Page 167 of Shadow

“Hey, Bryce,” Devon said as Shadow helped me to slide in next to Church.

“Hey—”

“Bryce is dead. This is Shadow,” Stitches said from behind Shadow. “And you’re in my way, so say what you need to say so I can sit down.”

“Oh. I, uh, I was wondering if you wanted to come hang out tonight. We’re going to play some games. I want a rematch.”

“Hey, Bryce.” Lucy moved to stand next to Devon. “I’ve been missing you. You never answered me about us hanging out together again. We could pick up where we left off last time.”

She must have thought we couldn’t hear her since it was loud in the church because of all the students coming in, but there was a lull in the noise and her voice carried.

I stood at the same time Church did. It was like he was reading my mind.

I swept forward, my blood boiling at her boldness. She knew Shadow was with me now. She was out of her mind to even suggest…

I shoved her hard, sending her flailing back. Asylum had arrived and caught her, pushing her back to me with a wicked smile on his face.

“You dropped something, firefly,” he said brightly.

Lucy’s eyes widened.

“Baby, it’s OK,” Shadow started, but I wasn’t having it. It wasn’t OK.

I slapped her so hard in the face that her head snapped sideways. Anyone around us paying attention gasped.

My hands shook as I tried to restrain myself.

“Easy,” Church murmured in my ear. “I’ll handle it.”

I backed away, knowing he was much less likely to get in trouble than I was.

“Brave girl,” Church murmured, staring Lucy down.

“I-I didn’t mean…”

“No?” Church cocked his head at her. “You didn’t mean what? That you were inviting Shadow over to fuck you? Is that what you mean?”

She blinked, her breathing heavy. Devon shifted uneasily.

“Don’t lie to me. I don’t like liars,” Church continued dangerously.

“I didn’t mean anything by it,” Lucy said. “I swear.”

“Liar, liar, pants on fire. Lucy’s going to swing for trying to get dick for hire,” Asylum said, his hands clutching her biceps tightly.

Church reached forward and gripped her face tightly.

“You are not one of us. You never approach one of us again. Do you understand?”

She nodded vigorously.

“She lies,” Asylum hissed out. “She wants Shadow’s big, fat cock. She’s willing to try again because she learns lessons hard, don’t you, Lucy goosey?”

“Church, man, really. I would never go—” Shadow said.

“Of course you wouldn’t, but rules are rules. Punish her.” Church raised his brows at Shadow. “You’re one of us, and we punish those who offend, and she has offended all of us, especially Sirena. No one fucking hurts our girl, even her feelings. So… punish her.”

Shadow nodded firmly and turned back to Lucy. “Knees,” he said in a soft, dangerous voice.

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