Page 156 of Ashes

“Wait,” Church called out.

Asylum stopped and turned back to Church, a smile on his face.

“She’s not telling you who it was, Dante. She’s decided to keep this secret for just a little bit longer. Isn’t she sweet? She’s loyal like that. She’s kept my secrets for years. The good news is, I don’t think you’ll have long to wait. . . if you play your cards right.”

“Son of a bitch,” Cady said, getting to her feet and glaring at Asylum. He smiled back at her. I didn’t have time to deal with this shit. I needed her. Shit. I needed her so bad it was choking me.

“Heaven,” I said, taking a tentative step forward. “Please. We need to know who helped Seth that night.”

“Asylum,” he said tightly. “Stop calling me Seth. We don’t like that.”

“Fine.Asylum,” I corrected. “Who helped him, baby?”

I reached for her, wondering if Asylum would stop me. When he didn’t, I twisted my fingers around hers and pulled her hand off Asylum’s arm.

“Please,” I whispered, noting Sin had stiffened at the table. The movement made that nausea twist tighter in my guts.

Tell me.

I traced the letters onto the palm of her hand, terrified of what her answer would be.

Her gaze snapped up and locked on mine, sending butterflies spiraling through my heart.

Her brows twitched for a moment before she squeezed my hand in hers and backed away into Asylum’s waiting arms.

“I told you,” Asylum murmured. “She’s loyal.”

I nodded tightly and backed away.

I needed to get her alone. That was my plan. If I got her alone, I’d get it from her.

“I like your fire, Ashes.” Asylum winked at me. “See you on Halloween.”

I watched as he led her away.

She’d needed him to guide her. She wasn’t going willingly. At least that was what I told myself as he urged her forward.

She hadn’t forgiven him for shit.

In fact, she was still scared of him.

He knew it.

But that bastard knew a hell of a lot more, and before the week was over, I’d have the answers too.

CHURCH

“For fuck’s sake, Claws,” I snapped, stomping over to her as she pinned a bat decoration to the top of the fence. “They’re bats, not fucking cats. Bats fly. Cats sit.” I tore down the decoration and pushed it into her chest. “Hang it. Don’t pin it.”

“OK, Susie fucking homemaker,” she muttered, giving me a scowl.

I turned away from her but not before I saw her stick her tongue out at me.

She drove me to the edge of my fucking sanity.

This party had to be perfect. Asylum was bringing my specter. I had every intention of getting close to her tonight to. . .fuck. Anything? Everything? Beg her to fucking love me?

I shook away the thought. I wasn’t that sort of guy, but with her? I could see myself falling to my knees and crawling wherever the hell she wanted to take me.

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