Page 49 of Stitches

“Ican’t believe I’m here,” Bryce said, settling in beside me on the couch in the living room. The guys had left us alone, although Church had gotten in Bryce’s face and threatened his life before stomping out of the house. Ashes had kissed me so sweetly before whispering he loved me, and Stitches had simply cast me a sad look before leaving.

He was breaking my heart.

I missed him.

I was well aware of what we’d experienced in the medical facility, but I was doing all I could to not think about it. It was hard, and some nights, the nightmares would come, and I’d wake up with my heart pounding hard and my body drenched in sweat. They were rare, but they happened. So far, I’d be fortunate to not have them when one of the guys was in bed with me. The few times they’d occurred, it had been near waking hours and the guys had been in the shower or downstairs.

“I’ve missed hanging out,” Bryce continued, relaxing beside me. “How are you? Is everything…OK?”

I knew what he was asking. He wanted to know if everything was good with the watchers.

I stared back at him, my brows crinkled.

“If you’re being kept here against your will—”

I rested my hand over his to silence him and let him know I was fine.

He exhaled and offered me a nervous smile. “If you need help, ever, just…let me know. These guys are completely terrifying. I just worry about you.”

I squeezed his hand again to reassure him everything was good.

“OK. Well, good. I’m glad. It’s hard for me to tell sometimes, and with you not talking…” his voice trailed off. “I was so worried about you, Sirena. That night…what happened? Did Asylum hurt you?” His gaze raked over my face.

I released his hand and folded mine in my lap and licked my lips. The truth of the matter was, Asylum had terrified me. I’d been so helpless that night. I really thought I was going to die, and there wasn’t a doubt in my mind that he’d have left us both to perish in that damn box and never be found again.

Had I not screamed…

God, I’d be dead right now. They’d probably still be searching for my body because there was no way anyone would know where we were. I very much doubted Sin would fess up.

“I’m here if you want to, I don’t know.” He sighed. “I know you don’t talk and all that, but Sirena, I’m here. I just need you to know that I’ll do anything you need. You just have to let me know. Promise you will?”

I looked over at him and took his hand again and squeezed it. He relaxed and gave me a quick smile, but I knew Bryce. He was truly worried for me.

Asylum and I, well, I didn’t even know. I was still scared of him, but there was something else there. Something I hated to admit because it made me feel like I was losing my mind and really did belong here being treated. He made me just feel so alive. Confused. Terrified. I couldn’t even begin to describe it.

He was a wicked boy, and I was the sweet, corruptible girl.

Stitches knew the depths we’d fallen. I was certain he hadn’t told the guys yet, and I feared the day he did.

Then there was Mirage.

God, what was I doing thinking about any of this when I was with the watchers? When I loved them the way I did. When I had my best friend sitting at my side, wanting to spend the evening with me. When I…well, when I could be doing anything but thinking about the monster I didn’t even really know anymore but certainly wanted.

Shit.

I hated that thought too.

“Do you want to watch a movie?” Bryce’s voice pulled me out of my panicked thoughts.

My answer was simply to get up and go into the kitchen and rummage around in the cupboards until I located the popcorn and tossed it into the microwave. Bryce thumbed through channels while the popcorn popped, the smell of the buttery goodness filling the air.

“Lord of the Rings?” he called out. “Or Star Wars? Actually, these guys own a lot of really amazing movies. It looks like they downloaded all of them. Damn. This one hasn’t even left the theater. How the hell do they have it?”

The knocking on the door had me snapping my attention away from the display of movies on the massive television. Quickly, I went to the door and peered out the peephole to see Cady standing on the step, her jacket wrapped tightly around her.

I opened the door and stepped aside for her to come in. She did so, throwing me a grin before I closed the door behind her.

“Sorry, I’m late. I got sidetracked. Do you know Adam Larson?”

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