Page 4 of Shadow

He let out a breath and gave me another thumbs up.

“She’s doing well. Quiet, mostly. She simply wants you.”

He shifted slightly before letting out a whimper at the pain he was in.

I pushed the button on his meds to get him more painkillers. Within moments, he was sleeping from the combination.

I held his hand and stared at him. So many emotions coursed through me. I wasn’t good at dealing with them, but I’d gotten better, so I said what I felt.

“I love you,” I said softly. “Sleep, brother. We’ll take over the world when you wake.”

* * *

I walkedinto the house to find Sirena waiting for me on the couch with Mirage. Bryce, however, was an unwelcome surprise as he sat on Sirena’s other side. Mirage hadn’t said shit about bringing him along.

Ashes and Stitches had both gone to Sin to give us some privacy.

“Cady is sleeping,” Mirage said as I hung my coat in the closet.

I hated how he was in my head. I simply liked to know where people staying in my house were. Sirena had given her room to Cady and had agreed to sleep in my bed with me, even though I knew she’d also join Ashes and Stitches at some point.

“Thanks,” I muttered, immediately going to Sirena and pulling her to her feet and away from Bryce.

Mirage smirked at me when I tugged Sirena onto my lap in my chair.

“I didn’t realize you’d be draggingthatwith you,” I said, looking at Bryce. He had the decency to bow his head and stare at the floor.

Sirena tapped her finger to my lips to silence me.

“Well, I thought this next part was important,” Mirage said, adjusting his rabbit mask.

“Fine. Talk,” I said, deciding the sooner he spoke, the sooner he’d get Andrews out of my living room.

“Sirena, my sweet, come,” Mirage commanded.

I ground my teeth as she rose to her feet at his words and went to him.

“Careful,” I growled when he rested his hand on her waist and whispered into her ear. The way she leaned into him drove me insane. Balling my hands into tight fists, I had to count backward slowly so I wouldn’t lose it on him.

I knew I’d said she got to choose, but fuck me, I honestly hoped she was done with it all. Mirage. Asylum. Decent guy. Fucking weird, but I could get past it. I was open to the possibility, but only because of what he’d done for her in the facility and the fact that I wanted her to feel like she had some control. I wasn’t a fan of the fact he’d put her in a fucking coffin and caused all that shit, though. She’d made it clear she was interested in him despite his crimes.

It was when Bryce stood and guided her away, his hand on the small of her back, that I sat forward, ready to strike.

“Easy, Dante.” Mirage’s voice pulled me away from my murderous thoughts. “We have a gift for you.”

I said nothing, my focus on Bryce as he went to the kitchen with Sirena and opened our fridge. He pulled a gift out and handed it to her before they both walked back to me.

Sirena went to her knees in front of me and handed me the package.

“What is this?” I asked, my eyes narrowed at Mirage. I cast a cursory look at Bryce to see him watching Sirena. It was taking all my willpower not to plant my fist in his pretty face. He definitely stopped being subtle a while ago.

“A gift. Have you never gotten one before?” Mirage’s blue eyes were focused on me as he sat forward.

I grunted, not bothering to comment. My life wasn’t all Christmas gifts and birthday presents.

“I suppose my question is why,” I said.

“Because it’s proof,” Mirage answered, his elbows on his knees.

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