Page 11 of Sinful

“Relax, Dante. All roads lead to our destiny. Even the rough ones. We must endure the pain so that we are made stronger in the end.” Asylum’s gaze traveled to the stairs. I couldn’t help but wonder what he was thinking.

“Her,” he answered softly. “Always her.”

I glanced at Church, who wore a frown.

I swore this guy could get into our heads. It unnerved me.

“No worries, Asher. It doesn’t work like that either.” Asylum looked at me. “I’m not in your head. Your thoughts are safe.”

I cast a quick look to Church and Stitches.

“Then how. . .?” I asked, not even knowing how to finish the sentence.

He shrugged and pointed to his head. “Voices. Messages from beyond. I just. . . know. I don’t get to choose when it happens. It just does.”

“So you’re not in my head? Can’t. . . hear my thoughts?”

He cocked his head left at me and narrowed his eyes. “We just. . .feel you. That’s all.”

“Like with Sirena?” Stitches called out.

Asylum nodded. “Yeah.”

I’d have pressed the subject more if I thought his answer would change, but I knew Asylum. He never gave away secrets. At least not until he needed to. I worried about what all this meant. I didn’t want to lose my heaven. The thought twisted my insides into a tight, painful ball.

“Why do you think you’ll lose her?” Asylum murmured.

I looked at him, blinking rapidly and stopping the flipping of my lighter lid. If he wasn’t in my damn head, it sure as hell felt like he was.

Stitches glanced at me while Church narrowed his eyes at Asylum.

The corners of Asylum’s lips twitched before he spoke. “We could all be a big happy family someday if you relax a little.”

We were quiet for a moment. I didn’t even know what to say to that. It wasn’t a shocker Asylum wanted in with us, but he’d never really come right out and said it. Everything had been a hint at it. But hell, maybe this was just another hint at what was inevitable. On the other hand, I knew she’d been scared of him, so I was confused about what the hell was actually going on.

“She chooses,” Church murmured, a sad look in his eyes. Despite it, his voice was firm.

Asylum’s blue eyes sparkled. “Indeed she does, Dante. I think you’ll like where this is headed.”

“But not Sin,” Church continued, clearing his throat. “I’m open to the possibility of. . . you, but I will not entertain Sinclair Priest. Not after what he did to her and all the fucking shit it led to.”

I glanced at Stitches, who frowned and sat forward. I’d never really considered anything past Sin locking her in the coffin with Asylum, but Church’s words made me think. It really all snowballed from Sin’s decision. Perhaps none of this would have happened had Sin not done that.

Asylum didn’t move a muscle. He simply sat where he was, surveying Church.

When he finally spoke, his voice was soft and uncharacteristic of the psycho I knew.

“I am not without sin when it comes to my firefly.My forever girl.I think we are all guilty in some way in regard to her. Perhaps if we bonded in that darkness rather than repel one another, then maybe some good, some revenge, some beautiful retribution, could come from it. Let’s not be too hasty. Let’s allow her the time she needs to. . . blossom. To become our little monster.”

I narrowed my eyes at him, his words sending a chill through me. “What are you planning, Seth?”

“Asylum,” he corrected, looking to me. “That is my name. As for what I am planning. . . well, it’s not really me. It’s her. She wants revenge. I’ve promised it in any way I can make it happen for her.We. We. WE.”His legs bounced. He reached up and tugged at his black hair, and let out a snarl. “I fucking said we. Goddamn it.”

I shot a quick look to Stitches and Church to see them watching him with the same confused looks on their faces.

Asylum let out a ragged breath before snapping his head up and letting out a groan.

“Fuck. Shut the fuck up. I can’t get a fucking moment of silence. Just give me a fucking minute. I’ll tell them. I’m going to fucking do it. Fuck. FUCK.”

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