Sin (Dark Island Scots, #2) by Jolie Vines

Author:Jolie Vines [Vines, Jolie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-07-28T16:00:00+00:00

An hour on, both Cassie and Burn had reached their limit. We’d chosen a book from the holiday home’s stocked bookshelf, and both had taken turns in reading. Cassie had managed well nailing all the simpler words, and even the occasional complete sentence unaided. But the adventure story we’d picked was too complex. We needed a children’s book designed for young readers. Burn was a different story. He knew the words when I sounded them out but couldn’t easily recognise them on the page. As he struggled, his thumb flicked at his lighter wheel, the sparks dangerously close to the paper.

“Why don’t we stop for the day?” I suggested.

Burn sighed then pitched the book across the bright porch, scowling as it landed with a thump. “Sorry. I’m not good at this.”

“Ye can be. We just need to work out how ye learn. Not everyone is the same.”

He struggled to his feet, his gaze switching to the water in the waves. “Sin tried to teach me back in the hostel, but I haven’t improved any. Lost cause.”

“Not true. We’ll try something different next time.”

He dropped a kiss to the top of my head. “It’s a waste of time, but you’re sweet for trying.”

They headed out to the beach to kick around the surf, and I spotted Thea and Struan returning. While we’d been reading, they’d gone for a walk, and now, joined me in the porch.

Struan sprawled on the wicker sofa, waiting until Thea sat before laying his head in her lap and closing his eyes. His recovery was still exhausting him, which was hardly surprising in the short time he’d had since surgery.

My friend drifted her fingers over his hair but spoke to me. “How do you feel about your dad chasing us?”

“Guilty. Worried. A thousand other things.”

Struan wrinkled his nose, his eyes firmly closed. “Theadora told me everything about his threat to ye. Speak freely. I’m not judging ye. I might fall asleep, though.”

I glanced from him back to Thea. “Okay, then I’m a tiny bit relieved, too. If he’s here, he can’t hurt my mother, so I can stop stressing about her for a day or two. I also know that he’s determined.”

She nodded. “All of them are, my dad included. One sniff of money, and they’re bloodhounds.”

Struan grumbled. “It’s the root of all evil. Then again, if we had money, we could pay off the islanders and it would be one fewer group of people hunting us.”

We all went quiet for a moment.

Thea started again. “I had an email from my university this morning. I need to pay to keep my accommodation over the summer. They also sent me the bill for the year to come including my course fees. I’m not going back, at least not now, and never again to finish the course my father picked. But that means I’ve got to drive to Edinburgh to empty my things from my room.”

“I could go with ye,” I offered.

“Thank you, but Struan wants to, if he’s well enough.

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