Sinner: Devil's Sons MC Read Online Free PDF Page A

called out like that.
     
    Afia's mother's facial expression didn't change. She simply padded to the hall closet and yanked out the vacuum cleaner. She marched back into the living room and plugged it in, running the whirring, clamorous vacuum back and forth in front of her husband's feet.  She went over the spot twice until he harrumphed and put down the newspaper. "Yes, Fatima?" he asked expectantly.
     
    "Oh, was I bothering you? I'm sorry, my husband. I just thought perhaps you could reinforce what our son is trying to tell our daughter." She knew he wasn't paying any attention to the conversation. Rashad could tune out a train crash, much less a small squabble between his kids. She put her hand on her narrow hip and glanced pointedly from Afia to Rashad.
     
    "Your brother's right," he deigned to contribute.
     
    Fatima sighed. "Listen, Afia, we're merely trying to look after your best interests. You don't want to end up like your maiden aunt, do you? Having goals and successes are admirable, but what good is a successful career if you have no one to come home to? I want grandchildren! And, while I have you here, Rayan, that goes for you, too!"
     
    Rayan rose to his feet with a charming smile, kissing his mother on the cheek with a resounding smack. "Maman, what woman can take your place in my heart? You wound me. I only have eyes for you."
     
    She swatted at his chest and shooed him away, grinning and blushing at his nice words. It was at this unfortunate moment that Afia's phone decided to ring, and Afia absently glanced at the device resting on the coffee table, not recognizing the number. Then, her eyes widened in alarm as she realized it could only be one person. Very few people had her number, and all of those who did were saved to her phone’s contacts. Her gaze darted to her family members. There wasn't any way she could pretend it wasn't ringing.
     
    Afia reluctantly picked up the phone and answered. "Hello?"
     
    "Afia?" Her heart raced at the sound of Sam's voice. Her face flushed. Sweat sprang from nowhere to bead above her upper lip.
     
    "I'm sorry. You have the wrong number." She quickly hung up the phone and prayed he didn't call right back. Rayan stared at her suspiciously, and she flashed him a shaky smile. "Well!" she said with too much cheer. "I didn't realize it was so late in the evening. I better get home."
     
    "What's the rush? You missed going to the mosque with us yesterday. I thought you were going to stay for dinner," Rayan complained. "I worry about you, Afia. I worry you're growing too secular."
     
    Afia grimaced. She had missed worship. She had been stuck grading papers as a TA, despite the fact that the professor usually let her off work when she had to go to mosque. She just hadn't pushed the issue, but she felt guilty with Rayan bringing it up. She shrugged, not knowing what to say to defend herself. There was no excuse. She was growing lax. Blame it on too much American television. She wanted to crow, "So, sue me!" but she was positive that would get her kicked out of the house. Instead, she meekly mumbled she could stay a little longer.
     
    However, she put her phone on vibrate and slipped it into the pocket of her jeans.  Following her maman into the dining room, she helped set the table so they could eat. She could hear Rayan and her father in the kitchen talking stocks. The older Amini child was the apple of their parents' eyes. She wished, not for the first time, that she had it within herself to be more like the person they wanted her to be, but it was difficult to conform to their expectations when Afia felt there was a vibrant, brilliant woman locked inside herself waiting to be free.
     
    Again, her thoughts turned to Sam. In a perfect world, she wouldn't be scared to get to know him. She wondered what she would say if he called again...whether she would have the courage to finally shake her wings a little, even if she had to stay tucked inside her cocoon a little