Page 49 of Sin

“Sin?” London murmured against my skin, his mouth a petal soft caress against my neck. I shivered against him, and my eyelids fluttered.

“Y-yeah?”

“I found him.”

It took my brain several seconds to catch up. And when it did, I stilled. I’d somehow managed to forget what we were even doing. “Where?” I didn’t dare look around, as though maybe Lucas was lurking just around the corner.

“The house of mirrors. He’s there.”

Carefully, and a bit reluctantly, London straightened his spine. Or maybe I was simply projecting my own reluctance to let him go, despite my muscles crying in relief.

He looked a little gaunt, and there was a slight tremble in his hands, but otherwise, he seemed to be doing fairly well. Touching his comm, he said, “Legion, he’s at the house of mirrors. Make your way there immediately, but don’t enter. Sin and I are on our way.”

There were several crackled affirmatives, and then London groaned as he forced himself to stand tall.

I frowned, wondering if I’d misjudged how much pain he was actually in right now. “Maybe you should stay here.”

He chuckled humorlessly. “That’s not going to happen. Just… give me a moment.” He pulled out a pill bottle of pain meds, and while he popped a couple into his mouth, I scanned the area for the house of mirrors. I spotted its roof just past the food court.

I couldn’t believe it hadn’t crossed my mind that he might be hiding in there when London and I had passed by it earlier. It made all too much sense now though. Hindsight and all that.

Swallowing the pills dry, London grimaced. “Okay, let’s go.”

“I really think you should stay here,” I said, even as he lumbered past me. He took several wobbly steps before seeming to get ahold of himself. “London, you’re not in any shape to fight right now! Look at you. You’re barely able to walk.”

He ignored me, trudging on and shoving past other carnival goers. Several glared at him when he shoved past them, and I muttered apologies as I chased after him.

Growling in annoyance, I stayed close to the stubborn man’s side just in case he collapsed from exhaustion, and together, we crossed the parkgrounds.

However, when the outside of the house of mirrors came into view, my anxiety picked up.

The others were already there, trying and failing to look casual as they hung out around the outside of the closed property. Blade’s attention lasered in on London, noting the droop of his lids and the wince of pain when the sun reflected against something shiny and flashed him in the eye.

“You look like shit,” she said immediately, her voice laced with anger. “The kind of shit that comes when doing something you shouldn’t have fucking done.”

“Thanks,” he said dryly.

Lewis frowned at him. “But seriously, are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” he snapped, glaring at everyone, and I could actually see his temple pulsing. “Now, Sin and I are going to sneak inside. I want Lewis and Mare to stay here and guard the front entrance just in case he gets spooked and tries to run.” He turned to Jinx and Blade. “I want the two of you to watch the back doors.”

“I don’t think you should go in t—”

“I said I’m fine,” London muttered, interrupting Blade.

“You’re not,” she said, ignoring the glare he sent her way. “You can get upset all you want, but I’m going to tell you when you’re being an idiot. And this is one of those times. If you go in there in your condition, you’re just setting yourself up for failure.”

Jaw ticking, he glanced around the group, gauging everyone else’s reactions to her words. His gaze settled on me the longest, and I wondered if his biggest hesitation was letting me out of his sight, especially in a situation so dangerous.

“I can go alone?” I offered, even though the idea soured my stomach.

“Absolutely not,” he said immediately, not even surprising me.

I let out a harsh sigh. “Look, it makes the most sense, and I don’t know why we didn’t think about it sooner. I’m likely the only one here who can fight his control, besides Mare possibly, but she’d have to touch him to use her powers. I don’t. So bringing her or anyone else inside with me just adds a liability. It should be me and only me. Once I have him detained, the rest of you can come in and get him.”

London gritted his teeth, but Blade nudged him. “The little snake makes a good point, boss man. Don’t let your personal feelings cloud your judgment.”

“We’ll be the most help blocking the exits,” Lewis agreed.

---