Page 120 of Ashes

“No shit. That’s why I’m here,” Cadence said, tearing her scowl from me to focus on Ashes. At least she didn’t look at him with pure loathing.

But why would she? Out of all of us, it was Ashes who was closest to saint status. He might be able to smile his way to the pearly gates. The rest of us were doomed.

Especially me.

I took another hit off my joint, desperate to not seem like I gave a shit. But fuck, I gave a shit. I wanted to say that Cadence wasn’t an issue, but deep down I knew she was. If I didn’t make it to hell, the devil brought it directly to my doorstep in the form of Cadence Lawrence.

She was a fucking weasel, here to announce my sins.

I knew determination when I saw it. Sirena’s sister was the picture next to determination in the dictionary.

I had to give up something or lose it all. I knew that. But fuck, I didn’t want to add more shit to my laundry list of bad deeds.

At the same time, I knew I was a piece of shit and deserved all the heartache headed my way.

Fucking damnit.

“Right,” Ashes said, offering her a quick smile. “I was thinking maybe one of us should go into the med ward and try to see Stitches. When I say one of us, I mean maybe just me. Or Sin. Not Church.”

Church frowned and leaned forward in his chair. “Why can’t I go? Stitches is my brother.”

“Your father,” I muttered. “That’s why.”

“I don’t give a shit about Stitches,” Cadence broke in. “I’m here for Rina—”

“Stitches gets to see her. He may be able to give us information on her. I don’t think us all barging in there is a good idea. We have to play the long game.” Ashes peered at me for help.

I sighed and glanced at Church to see him frowning.

“We can’t go near Sirena,” I finally said.

“What? Why?” Cadence rounded on me, her eyes flashing.

Great. Here we go. . .

“Because we lost a bet with Asylum. He won. He gets Sirena, not us. We agreed to let her go,” I said, the words searing my chest.

Fuck. How many times was I going to tamp down these fucking emotions?

“Wait. What?” Cadence snapped her focus to Ashes. “Is he serious? You guys played a fucking game with my sister and lost? And now she’spropertyof a psychopath?”

“It’s not like that. Asylum said he’s going to bring her back to us,” Ashes answered softly.

“Oh, fuck that.” Cadence stood from her chair and tightened her dark ponytail. “I’m done. I’m going to get my sister.”

She stormed off the patio and into the darkness. It only took moments for Church to snap into action. He nearly knocked Ashes over rushing off the patio to chase Cadence through the darkness.

“Should we go after them?” Ashes asked, flipping his lighter opened and closed so fast it was a blur. He was getting upset.

“No.” I took a hit from my joint. “Fuck her. She won’t get two feet into the facility. You know she won’t. She’ll raise hell and end up getting tossed in the hole. Might be the best place for her.”

Ashes winced. “She loves Sirena.”

I nodded. “People do crazy things when they love someone.”

A small, sad smile graced Ashes’s face. “Yeah. They do, don’t they?”

I swallowed thickly as I thought about Bells and all the shit I’d done.

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