Page 12 of Sin

After that, I was taken to Cyril to have a tracking device injected in my skin—something I wasn’t all too pleased with. While Cyril didn’t give me any more warnings, I still sensed his disapproval as he performed one last examination of my person. I was bruised, several ribs were still broken, and my head throbbed like I was suffering from the worst hangover in existence, but all of that would heal with time. Even though I knew he wasn’t happy with my decision, Cyril gave me the okay to be released.

His heavy, concerned stare lingered even after I bid him goodbye.

My heartbeat drowned out the cacophony of noise coming from each cell I was ushered past, and by the time we arrived at the elevator and rode it up to surface level, just one step closer to freedom, I was practically bouncing on my toes.

The first step into the late summer afternoon heat had me stopping to take it all in. Emotion clogged my throat as I glanced around at the granite water fountain splashing water, the man blowing the freshly mown grass off the walkway, the fluffy white clouds dotting the sky like cotton. It was beautiful.

But all of that couldn’t compare to the sight of the man waiting for me outside the prison doors.

London looked almost identical to the last time I’d seen him, only with some minor changes. He’d let his curls grow even more, and a manicured five o’clock shadow darkened his jaw. The air was rich with warmth despite the early hour, promising unbearable heat later in the day. But despite the hot temperature, London wore a short-sleeved, beige, macrame cardigan left open over a shirt with his old comic book store name, Freaks & Geeks, embossed across it. A brown belt looped through his dark-washed jeans, and peeking out from their hems were a pair of white Converse.

Despite the dark rings of exhaustion ringing his eyes, London’s gaze was keen and alert as he tracked every step I took. I was sure I looked a mess, even after the doses of Mend’s blood the night before. My nose was healed, though still a little crooked when I’d studied it in the mirror while dressing. My older bruises were mostly gone, but the newer ones lingered. And even though it was hidden by my hair, the area the guard had kicked me still remained scabbed. But even if I didn’t have the injuries, the lack of sun exposure had given my tan skin a pallid appearance. I also hadn’t been given a razor to shave with, so my scraggly facial hair sprinkled my jaw and upper lip. Plus, with the bland, barely nutritional meals fed to us, a majority of my muscle mass had deteriorated, leaving me lanky.

Each step closer made me acutely aware of just how long it had been since I’d had a shower. Embarrassment curled in my gut as I stopped in front of London, hoping I didn’t smell too horribly.

I tried to gauge his expression. For several moments, we just stood regarding the other, almost like we were cataloging the clear differences from the last time we’d been this close.

When he seemed content to let the silence continue, I cleared my throat, fighting the urge to tug at my collar. “Hey, London.”

“Sin,” he said in greeting in that deep voice of his, and dios, the way my name sounded on his tongue…

London’s gaze ran over me once more, and his Adam’s apple bobbed, though his expression was guarded. “You’re really getting out then?”

“Yeah,” I said, my voice cracking. “I really am.”

He nodded slowly. “If you’re going to be joining my team, then you need to know I have only 4 rules. One”—he held up a finger—“the Legion comes first. We work as a team, not individuals. Two”—another finger—“no showing off or messing around while on duty. I don’t care if you want to prove yourself or think you know better than the rest of us. Third,” he said, holding up three fingers now, “if you have a problem, you come to me first. I don’t care if the issue’s with me, with someone on the team, or the mission. We resolve problems before they escalate. And lastly, we don’t use our powers against our team. These are my rules, and I don’t tolerate people breaking them. Do you understand?”

“Yes,” I said, nodding quickly. “I understand.”

London considered me with a stern look. “I’m serious, Sin. I need to know that bringing you onto the team won’t cause problems.”

“It won’t,” I promised, my tone coming out a little harsher than I intended it to. Rubbing my upper arms, I said, much softer, “It won’t.”

He didn’t respond at first, but then gave me a stiff nod. “Good.”

I waited for him to say something else, anything else. Or maybe even give me a hug. But instead, he turned sharply and stalked toward a black SUV idling just on the paved path leading into the prison. “Then let’s go. The others are waiting for us back at my place.”

I frowned at his back, not liking the empty feeling our short conversation left me with. I didn’t know what I thought seeing London again would be like, but it wasn’t this. Sure, I figured he’d still be angry with me, but I’d thought he’d be a little happier to see me.

Instead, he’d been distant and blunt.

A wave of unease rocked through me.

Storing my disappointment to process later, I picked up my pace and hurried after him. He didn’t wait for me as he ducked into the front passenger seat of the SUV.

I frowned at the side of his head through the window, knowing the two of us really needed time to talk, before casting one last glance over my shoulder at the prison. The dull, stone building loomed menacingly, a deep contrast to the sunny summer morning.

And I couldn’t help myself. I grinned.

This was it. I was finally out.

With a little more pep, I slipped into the back of the van.

The interior of the SUV smelled of polished leather and those Pine Sol air fresheners you could dangle on the rearview mirror. It looked as if the SUV could seat up to ten people, but a couple of rows had been folded down to give extra space.

London spoke in a hushed voice to the driver of the vehicle, and while I buckled myself into the middle seat, the driver, a man who appeared to be in his early twenties, twisted in his seat to get a good look at me.

He had a boyish grin, freckles, and sandy blond hair. Blue eyes twinkled at me as he reached awkwardly to the back to shake my hand.

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