Page 68 of By Sin To Atone

“Say it does. What happens to her? What happens to my sister who has already lost so much?” she asks, tears streaming down her face that she wipes at angrily. “What happens to Wren when the checks that pay for her care stop coming? What do you think they do with her? Keep her there out of the goodness of their hearts? That’s not how this world works, Zeke.”

“It’s not going to get to that point.”

“Have you ever seen a state-run facility? Do you know the shit that happens there? Especially to those who have no one to stand up for them. No one to look after them and care about them.”

“You’re getting yourself worked up.”

“No, I’m not. I’m just being realistic.” She breaks free of my hold. “So, if you’re pissed I tried to run, too bad for you.” She sets her jaw stubbornly. “I would do it again if I had the chance!”

“There she is, my Little Convict.”

“I’m not yours.” She tries to shove past me.

I capture her arm. “Oh, but you are. You’re mine and if you try something like that again?—”

“What? What will you do, Zeke? Spank me?”

I narrow my eyes, study her features, those cerulean eyes that have seen so much evil and yet manage to remain so innocent in their own way. So fucking naïve.

But naïve can get a girl killed. Doesn’t she know that?

“You need me, Blue. More than you realize.”

“Let me go.”

“And no, I wouldn’t spank you to punish you. You like that too much.”

“Fuck you.”

“That, too, you like too much,” I say, attempting to smile. I expect her to deny it. I prepare myself for her to, but she only flushes pink, glances away. “And I like it too much.” I walk her backward to the wall and cage her in. “I like it too much, Blue.” I kiss her mouth and the twisting in my gut of earlier morphs into something else. Something with wings. I draw back to look at her searching, wounded eyes. “We have an arrangement, you and me. I don’t break my word. I will protect you. I will keep you safe from your father and anyone else who tries to hurt you. I swear it. Do you understand?”

“Zeke—”

“In exchange you will give me back my duffel bag and once I’m certain you don’t have more on that little computer of yours that can endanger my family or myself, we’ll see about next steps.”

“No. Not we’ll see about next steps. Next steps means you let me go once you realize there’s nothing more.”

“Let you go how? Penniless? What will you do? Get Wren and what? I saw your car in the parking lot of the apartment. At least I’m pretty sure it’s yours given the license plates. Does it even run?”

“It’s fine.”

“You have no money. No mode of transport.”

“I have some money.”

“Two grand won’t cut it. Not if you want to give Wren the kind of help she needs.”

“What are you proposing then?”

“You stay with me. Do as you’re told. We handle this. Figure it all out. You need my help not only for yourself but for Wren. I’ll make sure Wren is properly cared for.”

She opens her mouth, closes it again. Her expression is confused. “Why would you do that?” she finally asks. “Why would you help me?”

I study her face, search her eyes. How do I answer this? “Because I wasn’t able to help someone else, before you.” I feel my throat close up. I clench my teeth and swallow the pain of my chest tightening. Am I telling her this? Am I saying it? “And she died,” I hear the words come out of my mouth and I feel as stunned as she looks.

Blue’s eyes fill like wells.

“But you have to trust me, Blue. You can’t do what you did tonight. You’re not safe. You don’t know everything.”

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