Page 11 of Shadow

I loved her more than anything I’d ever loved before. It all dimmed in comparison when it came to her.

We’d all been through hell and back. I was sure the journey would continue, but at least there was one less prick out there to fuck with us.

“How did Adam die?” I asked. No one would give me details, only that he was gone. I peered at Stitches through my swollen eyelids, really hoping he wouldn’t try to coddle me and keep the truth away. I already knew he hadn’t been able to harm Sirena more, so that offered me some comfort.

“Just rest?—”

“Malachi,” I warned hoarsely. “I want to know. Fucking tell me, or I swear to god I’ll get out of this bed and go straight to Ashes and ask him.” Ashes always caved. He was our resident softie. I was well enough now to know if I asked him, he wouldn’t hold back on me, especially if I stormed into the house in my hospital gown with my ass hanging out.

Stitches was quiet for a moment before he cleared his throat.

“Sirena killed him.”

I froze at his words. I’d never have thought that. I assumed Church got him, or Asylum or Mirage found him first.

“H-How?” I choked out.

Stitches sighed, pulled his hand away from mine, and laced it with his other hand on his lap. “She-She stabbed him to death.”

I stilled beneath his words, not even knowing what to say. Finally, I settled on the most important question.

“I-Is she OK?”

“She’s…good. Mirage and Bryce brought her back covered in blood, man. It was a damn mess. Church took her straight upstairs and washed her. Fucked her during it. You know how he is. After he was done, he gave her some sleeping meds and put her to bed. She never spoke of it. Didn’t seem upset. Nothing. She was normal.” His leg pounced as he paused. “Ashes wasn’t there. He went with you to the hospital, but we told him when we met up with him again. He had the same reaction as you. I think he’s still trying to deal with it.”

“Me too,” I murmured. “She’s just so… Sirena.”

Stitches looked at me and smirked sadly. “Sweet. Angelic. But it’s like Church said. We all lose it here eventually. I think she did. She had a good reason, so I’m glad she did it. I-I honestly don’t think I’d have it any other way.”

My eyelids felt heavy from the meds. I let my head fall back onto my pillow, so many thoughts racing through my mind until I settled on one.

“I’m glad she did it, too. I just wish she didn’t have to. This place fucks us all in the end.”

“She’ll be OK,” he said, sighing.

I nodded, my throat tight. “You damn right she will be. She has us.”

Stitches gave me a genuine smile. “Fuck yeah, she does. And if she has her way, I think she’ll have more.”

“Asylum. Mirage.Shadow,” I mumbled.

“Fuck, what a mess. Church will lose his shit on Bryce. Or Shadow. Whatever the hell Asylum is calling him. I’m not so sure I won’t. I’m teetering the edge, man.”

“I think it was Mirage, but I get it twisted sometimes.” My eyelids felt like lead. Whatever meds they had in my IV were some good shit.

Stitches sighed again. “Me too, man. Me too.”

“It’ll be OK. She deserves to be loved,” I mumbled.

I let my eyelids close, needing the rest but desperate to get home to my family. Of course, the truth had a way of fucking my life up. This time was no exception.

ASHES

Iwatched Sirena as she sat staring out the window in the living room. She’d tried to see Cady earlier, and it hadn’t gone well. Cady had cried and closed the door on her after whispering to her that she was sorry.

It was killing me to see this all unfold. Something awful had happened, and Sin was just as tight-lipped about it as Cady was. I knew it was bothering Sirena, too, because she’d been wanting to spend a lot of time alone the last few days. It was progressively getting worse as the days wore on. Worry was setting in.

“Heaven?” I knelt in front of her. She dragged her colorful eyes away from the outdoors to stare at me.

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