Page 52 of Stitches

“The next time you call me in here, it better be for a good reason. I don’t play games with amateurs. Your wards wouldn’t even make it in here in time if I decided to kill you. We’re done here.” I turned and walked to his door.

He called out to me as I wrapped my hand around the doorknob.

“You think you’re top of the food chain. Just wait until Everett’s hell is poured out on you.”

“I’m not afraid,” I said, looking at him from over my shoulder. “I am the devil, remember? I’d only be playing in my playground. You’d be wise to remember that. Have a good night, Sully.”

I pulled the door open and stepped out into the hall, the click of the lock sounding out behind me.

“Church,” a ward nodded at me.

I inclined my head at him before continuing down the hall and out the front door.

I needed my specter to calm me before I lost my fucking mind.

* * *

After takingmy frustrations out in the woods with my knife, I made it home to find Ashes and Stitches walking onto the front step.

“You just getting back?” I asked.

“Yeah,” Ashes answered, his gaze skirting over the blood on my clothes from the animal I’d slaughtered. “We smoked a little more.”

He didn’t need to tell me. I could see how glassy his eyes were. Stitches too. Both seemed on edge, despite the high.

Something I could definitely share in since I was internally losing my damn mind. I’d gone to the woods rather than returning home right away because I knew the violence in my blood was bubbling too close to the surface. I was on the edge of losing myself and didn’t want Sirena to become a victim of it.

I knew well enough that she was a problem. She was what kept me chained and locked safely away from losing myself in my madness. She’s what my father would use to keep me here. To control me. I wasn’t dumb, and neither was he.

I’d thought about it the entire run home I’d taken through the thick forest. It plagued me as I gutted my prey. It tormented me on the walk home. And it was still buzzing inside me like an angry wasp.

“You good?” Stitches stared at me with worry on his face.

“No,” I answered simply, pushing open the front door and stepping inside.

Immediately, my focus snapped to my girl.

My girl who was asleep on another man, his arm around her.

I saw red.

“Fuck,” Ashes shouted, trying to grab me before I could move, but he was too slow. Even Stitches tripped trying to get to me, and he was the one typically prone to irrational violence. I was the one who let it stew a bit so I could better savor it.

I didn’t even see Cady come into the room, but I felt her as she dove on top of me before I reached Bryce whose eyes snapped open in horror.

Cady and I tumbled to the floor, both of us grappling for control. She was fucking tough, I’d give her that, and hard as hell to pin. Wherever she’d learned to fight was impressive.

Her fist came out and caught me in the jaw, snapping my head sideways. I let out a snarl and grabbed her wrist, but her wiry ass evaded me, and her leg shot out to kick me in the chest.

Hands were on me. The entire scene was chaos as Ashes and Stitches dove in, Cady clocking them too. Even Bryce joined in, trying to separate us and catching my fist in his nose when I’d gotten the upper hand for a moment.

We were a fucking rat king on the floor of the living room, all fists and curses flying. I didn’t even know who was fighting who anymore when Ashes caught me in the ribs while Cady slugged Stitches and Bryce was kicked in the chest by my foot.

It all ended abruptly as a shrill scream rang out. It chilled my blood and sent my heart into my throat.

Sirena.

My specter.

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