Page 129 of Shadow

“Fuck, heaven, I’m trying….”

“She said she loves what you made. That it’s good,” I said softly. “And she would like you to teach her how to make the potatoes because she loves them.”

Her colorful eyes snapped to me. No emotion on her face as she stared me down.

I swallowed hard and went back to eating.

“Oh. Yeah, babe. I can do that. I’d love to do that,” Ashes said brightly.

I didn’t see her reaction, but it must have been good because Ashes laughed before going back to eating.

The rest of the dinner was spent in small talk among everyone except me, Sirena, and Shadow. He was quiet. As long as I had known him, he had always been that way, but I suppose when you’re doing the shit he did and had the name he had, you didn’t run around talking all the damn time.

Sirena stood and helped Ashes clear the table. I caught little peeks at her whenever I could.

“You should just talk to her,” Shadow said softly to me as we sat on the couch.

I didn’t say anything, opting to stare at the floor.

“Sin,” Church called out. “Five minutes. My room.”

I sighed, knowing he was going to force this on me.

Sirena came into the living room with Ashes and went to sit next to Cady, but Church stood and grabbed her hand.

“Come,” was all he said as he led her from the room.

“He’s such a dick,” Cady muttered.

“He is, but that’s how he gets what he wants,” Stitches said. He looked over to Shadow. “So. Bryce Andrews.”

“Malachi Wolfe,” Shadow replied, eyeing him wearily. “I don’t want to fight today.”

“I didn’t say we were,” Stitches answered. “Tell me about yourself.”

Shadow sighed. “Man, come on. You know about me…”

I tuned them out and looked to the stairs. If I didn’t go up there, Church would probably send Cady to her room and then make me fuck Sirena in front of everyone. I didn’t want that.

I quietly left the room, catching Mirage’s eye along the way. I couldn’t tell his expression because of his damn rabbit mask, but if I had to guess, it would be encouraging.

I went upstairs to Church’s room and knocked softly.

“Come in,” Church called out.

I entered the room to see Sirena standing at the window with Church, his arms around her, her back to his chest as they stared into the woods.

He released her and turned to me. He nodded his head for me to take his spot.

Fuck. My guts twisted at touching her again. Not in a bad way. In a desperate way. I wanted her more than anything in this world.

I was scared to be rejected, though. She’d not even looked twice at me during dinner.

Church’s eyes flashed, his anger surfacing.

I didn’t want a scene. I just wanted to be in the right place in my head to do this. Church wouldn’t allow me more time, though, so I stepped up behind her. She hadn’t even turned around when I came into the room.

Forcing everything I had into moving forward, I stepped behind her and brought her carefully into my arms.

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