Page 185 of Sinful

I said nothing, watching him worry over me.

He didn’t need to worry for me. None of them did. I was tired of people always being scared I was going to break because of how weak I was.

“I need to call the guys.” He pulled his phone out. “We’ve been so worried, baby. So fucking worried. We thought we’d lost you.” His voice trailed off.

Anger surged through me.

They didn’t deserve this. None of them deserved to constantly be going through this with me.

I needed to be brave.

The words kept repeating in my head.

I needed to be a villain too. Princesses ended up captured. But villains. . . they were in control.

And that’s what I wanted.

Control.

I held his hand for a moment before he kissed me again. When he pulled away, he put the phone to his ear and spoke.

“She’s back.”

No.

She wasn’t.

Iwas.

The brave Sirena. The one who lurked in the darkness. The one who wanted to merge that darkness with her guys and make a stronger world for all of them.

A ghost of a girl who wanted more.

And one who would get it.

STITCHES

Iwatched Sirena smile as she sat on the couch next to Ashes three days after she returned home. She’d been more quiet and withdrawn. It didn’t seem possible, considering she didn’t speak much to begin with, but this was different. It was almost like she was always lost in thought.

But she was here, and that was all that mattered.

To say we were thrilled was an understatement. O’Brien told us he believed she had some PTSD, and certain episodes triggered it to the extreme. As a coping mechanism, she’d retreat inside her mind.

As long as she came back to us, I’d learn to handle it if that’s what was going to happen. O’Brien suggested that with the right medication and therapy, she may be able to find coping mechanisms to overcome it.

She’d sat and listened to him talk about it without anything akin to caring on her face. In fact, she just seemed. . . lost.

Mirage had been in and out all week checking on her. Each time he’d arrive, her face would light up. Yesterday, I’d watched her run her thumb lightly over the scars on his wrist when she didn’t think we were looking. I knew Ashes had seen it, too, because he’d frowned at the movement but had looked away without a word. I was grateful Church hadn’t seen it. He may have mentioned the possibility, but that didn’t mean shit when it came down to it.

And Sin.

I knew his ass had seen the affection she’d shown Mirage.

I didn’t have any issues at this point with Mirage. Asylum. Whoever the fuck he was. It was that shared trauma bond. I was all for anyone who was willing to save our girl. The only thing I found myself concerned with was Church. If this were going to happen, it needed to happen slowly so he could acclimate, and it certainly couldn’t be hidden.

But was it hidden if I knew about it?

I let my legs bounce as I mulled everything over.

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