Isle of Sin: A Standalone Dark Romance

Marriage.

Family merger.

Hotel chain.

Sin Cave membership.

The truth about Nate’s murder.

Videos.

All the words spun in my mind in a revolving circle of insanity. Why hadn’t Asher mentioned that he’d asked for me to marry him? Was that his version of keeping me?

I wasn’t exactly disappointed or angry, just… shocked.

He wants to marry me?

And he intended to allow Sin Cave to use his island? Hadn’t that been something he was adamantly against? He’d claimed to have killed Nathan for that very reason. And now he planned to allow the organization access to certain villas?

For training?

It all seemed so contradictory to the man I knew.

There was something else at play here.

I kept puzzling through every statement, trying to sort out the details in my mind as the call ended.

And I still couldn’t believe no one had reacted to the fact that I’d killed Nathan Spencer.

Was that punishment still coming? Would Julian handle it himself?

Or… or were they just going to let Asher punish me?

I don’t understand how any of this is possible, I thought. How… how did this happen?

Had Asher truly saved me? Was this finally over?

No. He still needs to negotiate the hotel with my father.

But it sounded like everything else was done. Which… which left me breathless with anticipation. And riddled with confusion.

I vaguely heard Asher commenting about someone driving Taylor to the airport to await a pickup. I also heard him say something to my father about Oscar driving him and my mother to their villa. “I’ll be by later to discuss those details,” he added at the end.

“I look forward to it, Asher,” my father replied, sounding more pleased than I’d ever heard him.

Because he wants to go into business with Asher.

Is that what Asher wants?

Was that his plan all along?

No. He wouldn’t do that. He wanted nothing to do with Sin Cave, right?

And he lied about Nate’s murder, saying something about a video. But there wasn’t a video. He’s also never strangled me.

The thoughts continued to spiral, making me dizzy. I started to sway, only to find a palm against my cheek as Asher knelt before me. “Adalyn, sweetheart, are you all right?” he asked, his intense eyes finding mine in the dark.

I blinked. Dark. When did it become that way?

My vision seemed blackened at the edges.

“Breathe for me, darling,” he whispered. “Inhale, Adalyn.”

I did, my chest rising with the motion and helping some of my vision to clear.

“Good girl,” he murmured. “Again.”

I obeyed because it felt right. Safe. Easy. Comforting. I liked listening to him and following his commands. It helped me feel a little lighter and less chaotic.

My mind slowly returned to normal, the loudness of my thoughts settling beneath a cloud of calm.

Asher drew his thumb along my jaw, praising me without words. His lips brushed my forehead as he pulled me up from the ground. Then he wrapped his jacket around me and helped me into a chair before handing me a bottle of water.

“A panic attack,” he told me.

I blinked at him. “Hmm?”

“You started to have a panic attack. Why didn’t you use your safeword?”

I stared blankly at him. “Panic attack?”

“I don’t think she realized it was happening,” a deep voice said. Julian. I couldn’t see him, but I felt him hovering nearby.

Asher squatted before me again, ignoring him. “Drink your water.”

I unscrewed the cap and took several sips.

“What were you thinking about?” he asked me softly. “What set you down that path? Was it someone you heard on the phone? Something that was said?”

I swallowed another gulp of water while I considered his questions. “You told them your price for membership was marriage?”

He frowned. “The idea of marrying me gave you a panic attack?”

What? “No. I just… I was thinking about your price. And the merger. And… questioning things.”

“Questioning me,” he rephrased. “And my intentions with you.” His gaze went to the side to where I assumed Julian was standing outside of my view. “Because you told everyone I wanted to marry her.”

“You said you wanted to keep her. That’s the same thing in our world, Sinner.” Julian moved to stand in my line of sight behind Asher. “And I do believe you want to marry her. I mean, you’re on your knees for her right now. What’s the difference?”

He wasn’t technically on his knees; he was squatting. However, I didn’t comment because I was too busy processing their conversation.

So Asher hadn’t said he wanted to marry me, just keep me. Which was what we’d agreed on in the beginning. Yet Julian had twisted it into a weird sort of proposal. “And your island?” I asked. “Are you really okay with Sin Cave being here?”

Asher again looked at Julian, this time standing to face him. “That depends on our mutually defined parameters.”

Julian smirked. “Consent will be one of them, as I hear you value that here. That’s why I’ll be making the final approvals. I know who is consenting and who is not.”

Asher took a step back to stand beside my chair, his hand going to the back of my neck. His thumb brushed my pulse as he asked Julian, “And I’m supposed to trust your word on that?”

“After everything I’ve done for you today? Abso-fucking-lutely. Because we both know damn well there was no video of you strangling Adalyn Rose. You covered up the murder because you wanted to save her from this hell.”

Asher’s eyes widened.

“Don’t even try to deny it, Sinner. Reading people is what I do. The only reason I didn’t call you out on it is because I know you lied for a noble cause. But if you ever fucking lie to me again, I will end you faster than you can blink.” He arched a dark brow. “Tell me you understand.”

I shivered, his dominance a whip in the air that curled around my senses and froze the blood in my veins.

Asher was a Dom.

But Julian? Julian existed on another level entirely.

“Everything I’ve done is to protect her,” Asher replied. “And if that requires lying again, I would do it in a heartbeat. But it’ll always be for her and no one else.”

Julian considered him for a beat. “Then I return to my earlier statement regarding marriage—take the vows and you can lie for a good cause. One I would understand.” Julian’s tone held a dangerous note to it.

“Noted,” Asher replied.

“Next time Adalyn kills someone, be honest with me. I think you’ll find I’m more understanding on that sort of thing than anyone else you’ll ever meet,” he said.

“There won’t be a next time unless someone touches her without approval,” Asher replied. “Which reminds me, anyone who has ever touched her previously will not be permitted on my island.”

Julian nodded. “I fully expected that requirement already. Consider it memorized and guaranteed.”

“Good.” Asher studied him for a long moment and sighed. “I’m grateful for your help today, Julian. But I won’t apologize for covering up the murder.”

“I know. As I said, you did it for the right reason. And in your situation, I would have done the same. However, I meant what I said about honesty. The organization takes it seriously. Which is why I suspect Taylor Huntington is about to earn his due soon because we both know he was aware of that drive.”

“Clive tried to find evidence of sharing on the drive, but he said it was locked down tight,” Asher replied. “However, I’m wondering if Taylor set up that folder initially. He wouldn’t need an additional login if he already had access to the original.”

Julian nodded. “I’ll have Fox pursue it. We’ll find out if anyone else has seen those videos.”

“Clive can help as needed. And as a show of good faith, I’ll tell you that he’s more aware of things than I’ve let on.”

“Yes, I know,” Julian replied. “And don’t worry. You’re permitted a few insiders, just like Bryant was closer to me than most.”

“Good to know. I would like to keep Clive healthy and alive.”

“We don’t kill people for learning our secrets, Asher. We leave that work to our wives.” He glanced down at me as he said it, his lips curling. “I look forward to the wedding. Perhaps my Bria can give your Adalyn some tips for the wedding night.”

“The only one providing instruction will be me,” Asher said, his touch tightening just a bit around my nape.

“I would never dream of intruding,” Julian replied, lifting his palms into the air in a gesture of innocence. “However, I would be honored to stand in as your best man at the wedding.”

Asher grunted, but his thumb continued to gently stroke my neck. “Bryant and Clive are going to have some things to say about that. My brothers, too.”

Julian shrugged. “Fine. Bryant, Clive, and Kane can be your groomsmen. But poor Adalyn won’t have any bridesmaids, as I doubt we can fly Jenica here in time for the wedding.” He looked at me. “I also don’t recommend introducing her to your parents.”

My lips parted. “You know about Jenica?” And wait, had he just said Kane?

Asher must have caught that part as well because his thumb stilled against my pulse point. “How do you know my brother is on the island?”

Julian just gave him a look. “Please. You’re not the only one with resources, Asher. And before you go questioning Bryant, I’ll save you the trouble and tell you he had nothing to do with it. He’s loyal to you, which is the primary reason I’m even here. If you’ve won him over, then you must be a good guy. And I could use more of those in my court.”

“And you typically recruit friends by spying on them?” Asher countered.

“In my line of work, it’s impossible to trust people. So yes, that is typically how I determine my allies.”

Asher considered him for a long moment before conceding with a slight dip of his chin, the circular motions of his thumb resuming once more against my neck. “All right. I can respect that.”

“Good.” He held out his hand for Asher’s. “Then I suspect you and I will be good allies going forward.”

Asher accepted the gesture. “Then I guess you’re going to be my best man.”

Julian grinned. “If you need me to help with Albert in any way, let me know. But I think you can handle him from here.”

Asher released his hand. “Was the hotel merger your idea or Mitchell’s?”

“Mitchell’s,” Julian confirmed. “I think he feels quite bad for what he did to your Adalyn. However, I suspect nothing he does will ever be enough to earn your forgiveness.”

“You suspect correctly.”

He nodded. “Then you understand how I feel about Taylor Huntington.”

Asher arched a brow. “Is that the real reason you helped us today?”

“Let’s just say I’m not disappointed in the outcome,” he murmured.

“Good to know,” Asher replied. “Regardless of your reasoning, I appreciate you helping us today. I’m glad Bryant called you. And I’m glad I listened to his advice about trusting you.”

Julian grunted. “Bryant is full of shit. You shouldn’t trust him.”

“And fuck you, too,” Bryant retorted from the doorway. “See if I ever take another bullet for you again.”

Julian didn’t react to his arrival, suggesting he’d somehow sensed his presence there when he’d voiced his insult. Perhaps he’d seen him out of the corner of his eye. “You didn’t take it for me,” he replied. “You took it for her.”

“Which is why I phrased it that way—for you? Never again. For Bria? Always.”

Julian grinned and finally faced him. “I assume she’s back at my villa?”

“She is. Pretty sure she’s stashed a knife in every room, too.”

Julian’s lips curled upward. “Good.” He looked at Asher. “I imagine the two of you need a moment. Maybe you can propose properly? I hear women like that sort of thing. Of course, I wouldn’t know, so perhaps I’m not the best one to offer that advice.”

“I would love to see you propose to Bria,” Bryant mused. “She’d probably stab you.”

Julian’s gaze took on a dreamy, faraway state. “Maybe.” Then he glanced down at me, his dark orbs radiating an intensity that instantly left me breathless. “I’m sorry, Adalyn.”

Asher tensed beside me.

I blinked. “For what, Sir?”

“You may call me Julian,” he told me softly. “And my apology extends to everything. For what it’s worth, I think Asher is a much better match than Taylor.”

I couldn’t argue with him there. “I’m very happy to stay here.”

Julian smiled. “Yes. I can see that.” He returned his focus to Asher. “Can you plan a wedding in seven days?”

“Assuming all goes to plan with Albert, then yes.”

“Excellent. Then I’ll go let my Bria know we’re staying for an impromptu vacation.”

“You mean that wasn’t in the cards originally?” Bryant asked. “Because you brought enough bags for a month.”

“You can never be too prepared,” Julian drawled, causing Asher to stare at him curiously.

Julian studied him back, the two men engaging in a weird sort of staring contest.

“You’re nothing like I expected,” Asher finally admitted.

Same, I thought.

“That’s only because we share a friend.” Julian’s attention shifted to the friend in question. “You’ll tell him what I do to those who share my business, yes?”

“Yep,” Bryant confirmed.

“Brilliant.” Julian started toward the door, only to pause and glance back at Asher. “Let’s have dinner tomorrow. I think Adalyn would like my Bria.”

With that, he disappeared out the door, leaving me alone with Asher.

I finished my water and set the empty bottle on the table while Asher watched. Then I pushed up off the chair to balance on my heels. They were the standard stilettos I usually wore in situations involving the men of Sin Cave, but despite the added height, he still had several inches on me.

“You’re giving up a lot for me,” I told him. “You’re allowing Sin Cave access to your island. You’re tying yourself to me and to my family. You’re literally marrying into the organization. And my father is going to want to profit from all of this. Are you sure this is what you want?”

“No,” he answered, making me flinch. But then he grasped my cheeks and pulled me closer to him. “However, I’m sure you are what I want. Everything else… it’s just details, Adalyn. If marrying you is what gives us the freedom to be together, then it’s worth it. And as for your father, I have some ideas there that may benefit both of us.”

“Ideas?” I repeated.

He nodded. “Perhaps that new branch of Rose Royale could be managed by us, meaning you and me. Would you like that?”

I gaped at him. “You’d like me to work for you?”

“No, darling. I would ask you to work with me. As a partner.”

“What? Why?”

“Because that’s what healthy couples do, Adalyn.” He pressed his lips to mine. “And I want to be healthy. I want to make you happy. I want to live this journey with you and enjoy every moment. So if expanding and managing more isles suits your interests, then it suits mine.”

“My father will never allow it,” I whispered.

“Your father won’t have a choice,” he countered. “You told me his agreement with the Huntingtons was for Taylor to take over as CEO. Well, if I strike a similar deal, then it’ll be my company to manage. Or at least the branch we create will be mine to own, as I won’t allow your father any say in those operations.”

“They chose Taylor because they could manage him,” I told him.

“Yes, and Sin Cave chose me… because they can’t manage me,” Asher returned. “Your father and I will come to terms, I’ll add financial incentive to his empire, and in return, he’ll give us freedom to exist.” His forehead met mine. “I’ll be the one managing your father in this situation, not the other way around.”

I would warn him not to underestimate my father, but I suspected he already knew.

And it would be my father who would underestimate Asher.

“Then we’ll marry,” I whispered.

“Are you all right with that?” Asher asked, pulling back to study my expression. “It can be in name only, if you want it to be. I’ll never take away your freedom, Adalyn. I’ve told you that it’s your choice to decide who touches you.”

I believed him. If I asked for a name-only marriage, he’d do it, then give me the freedom to choose.

But I didn’t want a name-only marriage.

Because I’d already chosen who I desired. I already knew who I wanted to touch me every day for the rest of my life.

Asher Sinner.

My Sir.

“I choose you,” I promised him. “I choose this. I choose us.”

“Are you sure?” he asked. “Because I would understand if you need time—”

I leaned up on my toes to kiss him, tired of talking. Tired of today. Tired of the meetings and the planning and everything else.

I just… I just wanted to exist. To be with him. To chase away everything else.

“Take me back to your villa, Sir,” I said against his mouth. “I need you to remind me that I’m yours.”

And I needed to show him that I meant this, that I wanted to be his.

“Please, Sir,” I whispered. “Please let me choose us.”