Page 133 of Sinful

I’d been trying to distract myself from burning down the house. Or at least a portion of it. Stress typically put me right on the cusp of a forest fire. I was teetering on that delicate line. Knowing Church was most likely going to explode when he got home, I was losing it. Once he found out about Sin and Sirena, we’d have World War III in this bitch. Someone always died when Church lost it. I really didn’t want it to be Sin.

Inhaling, I sucked in the sweetness of nicotine before blowing out a cherry-scented ring.

“I don’t know. Something. Anything. I need to get out of this fucking house. I hate winter. I hate being stuck here. I hate worrying—”

I got up and went straight for my jacket and boots. The last damn thing I needed to deal with was Stitches falling again. Plus, I needed a distraction too.

“Come on.” I looked back at him after pulling my boots on. “Let’s go set something on fire and then get some food.”

He grunted and followed me out, having already been dressed for the outdoors because he’d been getting high on the patio overlooking Lake Superior.

“Nice,” I commented as we stepped onto the walkway.

In our yard was a decapitated snowman with pinecones for ears.

“That’s fitting,” Stitches muttered. “Maybe Sirena is psychic.”

I sighed. “Let’s hope not.”

“Hey, where’s Rina?” Cady called out, trotting up to us, her breath puffing out in white clouds.

“Uh, she’s with Sin,” I answered. “Why?”

“Damn. I was thinking we could do a scary movie night and some hot chocolate. She makes really good hot chocolate, and I had a craving for some.” She frowned and pushed a dark piece of hair away from her face. “Where are you guys going?”

“Out,” Stitches mumbled.

“Cool.” She fell in step with us.

I glanced at Stitches to see if he’d protest, but he looked deep in thought.

I cleared my throat. “So, what’s been up with you lately?”

“Nothing. Just hanging out,” she answered.

“Different dude every night?” Stitches came out of his thoughts and looked to her.

She smirked. “Sometimes. I don’t fuck all of them.”

“At least not at once,” he shot back. “You have a sign-up sheet or something?”

She rolled her eyes. “You’re being an exceptional cocksucker today, stranglehold. What’s going on with you?”

He shook his head and didn’t say anything.

“It’s Sirena,” I said as we trudged to the small shed near our house. I pulled out a key and unlocked the door before stepping inside.

“What about her?” Cady’s voice had an edge of concern in it.

“Well, she wants Sinclair now, and Church has threatened to murder him if he touches her. And he’s definitely touching her,” I said, stepping into the shed. I went to the box on the wall, then pulled out two sets of keys and tossed one to Stitches.

“Wait. And you guys are OK with this? After the shit he did to her?” Cady didn’t bother to keep the anger out of her voice.

“She’s capable of making her own decisions.” I glanced to Stitches, who scrubbed his hand down his face but nodded.

“Yeah, but it’s that fucker. He hurt her—”

“He loves her,” Stitches said. “We know he does. He’s just a fuck-up is all. I think he’s over that hurdle, though. Now, he’s fallen into the same deep abyss the rest of us have. Only he’s still falling.”

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