Page 171 of Ashes

I’d never been so angry in my life as I flipped my lighter open and closed on repeat. Church paced the darkness.

Stitches fidgeted, rubbing his thighs. He leaned against a gravestone, his leg bouncing as he chewed his nails.

We were pent-up and pissed off. I wanted to know why the hell Sin had betrayed us the way he had.

I breathed out and looked to the night sky.

I knew why.Because he was scared.

But his fear had caused so much more damage than loving Sirena ever could have. And for that, he must be punished.

My hands twitched as I tried to steady my breathing. I let the flame dance on my lighter as I ran my fingers through it on repeat. I needed the calm. Fuck, I was going to lose it.

“Easy,” Church said, his hand trembling as he rested it on my shoulder. “Easy, brother.”

I closed my eyes and tried to steady my breathing.

Fucking Sin. Damn him for fucking up.

We sat in silence for what seemed like forever. I replayed in my head Sirena’s kiss, hoping to calm myself, but it only angered me more because we’d missed time with her because of what Sin had done.

I was going to lose it on him.

I knew I was.

“Welcome,” Church called out softly.

I snapped my eyes open to see Sin stop where we were. He wore nothing but a t-shirt, pair of jeans, and his shoes.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered.

“How could you?” Church snarled, circling him as I pushed off the tombstone I’d been leaning against. Stitches moved forward with me, and we formed a circle around Sin.

The moon was full and bright tonight. The air was crisp and cool. It was a perfect night.

Except for this.

“I was afraid. I-I still am,” Sin said thickly. “I didn’t want her to ruin us—”

“Youfucking ruined us,” I snarled at him, kicking dirt at his feet. “What the fuck, Sinclair? Malachi tried to fucking kill himself over this shit. Sirena was trapped in the facility. We lost her to Asylum. Everything fell apart the moment you decided to not fucking listen.”

“I know. I-I’m so sorry. Malachi—” Sin reached for him, but Stitches jerked away, glaring at him.

“I don’t blame you for my lapse in judgment, but I do blame you for what we endured in that facility. You have no fucking idea what happened in there.What I had to do.What I had to fucking witness. For that, I blame you.” Stitches spat at him.

It was the first time he’d said anything about his time in the medical wing. I glanced at Church to see the turmoil on his face.

When Stitches was ready, we’d talk it out with him.

For now, we had work to do.

I had a fucking fire to build and a girl to love.

And Sin. . . he was going to pay.

SIN

The pain of their boots was unbearable as I lay on the ground, taking each of their hard kicks to my body.

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