Page 122 of Shadow

“I don’t know. Church said a few weeks.” I sat on the bed and stared at the sparkles on the wall. “I can’t wait, though. I miss her. It’s killing me.”

“I know.” He sat next to me. He looked so out of place in the room. Black shirt. Black pants. Shaggy black hair. Tatted arms, face, neck, hands. A noose around his neck he wore like a tie. He looked like a horror story surrounded by pink.

“I barely sleep. And I keep hearing Sin crying at night. Shit sucks,” he continued.

“I heard him last night.” I sighed. “I wanted to go in and talk to him, but I decided against it.”

“Same.”

We were both quiet for a moment.

“What will we do if this kid is Sin’s?” Stitches asked.

“I honestly don’t know. Stand by his side. He’s going to need us.”

“Do you think Sirena will just say fuck it at that point?” The vulnerability in his voice made my stomach twist. “I mean, she’s decided she wants Bryce. He could just take her away and give her a normal life. You know that prick could. He’s too damn wholesome.”

“He’s a killer like we are,” I pointed out. “He’s not so pure, man.”

“Whatever. I’ll believe it when I see it.”

I didn’t say anything. I knew Stitches didn’t like him, but I also knew he would accept him eventually. I didn’t think Bryce was a bad person, but I didn’t really know him. As much as I wanted to hate him, I also had to respect him because he’d been through hell to get his spot at Sirena’s side. That meant he was strong and capable of hanging on.

That was important because this life could be hell.

“Just be cool when she gets here with him. Whenever that is.”

“I can’t guarantee it, but I’ll try. For angel.”

I looked over at him and gave him a sad smile. “A lot has changed, hasn’t it?”

He nodded. “Sometimes it’s just hard to believe. I can’t believe Sirena is real sometimes and that she loves us all.”

I nodded at that. “I feel the same.”

“Think we could call her?” he asked, his voice soft. “I hate the distance.”

I answered by pulling my phone out tapping her name on my screen. The phone rang for a long time with no answer. I sighed and disconnected the call, feeling a little let down.

“Call dipshit’s number,” Stitches mumbled.

I knew he was talking about Bryce, so I called him. His phone rang four times before he answered the video call.

“Hey,” he mumbled, rubbing his eyes. It appeared he was still in bed and wasn’t wearing a shirt.

I glanced at Stitches, who had tensed beside me.

“Hey, man. We’re trying to reach Sirena,” I said.

“Uh… one second.” He shuffled for a minute, the screen darkening.

“Hey, Sirena? Sirena? Sorry. Ashes is on the phone for you.” He laughed softly. “Aw, you’re so pretty when you wake.”

Stitches made a gagging motion with his finger in his mouth.

“You know she’s pretty in the morning,” I whispered to him.

“She’s beautiful always, but I don’t like hearing him say it,” he mumbled back.

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