Page 108 of Sinful

No amount of fighting it was going to work.

I’d die with her, for her, or because of her.

There was no other ending to our story.

ASHES

“Ican’t believe you let Sirena hang out at Cady’s,” Stitches stewed, pacing the living room a few days after we’d returned from my night of burning. It had gone well, and we’d returned home to find Sirena sleeping on the couch, her head on Sin’s shoulder while he sat beside her, watching TV. Something told me he hadn’t really been paying attention to the TV, however. Seeing her sleeping and so peaceful against him solidified what I already knew.

She cared a hell of a lot for the grouchy asshole, and that might cause some problems later on. Her feelings were growing exponentially, and so were his. I meant what I’d told her, though. I could be on board with it all. I only wanted her happiness.

I was going to try to fix things because if she wanted Sin, I was more than willing to let it happen. It just had to be something that happened with everyone on the same page.

I’d have my work cut out for me.

“She wanted to go. Cady looked like she was going to eat my soul if I said no. I can’t say no to Sirena, and I definitely wasn’t going to with Cady staring me down,” I said.

“She goes to you because she knows you’re a pushover,” Stitches muttered.

“I’m not,” I argued. “I want her to be happy. She needs a little freedom.”

Stitches grumbled but didn’t push the subject. His phone rang, and he quickly pulled it out.

“Hey,” he answered.

I went over to him and saw that Church was video calling.

“How is she?” Church demanded without fanfare.

“She’s good. Perfect as always.” Stitches glanced at me, his face saying everything he wanted to say with the look.

We should have kept Sirena home because now Church was going to be pissed.

“Good. Where is she?” Church pressed.

“Uh, she’s with Cady right now,” I said. “They wanted to do their nails.”

Church’s expression hardened, and he reached for a napkin and quickly wiped at the dots I’d noticed on his skin. It took me a moment to realize he was wiping blood off his face. Even his knuckles were stained with it.

That could only mean he was already in a shitty mood.

I took out my lighter and began my ritual.

“Why the fuck aren’t one of you with her?”

“She needs time to grow, man. We can’t be with her all the time. She hates feeling suffocated,” I explained. “She’s in Cady’s room. The door is locked. It’s only for a couple of hours.”

“Why couldn’t she be at the house doing her nails?” Church threw the bloody rag aside and gave us his stern glare.

“Because she’s here all the time,” I said. “Classes or here. She needed a change of scenery.”

“Unacceptable—”

“Dante, man. Seriously. I don’t want to argue,” Stitches broke in. “What’s going on? We haven’t heard from you in forever.”

“I’m probably coming home soon. I’m waiting to meet with my father this evening. I’ve done everything he’s asked of me. He seems pleased.”

“How many did you kill today?” I asked thickly, the bloody rag still hanging out on the edge of the screen.

---