Page 119 of Ashes

“Cady, come on,” I said, wanting to cool things off before they got further out of hand. I managed to get between them. “It’s fine. We’ll get this worked out—”

“I like you, Ashes, but you’re wrong.I’llget this worked out, not you guys, because unlike you, I don’t have shit to losebutmy sister. She’s why I’m here.”

“Thought it was because you decided to play tough girl and set your douchebag stepdad’s car on fire,” Church said, fixing her again with his piercing stare.

Cady opened her mouth to fire back, and Church took a step forward again. I placed my hand on his chest, feeling his heart hammering hard beneath my palm. I gave him a slight shove back, hoping to snap him out of his rage.

“Cady, please. Let’s just try to get things worked out without creating more problems. You don’t know what you’re getting into. Church’s father—”

“She doesn’t care. She’s selfish,” Church growled. “No point in explaining it to her. Let her find out the hard way.”

“The hard way is losing Sirena!” My voice came out far louder than I’d intended. I sucked in a deep breath. Then another.

Shit.

I was going to lose it. Quickly, I stuffed my hand into my pocket and pulled my lighter out, flicking it opened and closed five times.

Breathe, Asher.

Open. Close. Open. Close. Open. Close. Open. Close. Open. Close.

Flame.

I fucking needed fire.

I let the flame out this time, letting out a shaky breath as I stared at the dancing light pouring from my lighter.

We couldn’t lose her. I wouldn’t lose her. There had to be another way. . .

“I’m open to negotiations,” Cady said softly, breaking through my near meltdown. “But if we don’t have a solid plan soon, I’ll go in. Alone. And hell have mercy on the monsters’ souls because I won’t have any.”

And with that, she pivoted and strode away from us, leaving us to stare at her retreating back.

“She’s a fucking nightmare,” Church complained with a grunt, scrubbing his hand down his face and sighing.

“So are we,” I murmured.

But two nightmares could only make a night terror. At least that was the hope I had as the heat from my flame burned my thumb.

SIN

My head felt like a drumline was bashing its way through it. I was high as fuck in an effort to stop the pain. It was helping, but not as much as I’d hoped.

It didn’t help that I was sitting on our patio with the sister from hell openly glaring at me.

I took another hit of my joint, praying it would just put me to sleep if it didn’t make the shit in my head chill. Ashes had called us all together tonight after classes. I knew it was because of some bullshit Cadence had going on.

She was quickly becoming a thorn in my ass. The sooner we could get her out of our lives, the better. She was pissing me off to the point where I was seriously considering helping Church plot her death.

But I’d already fucked up enough.

I blew out the smoke and stared right back at her.

She continued her glare.

She was a tough bitch, I’d give her that.

“So we need a plan,” Ashes said, his voice cutting through my thoughts.

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