Sin and Redemption

by Cora Reilly

She was a natural beauty with light brown doe eyes and beautiful caramel hair.

“We’ll have to take a detour because of a major accident, and your father’s meeting

was outside Manhattan,” Maximus explained. I simply nodded and closed my eyes.

“This is what’s going to happen, Maximus. You are going to fuck the pretty doll. I bet you’ve been secretly lusting after a high-ranking pussy like hers. With your fucked-up family history, a cunt like hers is out of reach, right?”

“You’re looking out for your child, Romero, and I’m looking out for mine. Maximus was a victim in this too.”

“I want to take responsibility and help you raise the child. I realize it’s not something you’ll want, but we could marry to give the baby a family.”

“I realize I’m not the son-in-law you wanted, but I’ll do everything I can to be a good husband for Sara.”

“There was a point in my life when I thought nothing good would ever happen. Then I was given your mother. Fuck. I didn’t deserve her. I probably still don’t, but I knew she was my only shot at happiness. It wasn’t easy. The circumstances were shitty, and your mom probably shouldn’t have forgiven me, but she did, and I count my blessings every day.”

“I birthed and raised you. I held you when you cried when you were little. Don’t think I don’t see when you’re breaking inside. If this was how you just described it, you wouldn’t have buried it the way you did. Lie to yourself if it helps you, but I can see the truth!”

think I’m attracted to you,” I said. In the past, I would have never uttered something rash like this. Maybe it was Isa’s influence on me. Maximus’s eyebrows climbed his forehead as he gave me an amused look. “You think?” I laughed. “It’s complicated.” “I know,” he murmured. “You know what’s not complicated?” His gaze burned into me in a way it had never done before. “No,” I whispered. “There’s nothing complicated about how I feel about you, Sara. I’m definitely one hundred percent, no doubt about it attracted to you.”

“And I want you to know that I will love you every day of my life just like I love your mom.”