Page 7 of Ashes

She breathed in and out evenly, her dark lashes resting on her porcelain cheeks. I held one of her hands, our fingers entwined. She hadn’t moved an inch in hours. The doctor on call had shot her up with meds which had knocked her out before he took off for shift change.

I wasn’t the praying sort.After all, who answered a demon’s prayers?So I pleaded softly with whatever entity could hear to bring her back to me. To us. Because fuck, I’d lose more than her if she didn’t snap out of this. I’d seen the way Stitches rocked. I’d seen Ashes’s face. And Sin. . . well, I knew I’d break his nose whenever I saw him next for disappearing on us when we’d needed him. Something about his vanishing act didn’t sit right with me.

“Mr. Church, would you please step out?” a nurse by the name of Lisa asked, wringing her hands as she stood in the doorway. “Miss Lawrence’s family has arrived.”

“I already told you assholes I wasn’t leaving. Bring her family in,” I said, my voice a low growl.

Her gaze ricocheted from Sirena’s sleeping form to me before she visibly swallowed and darted away. A moment later, Dr. Conrad came in with who I assumed were her parents and a girl with a mass of dark hair just like my specter’s. It had to be her sister.

“Uh, this is Dante Church,” Dr. Conrad said, gesturing nervously to me. “It would seem him and Miss Lawrence are, uh, friends. He’s been with her all night.”

The woman stepped forward and held her hand out to me, tears in her eyes. I shook it, our gazes locked.

“Thank you,” she whispered, breaking away quickly from me and going to Sirena’s other side and running her fingers through her hair and doting over her.

The girl approached, taking me in, no sign of fear on her. She looked a lot like Sirena except her eyes were crystal blue, she was slightly taller, and she wore her hair in a shorter style that brushed the tops of her breasts.

Her gaze darted from me to my hand wrapped around specter’s then back to me.

“Does my sister know you’re touching her?” she demanded, an edge to her voice.

“She’s sleeping, but it wouldn’t be the first time I’ve touched her,” I said back to her, my irritation rising. I was worse without sleep.

The girl narrowed her eyes at me as Dr. Conrad spoke to her parents. Or, if I wasn’t mistaken, her mother and stepfather. I’d read her files, so I knew her real dad wasn’t in the picture. The stepfather oozed cocksucker. I didn’t even need to speak with him to know. It was in the way he stood. The way he ignored my specter lying in the bed. How he didn’t even care to approach and check on her.

The girl moved to Sirena’s side where her mother had been and leaned down to kiss her forehead.

“Hey, Rina. I’m here. So is Mom. We’re going to take you home.”

I bristled at her words. “You’re not taking her anywhere.”

The girl’s blue eyes snapped to me. “Wanna bet?”

I ground my teeth, my fury already at the surface as we stared one another down.

“Mr. Church, perhaps we should let Sirena’s family have some privacy,” Dr. Conrad said, peering at me through his too small spectacles.

I hated the prick. He was the fuckwad who’d bundled Stitches up and shoved him into the hole. I’d nearly torn his head from his body when he’d denied us seeing him. It hadn’t ended well. They’d had to subdue me by having some fucker sneak up and tranquilize me.

Then I’d proceeded to tear apart the medical ward when I’d broken free after waking hours later.

Doctor Conrad and I didn’t like one another.

“I’m not leaving,” I said firmly. I looked at her mother. “I’m staying. Sirena is my. . . ”

Her sister scoffed. “Sirena doesn’t let people touch her. She doesn’t talk. She doesn’t communicate. She’s yournothing. So whatever delusion you have about my sister better end right now before I beat itandthe rest of your bullshit out of you.”

I rose to my feet, not releasing Sirena’s hand. “Try me, little girl.”

“H-he can stay,” her mother cut in, giving me a quick, nervous smile. “He clearly cares for her. Sirena needs that right now.”

“I think the boy should go. Take a shower. Rest,” the stepfather said, his dark eyes skirting over me with disdain.

“Maybe you don’t understand what I’m saying to you. I’mnotleaving.”

“It’s fine. Really. I’m sure Sirena would appreciate having him with her.” Her mother gave me another wobbly smile as the sister scowled. “My name is Melanie, by the way. My husband is Jerry.”

I nodded curtly, not giving a shit what their names were. I settled back in my chair and continued to hold Sirena’s hand. Doctor Conrad began his medical talk to her parents. I reached out and fixed her hair with my free hand.

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