Page 155 of Sinful

Church carried me upstairs and placed me in his bed before scooting in beside me. A pinprick met my skin, letting me know he was putting me down.

“I hope it kills me,” I managed to choke out between my fast breathing.

Church pressed his lips to my forehead. “If I killed you, that would hurt Sin, don’t you think?”

My eyelids grew heavy, and I struggled to keep them open.

“He’s not dead, specter. Do you truly think I’m that kind of monster?”

My heart raced.

“Sinful?”

“He’s alive. For now. He just needs to beg for forgiveness. If he does, he can come home. You can have your watchers. Sound good?”

I didn’t know what any of that meant. My mind couldn’t comprehend a word of it as the heaviness from the drugs weighed me down.

“He’s alive, specter. Pray for him. He only prays for you.” He kissed me, and the darkness took over, leaving me silent.

ASHES

Church came downstairs a half hour after he took Sirena away from us. We’d sat in silence, awaiting his return. The good news was I didn’t see any blood on him aside from a little on his knuckles, which meant he’d definitely punched Sin at least once.

We looked to Church as he sat in his chair, his silence making me uneasy.

“Is he dead?” Stitches finally asked.

“No,” Church replied, staring back at us. “He’s currently at the lake on his knees. Praying for Sirena since that’s what he said he was doing.”

“Why? What did you do to her?” I got to my feet, the thought of trusting him with her never making me falter until that moment.

“Relax.” Church waved me off. “She’s sleeping. Sin is alive. For now.”

“What the fuck does that mean?” Stitches demanded.

I glared at Church, really hoping he wasn’t going to piss me off more tonight. I had no idea he’d bugged the damn house. It was an invasion of privacy that we’d get to soon enough once we got the Sin thing sorted.

“Well, he said he’d beg on his knees until he was forgiven. So he’s on his knees. In the morning, I expect you to go to him and let him beg you to forgive him.”

“It’s fucking freezing outside. He’ll die,” I snapped at him. “What the fuck is your problem, Dante? Huh? You do realize the world doesn’t revolve around you and your wants, right?”

He got to his feet when I got to mine.

“Her world revolves around me, and I intend to keep every motherfucker who intends on hurting her out. If he wants in, he can fucking beg.”

I shook my head in disgust at him.

“We’re going to get him tonight.”

“We aren’t. He’s working on his prayers—”

I got in Church’s face, my chest heaving with anger.

“So help me, Dante, I will burn this motherfucking house down with you inside it if I have to. Don’t fucking push me on it. Sirena loves him. She wants him. It’sherfucking choice.Notyours. You don’t get to decide.She. Fucking. Chooses!” I shoved him in the chest before storming past him and grabbing my jacket.

I thought he’d fight me on it. Instead, he pulled his phone out and made a call.

“I need you to watch Sirena while we go out. No. That’s fine. Be quick.” He hung up, and Stitches got to his feet.

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