Page 55 of Ashes

He’d nearly killed himself because of me. Because of some fucking shit I’d done.

My demons were feasting on my black soul.

The guilt was becoming too much to take.

Quickly, I wiped my cheek with my uninjured hand. I was crying.Fucking crying.

I sniffled and ducked my head before I pushed forward, not wanting anyone to see me like this.

I shuffled along the edge of the tree line until the sound of Church calling my name forced me to stop and wipe at my eyes again. Once I figured I had my shit in order, I turned to see him storming toward me, his face twisted like he was pissed off.

I swallowed thickly, waiting for him to punch me in the face since that seemed to be pretty much all he wanted to do to me lately. Honestly, he had every fucking reason to.

“Ashes set his bathtub on fire.” He stopped in front of me, his green eyes filled with his anger.

“I know,” I muttered, averting my gaze from his.

“What’s next? Huh? Are you going to tell me you’re losing it too?”

I shook my head. “I’m not losing it. I’ll go back and help him clean up the mess.” I moved to step around him, but he wrapped his fingers around my bicep and stopped me.

“If you have anything you need to say to me, Sinclair, now would be a really good fucking time for it.”

I stared back at him, my heart dangerously close to beating out of my chest as fear pummeled me. If Church knew, I was done for. He’d bring the punishment. I’d really lose him and the guys. My family.

Fuck. I couldn’t. I couldn’t lose them. They were all I had in this world. They’d never forgive me. . .

I exhaled. “I’ll go help Ashes.”

“Something is bothering you,” he pressed in the only way Church knew how.

Fucker was too smart for his own good.

“Well, Stitches was hanging in his closest not too long ago, and Ashes set his bathtub on fire. So yeah, I guess something is bothering me.” I jerked out of his hold and set my face into the emotionless mask I wore so well. “I’ll go help Ashes clean shit up.”

Church didn’t say anything, but then again, he didn’t have to.

It was really only a matter of time.

That was how Dante Church worked. He’d watch. Wait. Then he’d fucking attack.

I’d take it. I’d take it all.

I knew it was coming for me. For now though, I needed to try to fix things.

But fucking how?

ASHES

Idropped my cold slice of pizza back onto my plate. My appetite wasn’t there. Apparently, neither was Sin’s and Church’s because they hadn’t touched their food.

“Stitches is out tomorrow,” I finally said. “It’s already been seventy-two hours. Did your father say anything, Dante?”

“He didn’t seem to care one way or another.” Church grunted.

He scrubbed his hand down his face. He was exhausted. Black haloed his green eyes as he stared down at his cold dinner.

“So. . . everything is cool?” I ventured.

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