Page 122 of In the Light of Sin

That sparked the light back where it belonged. In her eyes.

* * *

“Not used to seeing your face, brother,” Grim commented but was smart enough to not stare too long. I felt twitchy when anyone besides Joslyn stared for longer than a millisecond. We came back to the clubhouse to have a party for Joslyn. She was over with Nyla and Victoria, chatting animately about whatever the fuck girls talked about. And I was over here annoyed as fuck she wasn’t by my side. “We’re sure pussies for our girls, ain’t we?”

I grunted, not disagreeing. I’d do anything for Joslyn, and she knew damn well I would. Literally fucking killed for her and would until the breath left my body. Thought I was going to be alone forever, but God had other plans. Never had any reason to thank Him before, but if it meant I could keep Joslyn, I’d build my own chapel.

“I’m glad you hid your face all this time.” Tyrant sat himself down on the stool next to mine. I was already preparing the little patience I possessed for whatever smart-ass comment was coming out of his irritating mouth next. “You would’ve given me a run for my money with the ladies. They dig scarred men.”

I wouldn’t have been interested in them. The thought of being with anyone but Joslyn made my skin crawl. She dug into me, forever solidifying an empty spot in me I never knew existed.

I’m glad she was able to see it, though.

“Brother.” I looked at Grim when his voice dropped, sounding serious. “Nyla’s not a cure for the demons in my head. There are still days I’d rather be dead than be with her. But leavin’ her alone knowin’, there’s a chance she’d follow me to the grave? It snaps me out of it enough to not go through with whatever intrusive thought popped into my head that day.” I’m not sure why he was spilling his guts to me. Grim wasn’t a man I told my feelings to. I didn’t tell any of my brothers shit. “Joslyn ain’t gonna be that for you either.”

I knew she wasn’t. Just like I knew that I wouldn’t be that for her either. Someone can only do so much to distract us from the war going on inside. They were a band-aid compared to the kerosene thrown at us. But that little patch of hope is what made us want to keep going, and for Joslyn, I’d slay any demon of mine I could.

I studied Grim. He looked more exhausted than usual. The bags under his hazel eyes are more noticeable, and the stress marks at the corner popping out. I wanted this club to be safer. We used to be men with no qualms for dying, and now Grim and I had someone worth fighting for. I glanced to the bar where Prez was nursing a scotch before returning my eyes to Grim. “We need to talk about Prez.”

“Your girl just got her GED,” he brushed off even though his hazel eyes darkened to brown. “Today’s a day of celebration. Not potential destruction.”

Yeah. Shit was about to change the Unforgiven Souls forever. That look in Grim’s eyes was one he reserved for our enemies. I didn’t bother telling anyone about what went down between Prez and I. I looked at Joslyn again. She felt my eyes on her. I knew since she turned her head to me, waving her delicate fingers.

I needed to build a safe and secure future. For her sake.

I clenched my fist hard enough to indent my palm with my fingernails. I still wanted to know who the fuck was talking to me the morning after the fire. I couldn’t make it out due to the heavy drugs and sedation I was coming off of. I knew I had to speak about the shit Douglas knew and Prez’s reaction.

Joslyn rushed over to our table. When she was close enough, I grabbed her hips, pulling her onto my lap. One of my arms lazily circled her hip while my elbow rested on the table in front of us. Her smile was bright, locking her arms around my neck. “Wasn’t today amazing?”

Any day with you is amazing.I couldn’t tell her that, so instead, I shrugged with a low grunt, making her eyes roll and a laugh leave her lips. I looked at her pretty pink mouth and told her, “I had fun in the janitor’s closet.”

“For thirty seconds.” Tyrant taunted loud enough that the whole room stopped what they were doing to look over at us. Joslyn squeaked, face hot as she tried to hide in my chest. My chest vibrated with a growl, swiping at a laughing Tyrant who easily dodged my blow.

My hand left Joslyn’s hip, rubbing up and down her spine, loving the way she shivered under my fingertips. She brought her forehead to mine, eyes looking at her lap. “Did you ever find out who did that to us?”

I hated thinking about that day. I had no damn leads, neither did the Souls. Joslyn didn’t see their faces as they knocked her out. Everything was still foggy as fuck about how we got out of there. Grim told me that Jordyn ran to him and told them what potentiality could happen. He didn’t care about Jordyn and thought she was full of shit. When she told Grim Joslyn hadn’t shown up when promised, they decided to head over there as a precaution and saw the fire. He said he found my body crushing Joslyn’s in a last attempt to save her from the blaze and that he thought they were too late.

Was it the Bloods? Was it the Flock? I felt a sucker punch to my stomach as my eyes flicked to Prez. His eyes were stuck on Joslyn with disapproval. It couldn’t have been him, right?

“No.” Ripping my eyes away from Prez as my hand tightened on her hip. “But I will. And when I do? They’ll fucking pay for what they’ve done.”

I felt her forehead lower. I turned up my mouth, lips brushing against the area. She loved it when I kissed her forehead. She felt warmth and happiness or some shit, at least thats what she told me.

“Oakley!” Tyrant shouted drawing our attention to the flustered girl bringing in a tray of sweets. Tyrant’s shout almost made her drop her tray to the floor. “What do you got for us today, sweetheart?”

She was starting to warm up around us, but slowly. She was still scared of her own damn shadow most days. Tyrant was first up, grabbing a cookie off the tray, giving her a charming smile, making her face turn red, and her stare at the floor, which made Knight laugh and take a cookie for himself. She smiled timidly at him. “I made Joslyn’s favorites. Lemon drop cookies.”

I snorted. Of course she likes those. She nuzzled into my chest, sighing in content. She’s been different since her surgery. Happier. She was still getting used to having magnets in her head and clearer sounds, but she was taking to the surgery well. The external magnet didn’t blend in well, but she wasn’t ashamed of it. She got more looks out in public, but she handled children’s questions with grace and judgmental people’s stares with a smile.

I don’t know how I got so fucking lucky with a girl like her.

The door was kicked open, drawing our attention to the large figure walking in.

V.

Not just V.

A very bloody V. But not with his own blood.

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