Page 178 of Shadow

“You OK?” I asked, holding Sirena against me.

She nodded tightly, a muscle thrumming along her jaw. I kissed her temple and didn’t say anything else as we drove. In fact, the SUV was silent the entire way to the airport. When we arrived, Church parked and we piled out.

Everett’s private jet awaited us, and we boarded quickly, each grabbing a seat. Church pushed me aside to sit beside Sirena, but I understood why. He wanted to talk to her about everything.

I took a seat next to Ashes and stared out the window.

This fucking weekend couldn’t get over fast enough.

* * *

“This venue is easy,”Ashes said. “I can start fires here, here, and here. It’ll clog up the ventilation systems pretty fast and put everyone in a state of panic.” He pulled out something from his bag and placed it on the table.

“What’s that?” I asked, staring at what looked like a grenade.

“I made it. It’s basically a gas that, when the pin is pulled, will go off and daze everyone. Messes with their heads. It’ll make them feel little out of it. Confused and all that.”

“Won’t people die if they’re too confused to leave the venue? I don’t want to kill a bunch of innocent people,” I said, frowning.

“The fire will be mostly smoke at first. It’ll take a long time to really take off. I planned it that way on purpose. It’ll buy us the time we need to grab and go. If anyone is stupid enough to stick around, then they deserve to burn.” Ashes sat back in his seat in the high-rise apartment we were in. Apparently, Chuch owned it. The place was massive and immaculate.

“What’s it made out of? The gas?” Asylum asked, nodding to the grenade-like device.

“Science, baby. The only thing I excel at.” Ashes grinned, not giving away his secret.

“Good. Shadow, you’ll stay behind with Sirena—” Church started, but Sirena jumped to her feet, shooting a glare at him.

“I don’t want you involved in this. You’ll stay here with Shadow. It’s safe here. I don’t knwo what the fuck sort of mess we’ll end up in. Lorenzo De Luca isn’t a novice. There will be armed men. His father is one of the biggest dons in the world. I’m not risking you. You’ll stay. Got it?”

She huffed, her glare still hard.

Church side and kissed her gently. “I’m not trying to control you. I’m trying to protect all of us. Please. Trust me. I’ll bring her home, OK?”

She softened, hugging him tightly. He didn’t say it, but I could tell she didn’t continue to fight him on it.

“Shadow, you good with that?”

“Yes,” I said immediately.

“Perfect. Well, let’s get some sleep. Tomorrow is a big fucking day.”

Everyone shuffled off to Church’s room. I’d seen the massive fucking bed he had in there. We’d all fit comfortably in it with room for more.

We took turns in the bathroom before getting into bed. I was fortunate to slide in next to Sirena, with Church on her other side. Stitches lay beside him, and Ashes, Asylum, and Sin filled in next to me.

Sirena snuggled against Church.

“This is weird,” Asylum said. “Never shared a bed before with this many dudes before.”

“Get used to it,” Church answered.

“I probably could…if Asher wasn’t a fucking blanket hog.”

“I’m not doing shit wrong,” Ashes said, sighing.

“I have this tiny corner to cover my ass with. Someone better give up the blanket,” Asylum said. “I don’t like my feet uncovered. That’s how fucking demons get you at night.”

“For fuck’s sake,” Stitches groaned. “There are no demons.”

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