Page 162 of Ashes

“Not interested.”

“Why?” She jutted out her bottom lip. “You don’t want your dick sucked? You know I’m good for it.”

Before I could answer, Melanie was shoved roughly aside. She let out a cry as she stumbled in her high heels.

“Back off, bitch,” Cady snarled. “He’s taken.”

I expected Melanie to bounce right back and attack. Instead, she sneered and gave Cady the finger before turning and marching away.

“How the hell. . .?” I murmured.

“I can pick a bitch out a mile away, and that girl, is a raving one. I’m not going to have my sister deal with that. Next time, and let’s hope there isn’t one, you stop that shit before she touches you. Got it, pal?” She jabbed her finger into my bare chest. “Or I’ll hang you with your necktie.”

I nodded, having a shit ton of respect for her. I wasn’t the type of guy to hold back when people fucked with me, but with Cady, I was cool with her.

That said a fuck of a lot.

“Now,” Church said as he approached us. “Asylum smoked some weed and had a few drinks. Claws, you know what to do.”

She nodded and strode away from us. I watched as she approached Asylum and Sirena at the bonfire and engaged Asylum.

He nodded at her as she spoke.

“Think he’ll let her?” I murmured.

“Wait for it. . .” Church said.

Cady took Sirena by the hand and led her away from Asylum and up the patio stairs and into the house. She’d go out the front door and take the path to the cemetery from that angle.

“Your go,” Church said. “Have fun. Be fucking safe, Malachi. No matter what. Got it?”

I nodded, staring into his eyes. “I will. No worries.”

“Well, I am worried. Please,” he whispered.

“Dante, I’ll be OK. I promise. This noose is just for show.”

He offered me a sad smirk before I couldn’t handle the disappointment lurking in the depths of his green eyes.

All of this shit was fucked-up. I hated it.

Someone was going to pay dearly. Not that I could blame anyone for my own disorders, but it would sure be nice to nail someone’s ass up for fucking with my angel and putting her through hell.

Angels should never go through hell. Hell was made for demons like us. Not pretty little angels.

I approached Asylum as he peered into the dark forest beyond the bonfire. Ashes had given me a tight nod before he’d left to join Church. Sin stood on the edge of the party talking to Bryce, which I found odd, but I didn’t have time to dwell on it. Bryce was probably just asking for an update on angel since he’d not approached her since her release that I’d seen. It wasn’t a surprise. With Asylum guarding her like a fucking hellhound, it was nearly impossible to get close to her.

“Hey,” I said, stepping up beside Asylum.

He didn’t look at me. “Welcome.”

I cleared my throat. “Can we talk?”

“Need to kill some time?” He turned and raised a brow at me.

“I-I just wanted to talk about what happened at the facility—”

“She’s fine. She’s doing OK. She’s scared of me a bit, but I expected that given our. . . history.”

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