Page 82 of Breaking the Sinner

Cobra laughed weakly. “Oh yeah? You think you could get a punch in?”

Lex smirked. “You’re lucky you’re bruised or else I’d show you now.”

“Guess I lucked out today, then.” Cobra’s cheek twitched with the effort of keeping up the façade. The darkness invaded him quickly. And this time, he couldn’t keep the thought from spilling out. “I don’t get why you care so much. About me.”

Lex’s smile fell. “Are you serious? You’re like a little brother to me. You saved my life. And I’m gonna do everything I can to make sure you make it as far as possible.”

Cobra nodded, turning away. The unexpected jolt of tenderness made his chest hurt. If this was brotherhood, then it looked a helluva lot different than what he’d been sharing with Klay and Tyler all these years. Lex wasn’t gonna beat him with a baseball bat for acting out. He’d corner him in the locker room instead.

The difference made his head spin. And between Lex and Gen…there were too many damn feels in his life. He wasn’t used to the loving caring.

Lex shoved him playfully, and Cobra sucked on his teeth, shooing him away. “Get the fuck off me now. Your sappiness is gonna stain my shirt.”

Lex cackled, and Cobra couldn’t fight the grin. A brother. Unexpectedly earning one felt like a lot like a blessing. And the fact that he could even think in terms of blessings showed that he’d been hanging around Gen too damn much.

But for now, maybe that’s all that mattered. Letting Lex care about him. Letting Gen in. Not fighting it. Accepting the fact that there were two people in his life who actually gave a damn about him. Because at the very least, the two of them cancelled out Klay and Tyler.

Maybe that was better than it had always been.

Chapter 33

Cobra’s work week was cut short because of Thanksgiving. An extra day off. Everyone who worked at the gym buzzed with excitement. Except for Gen and Cobra.

For her, this formerly-favorite holiday felt a lot like mandatory volunteer service. Committed to show up, do the task, and then slink out as soon as her conscience would allow. She wouldn’t be doing it if Mary hadn’t asked. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to see her family—she did. She missed them terribly, and the past three months away had felt more like a year.

But the unknown of what came next—after Thanksgiving dinner, after the questions, after the disapproving looks—had her worried. Cobra had shown up to work earlier that week with a black eye the size of Montana. Her family wouldfreak. And furthermore, she needed to be careful to not let any of these new vocabulary words slip out.Fuckhad to go back into the vault;fudgemust reign supreme.Pussy, cock,andshitmost definitely couldn’t come out to play. Neither wouldghosting, toking,orYOLO.

It might be better if she kept her mouth shut.

She and Cobra had decided to drive north as soon as work got out on Wednesday. They’d clocked in with bags packed. Reluctance rolled off Cobra as they headed for his car under the late afternoon sun, which blazed orange-red with the golden hour. The sun set so early in the fall; they’d make the majority of their drive in the dark.

“I think we’re all set.” She shut the trunk gently, their bags safely stowed inside, and squinted up at Cobra. “You still want me to drive your car?”

Cobra nodded, but he didn’t smile. He pinched her elbow though—a good sign. She nibbled on her lip as she slid into the driver’s seat. She’d offered to drive, since her own car was in the shop. Four hours north to her parents’ house. And then the grand, unexpectedhello.

“Oooh, what’s this?” She pointed at a flashy touch screen stereo. Lime green letters scrolledWhat Up Bitches?on the screen as they piled into the car. “New stereo?”

He shrugged, but she caught a hint of pride in his eyes. “Yeah. Thought I’d get something new for my old girl. It was on sale.” He wet his bottom lip, looking at her.

“Excellent purchase.” The fact that Cobra had splurged on something for himself made her absolutely giddy, though she couldn’t exactly say why. They buckled up, and Gen started the car.

Cobra didn’t talk much as she pulled out of the Holt parking lot. As the blinkertick-tick-tickedsoftly, she worked up the courage to ask the question that had been burning inside her all day.

“Do you still want to do this?”

Cobra smirked. “Do you really want me to answer that?”

Gen sighed. “I think that’s my answer. I can drop you off at your apartment.”

Cobra’s faced darkened. “No, Gen. I’m going.”

“Are you sure?”

“I told you I would.”

She nodded, relaxing slightly. But whatever relief she found through Cobra’s assurance was replaced by doubt of how this unannounced homecoming might unfold.

You can love a place but not want to be there.Sophie’s words churned inside her as she drove through the mid-afternoon crush of Angelenos. What would she find after over three months away?

---