Page 117 of Ashes

“Yeah?”

“Was she really getting better? You said she communicated with you.”

“She was,” I answered, nodding. “She wrote on my hand. I took her on my motorcycle to look over Pictured Rocks. She loved it.”

Cady’s lips pursed in a reflective expression. “I never thought I’d hear someone tell me Rina was on a motorcycle. Then again, I guess I don’t really know my sister past when she used to talk or who she was before she left.”

“What was she like? Before. . .?”

Cady was quiet for a moment before she spoke. “Bit like she is now. She’s always been quiet and sweet, you know? But she used to sing. She was amazing. Our father got her lessons, and she was even doing auditions for commercials and stuff. Then she was hurt, and everything changed.”

My chest constricted with that information. Knowing Sirena had been a singer made me even more desperate to hear her voice.

“I bet she was amazing.”

“You know what? I have a video on my laptop. I’ll show you when we get back if you want.”

“Hell yeah,” I said, my eagerness shining through.

Getting to see Sirena perform would be a godsend.

Cady laughed for a moment before going quiet again. “I keep the video to remind me of before. It was the last time our dad was around. It was her last performance. She won some cash with it too. She was on the local news. Seth was there to see her.”

“Seth cares about her,” I said softly.

Cady grunted. “Fuck him. I know he had something to do with her getting hurt. Plus, he was in that fucking coffin with her. He’ll get his moment with me, that’s for damn sure.”

“You don’t want to go poking around Asylum,” I said gently. “I know you want to help Sirena, but Asylum is dangerous. Even we tend to stay away from him. We can handle that aspect—”

“We don’t fight alone when it comes to my sister,” she said, stopping to look at me.

I stared down at her, taking in the fierceness she had about her. I didn’t believe for a minute she’d let this go. Not wanting her to get harmed if Asylum slipped, I nodded.

“OK. We don’t fight alone. You want in?”

She nodded eagerly.

“I’ll talk to the guys and see what we can do. You’re already staying with us. If Church wanted you out, he would’ve never let you go to sleep, so there has to be something there.”

“He knows I can help. Or at least I hope he knows. I mean it, Asher. I want to find out who did this to my sister. I want her out of that hospital and back. . . with you guys, I guess. I mean, as long as I get to be there too. I’m not leaving her side this time, so we’re a packaged deal.”

“Call me Ashes, and no offense, Cady. You’re beautiful, but we only want Sirena,” I said awkwardly.

She snorted and rolled her eyes at me. “Fuck off. I don’twantyou assholes. Four dicks with attitudes? That’s like dick squared. I’m good on that. A girl can only deal with so many pricks at a time.”

I chuckled and shook my head. She was something else. I really liked her and could see us becoming good friends.

“I’ll just be there to make sure the dickish boys don’t toe out of line.”

“Dickish boys?”

“Yeah. It fits. That’s how I refer to you guys in my head.”

“Nice.” I laughed.

We started walking again.

“Just. . . don’t hurt her, OK? I think you genuinely care for her, but the other three. . .it makes me nervous.”

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