Page 62 of Sin Like the Devil

Arm curled around my aching waist, I turn away and follow the moving flow of patients. Noah accompanies us through the packed reception and into the awaiting cafeteria where long tables are slowly filling up.

At the head of the room, Davis watches over us all with cold calculation. His salt-and-pepper hair is slicked back today, perfectly matching his impeccably tailored suit.

We approach an almost full table, the few patients spread across the seats quickly scattering when I cast an eye over them. A couple even mumble apologies without daring to look up at me.

Rae takes the seat opposite. “What does the warden want?”

I shrug, easing myself into the chair with a wince. Before Noah can sit down next to me, a huge, scarred hand clamps down on his shoulder. He’s roughly shoved aside so someone else can take his place.

“Seat’s taken,” Lennox growls roughly.

I glower up at his smiling mug. “Like fuck it is.”

Despite his smirk, the predatory gleam in Lennox’s eyes is pure malice. He ignores Noah’s put-out expression and slides in next to me, the overwhelming bulk of his shoulders brushing against mine.

“What are you doing?” I snarl under my breath.

Lennox fiddles with the silver chain tucked into his neckline. “That beating was a hell of a sight.”

“Show’s over, Nox.”

He chuckles throatily, the sonorous sound rumbling from his chest. “I think it’s just beginning.”

Beneath the table, my fingers curl until I feel the sting of my nails piercing my palms. “I saved your friend. Leave me alone.”

“You think that makes us even somehow?” he huffs. “We need to get a few things straight.”

Determined to ignore him, I focus on the small scuffles and shows of aggression unfolding around us. Several patients are being shoved and manhandled. The tension is racketing up more with each second.

I don’t recognise several of the additional guards that have been called in to beef up security. They seem even more overzealous, positioning their sheathed weapons clearly on display and barking at everyone who dares to scuttle past.

“Listen, bitch,” Lennox demands.

“What?” I hiss back. “Get on with it, then fuck off.”

He leans close, his tone frigid. “Raine was high this morning.”

I don’t respond at first. Wrestling with my decision to sell to him after what happened in the gym has relentlessly occupied my thoughts. But when the trembles returned, I had no choice but to cave.

“I won’t watch you deal drugs to Raine and screw him up even more.”

“You’d rather poison him yourself, huh?” I retort.

“We protected him,” Lennox grinds out.

“And benefitted from every drop of goodwill, no doubt.”

“You won’t keep him safe.” His shoulders hunch, lined with determination. “I refuse to watch someone I care about get hurt because you’re too greedy to regulate his intake.”

“Is it hard?” I peer deep into his pale-green irises. “Seeing someone you care about get hurt? I wouldn’t know what that’s like, would I?”

Ignoring my snark, his hard gaze cuts into me. “We will take control of Harrowdean, one way or another. Why don’t you just give it up now?”

“Because, almighty Lennox, men like you are the reason why places like this exist.”

At my words, he recoils like I’ve stabbed him in the gut. I can feel the rage and indignation pouring off him in waves. I almost laugh out loud at his visceral reaction. Drilling into Lennox’s ceaseless vein of fury will never stop being entertaining.

Beneath the anger he wields as a deadly weapon, Lennox likes to think that he has this strict moral code. Some pathetic justification for the horrors he’s inflicted in the name of keeping those he cares about safe.

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