Page 103 of Shadow

“Stitches? Good with that?” Church looked at me.

“I’m good with it,” I said, nodding. “I just ask that kids are way down the fucking road, man. We’re too young for all that, and I want to have some fun once we get shit sorted.”

“Agreed.” Church inclined his head at me. “Sin? Knees or knife?”

Sin was quiet for so long, I wasn’t sure he would answer. Finally, he parted his lips and whispered, “Knees.”

“Good. You better fucking beg her, too. She’s been through hell over this shit.”

Sin nodded wordlessly, his legs bouncing as he stared at the floor.

I breathed out and caught Ashes’s eye. He gave me a tiny smile, letting me know he was just as relieved as I was.

“Furthermore,” Church continued. “I let Asylum eat Sirena out last night. I watched her come for him.”

I glanced at Sin and Ashes again for a reaction.

“Any problems with that?” Church challenged.

“No,” I said immediately. “I saw what he was like with her in the facility. He loves her. He loves her even if he needs time, so I’m good with it.”

“I’m… OK, too, I guess,” Ashes said, stopping the flipping of his lighter lid.

“I know he cares about her,” Sin mumbled. “I’m fine with it. He’s a weirdo, but he is a good guy.” He paused and rubbed his chin. “What if Sirena won’t take me back?” Vulnerability laced through his voice. “I mean…shit’s fucked. Cady…a-a baby?—”

“Enough,” Church’s voice boomed out. “Fuckingenough, Sinclair. Stop the goddamn what-ifs. What if the fucking sky suffocates us tomorrow? What if the ground opens and swallows us whole? What’s done is done. You can’t change it, so you fucking deal with it. Got it?”

Sin nodded, his Adam’s apple bobbing.

“She loves you,” I murmured, looking at Sin. “Sirena loves you. Talk to her. She’ll take you back. She left to give you the space you needed. We trusted her to come back, and she is. Pretty sure that’ll include coming back to you if you tell her you want her. Church is right. You need to stop worrying. I get it, man. I do. I freaked out as well, but it’s Sirena.Our girl. She’s never leaving us for good. I trust in that now. I was terrified before, but now I get it. Do you get it?”

“I get it,” he whispered, wiping at his eyes. “I just don’t know how to approach her after all this shit.”

“Take your time,” Ashes said gently. “She’ll go at your speed. I know she will.”

Sin sniffled but nodded.

“OK, now that we have that shit sorted.” Church pulled out a joint. Ashes reached out and lit it for him. Church took a hit and blew out the smoke.

Cady came down the stairs then and moved to sit next to me on the couch.

“What the fuck do you want?” Church grumbled at her before taking another drag from his joint.

“I wanted to know if Sirena is OK,” she said as she twisted her fingers nervously in front of her.

“She’s fine,” Church said.

“That’s it? She’s just fine?”

“What the fuck else do you want me to say? What more do you want to know?” Church glared at her.

She shook her head. “You don’t need to be such an asshole.”

Church let out a mirthless laugh. “Fuck off, Cadence. You’re in my house, remember?”

“And I don’t fucking want to be!” she shouted, getting to her feet and glaring at him.

“Enough!” I yelled, standing up and forcing her to sit back on the cushion. “Fucking enough! I’m sick of all the tension and shit here. I can’t stand it. It’s driving me goddamn nuts.” I exhaled. “Claws, you’re here because Sirena wants you here. We want you here despite how it may seem. Whether any of us likes it or not, you’re family now, so fucking deal with it.”

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