Page 38 of Sinful

SIRENA

Ilet Sin lead me away. I didn’t know what was happening or why, but I accepted that this might be my end.

Good.

I was tired.

He brought me deep into the woods. I struggled at times through the snow, but he pushed us onward until we’d reached a small cave. Quickly, he brought me inside and closed a door behind him.

I sucked in a sharp breath at the darkness we were in. He moved past me, and within moments, the cave was illuminated by a light from a lantern he’d lit. I watched him start a heater before he looked at me.

“Sit,” he commanded with a grunt.

Nervously, I stepped forward and went to the old couch he sat on, then settled beside him. The heater immediately thawed me while we remained in silence.

I was scared. My brain was having these angry moments that terrified me. All I knew was that I’d get too emotional and just. . . hell, I didn’t know. Leave my body? Go on autopilot? I’d always been that way, though. Zoning out. But this felt different. It felt like I was stepping back so that someone else could step forward. Over the years, I’d ignored it. Checked out. Assumed it was a mini vacation for my troubled mind. Now, it was becoming more pronounced and terrifying. I’d always had control of it. Now I felt like it had control of me.

“What happened back there?” Sin finally asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

I said nothing. I had no answer. Saying I didn’t know didn’t seem helpful, so I just stared into the heater, my hands twisted on my lap.

“You clearly speak, Siren. So speak. Talk to me.” He sounded almost desperate. He reached for me, but I jerked away from him.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” he said. “I want to help you.”

I glared at him, remembering the coffin and the pill. I shouldn’t be angry with him, but I couldn’t help myself. I cared about him just like the watchers did. I didn’t want harm to come to him, but in that moment, I didn’t want him touching me. I was still leery despite everything I knew. Despite what he’d done for me recently.

His Adam’s apple bobbed as he stared back at me. “I’m an asshole for what I did, OK? We both know that. I’d-I’d like to move on from it. So talk to me. Tell me what’s going on.”

I turned away from him, still silent.

He sighed but didn’t push the subject. Instead, he got up and went to a small carved-out room before returning with a bag of potato chips and two bottles of water. He opened the chips and offered me some.

I hesitated before dipping my hand into the bag and bringing out a handful. He seemed satisfied with that because he took his own handful out and munched along with me.

His phone buzzed several long moments into our silence, and he pulled it out and stared at the screen before sending a message and sighing.

“I’m sure you’re aware you’re in trouble,” he started.

I swallowed hard and tightly wrapped my arms around myself like they would protect me.

“That was Asylum. He’s coming.”

I shivered at his words. Asylum was coming. He’d know what to do. Hopefully, that didn’t include shoving me back into a coffin and throwing away the key. Even though I was getting better about all that had transpired between us. I was still a mess at times. The emotions were so conflicting.

“I’m sorry, it’s Asylum and not Church or the guys."

I looked to him at that comment.

He raised his brows at me. “What? Do you want to see Asylum?”

I said nothing. All I knew was I didn’t want to see Sully or anyone related to their sick madness.

He narrowed his gray eyes this time. “Or is it someone else?”

I bit my bottom lip and glanced away from him. I knew he was talking about Mirage. I hadn’t seen him in what felt like forever. I tried to not think about it, but being successful in those endeavors clearly wasn’t my strong point. I felt guilt over the entire situation. The fact Church hadn’t tried to kill me over it had surprised me.

But I knew that didn’t mean shit in the long run. Just because Church loved me didn’t mean he wouldn’t put me to rest in a grave somewhere. He’d told me as much already.

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