very much, Mother’s staff. Being here feels different knowing Mother won’t ambush me around the next corner – threaten me, or just take the opportunity to complain about how I’ve let her down this time. I used to believe that a mother only wants the best for her children – a better life for them – but living with Melena Cortez has made me wonder if that can be true. Abel’s the only one who knows every part of her history, but I do know that she had a grim life up to a point. She was a whore, and some might say she still is. She certainly did questionable things, but no matter what, she did it to strengthen and grow this family. Family is, or was, everything to her. Even in her manipulative and controlling way, the underlying building block or focus is family. And she makes sure I know that. She tells me about how tough she had it every chance she gets – tells me how grateful I should be for what she suffered