Page 101 of Shadow

She signed to him quickly, asking him if he was sure he was OK. He chuckled softly before brushing his lips against hers.

“No, but I will be because I love you, specter. I’m trusting our love.” He kissed her once more before backing away and going to the door.

“Take care of my girl,” he called out.

“Ourgirl,” Shadow corrected him bravely.

I raised my brows at his boldness and smirked.

Church nodded. “Right. Our girl.”

He left, leaving the three of us alone.

“Well, what a productive morning,” I said, flopping back onto the bed and grabbing the remote. I went to a new alien bug movie and hit play amid Shadow’s groan. Sirena let out a soft laugh before crawling between us on the bed. Shadow was quick to pull her into his arms and cuddle her as the screams rang out on screen.

Today was shaping up to be a really perfect day.

STITCHES

Ipaced the living room. Cadence finally fell asleep minutes before. Sin returned home through the window in his room. I’d heard him come in. Instead of going to him, I let him have this one.

“Church is coming,” Ashes said, yawning. “He should be here any minute.”

I nodded tightly and didn’t say anything. Church had texted once in the last twenty-four hours, saying Sirena was OK, but he wanted to stay with her. We’d really had no reason to tell him to come home because we needed her as much as we needed Sin, so we stayed behind to keep the peace.

But then Sin dipped overnight after sitting silently on the couch while Cady cried beside him. Neither spoke to the other. The tension was so thick it made me sick to my stomach.

The front door opened, and Church came in wearing his dark jacket. His hair was a mess from sleep and the wind.

I stopped pacing and watched him take off his winterwear before he came deeper into the room and settled into his chair. I sank onto the L of the couch and waited for him to speak.

“Church?” Ashes called out tentatively.

Church blinked and seemed to come back to the moment. I watched him rub the back of his neck. He sighed.

“What?” I demanded. “What do you need to talk about?”

When it was big, he’d rub his neck. I knew my fucking brother.

“I have news,” he finally said, clearing his throat. “I need you both to keep an open mind.”

I ground my teeth, wondering what fresh hell he was going to spring on our asses.

“As you know, I spent the night with Sirena. That means, by default, I spent it with Asylum and Shadow.” He shifted in his seat.

I raised my brows at his words and glanced at Ashes, who sat forward, his brows crinkled.

“Sirena was OK. She was upset, but once she calmed down, everything seemed fine.” Church raked his fingers through his hair.

“Good. That’s good,” I said, nodding.

“Yeah. It’s a shock for sure, but I was still worried,” Ashes murmured, flipping his lighter open and closed five times before the flame burst out. Then he restarted his ritual.

“Right.” Church licked his lips. “Listen, I made a deal with Shadow and Asylum that we need to discuss.”

I glanced at Ashes, who looked uneasy for a moment. Church making deals always scared the shit out of me. The fact that he was now referring to Bryce as Shadow had me on the edge of my seat.

Church went quiet again for a long time. “Get Sin. He needs to be here for this.”

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