Page 2 of In the Light of Sin

Keep it together, Joslyn. You’re doing this for Jordyn.

I tried to get in the center of the party to see if the wire I had on would catch any good information about the Flock for the Souls. If anyone was going to take them down, it was them.

And they needed to be stopped…

My mind went to poor Clarissa. There haven’t been any updates about her since Greyson and Ace helped her back home from the compound, but I could only hope she was coping in a healthy manner.

Greasy hair. Predatory eyes. Threatening whispers in my ear.

I sucked in a breath, eyes slamming shut to will the ghost of him away. His face made my resolve grow, giving me more nerve to complete this mission. Even though I couldn’t hear the words being said, they were all transcribing through the wire that Darrell had me wearing. I just hope it’s working, and I won’t sweat the adhesive off. When we tested it earlier today, it was very clear, but there’s no telling what I’m picking up now that I’ve actually been thrown into this nightmare.

I was just a lamb in a den of wolves who knew they could play with me but chose the right moment to attack.

Biting the inside of my cheek, I thought of the big bad wolf who raised all sorts of Hell about me coming here. In the end, sedation was threatened, and he wouldn’t have been here for me at all, a thought that apparently scared him more than me coming here by myself. But I had to do this. People’s lives were at stake. My life paled in comparison.

Besides, the only reason I was even allowed in here was because of my enabling Jordyn. She believes there’s no way I could still be associated with the Souls, especially since they’ve done their best to lay low and stay clear of our childhood home. It’s not like the Souls could even disguise themselves anymore, as their wanted posters and info are strewn all around this party. I’m just going to assume it’s that way at all the Bloods’ regular haunts.

I could feel eyes on me, burning their way over me as I continued my way through the bodies. I know he’s here–just outside in the shadows– always watching. I’ve learned to embrace the darkness that has become my new shadow.

And now, when I felt a pair of eyes I have yet to see, I felt comfort knowing that he would sooner break the neck of someone who’s wronged me than harm me.

It felt nice, someone being in your corner for once.

Maybe if I had that reassurance and comfort when I was sixteen, my life wouldn’t have turned out this way.

The other viable reason for me being here is the Bloods… well they weren’t run by a bunch of scholars. And since the Souls took out half of their members, it was a massive blow to the organization and its numbers. According to Jordyn, this disgusting nightmare I’m currently wading through is a recruitment party.

Looking around, seeing all the white powder residue, bags of what seemed to be every pill on the market, and the men with their heads tilted back, hands buried in the hair of whatever poor woman was sucking their dicks, I wasn’t hopeful for the future of the Bloods. Not that I ever was.

But now they had the Flock on their side. Who knows what kind of reinforcements they were giving the Bloods.

Trying to get my bearings on where I’ve ended up in this hell hole, I see a group of men huddled in the corner. There were three of them, all tall and lanky from apparent drug use if the tract marks on their elbows were any indication. Their skin was pale, grayish in the dim lighting. One was sporting a buzz cut, while the other two had unkempt, greasy shoulder-length hair. They were each holding their own bottle of beer by the neck. I told myself repeatedly to stay calm, even though my eyes were locked on the bottles they had in their grasps and not their moving lips to catch some of what they were saying.

With bodies deliberately running into me, I closed in on them, acting like I was getting a bottle from the table close to them. I had to keep up the ruse, using the edge of the table to pop the tab open.

The malty scent wafted into my nose, my mouth watering at how close my temptation was. All I had to do was bring the bottle to my lips and tilt my head back, letting my old vice consume me yet again. Knowing it was wrong but feeling so right, I began to raise the opening closer to my lips as the world around me disappeared—

A rough hand gripped my shoulder, bringing me out of my thoughts and off the ledge in my mind. My eyes instantly widened as I was harshly whipped around. Trying to keep my feet under me, I looked up to face a damn near growling man. He was clearly inebriated and furious. My eyes immediately fall to his mouth, realizing he’s grinding out words at me.

Focus.You’re life literally might depend on it.My hearing aids were rendered virtually ineffective from the moment I stepped in here, so trying to read his lips is my only option. The stench of alcohol coming off his breath had me suddenly throwing my head to the side to avoid it.

Wrong choice.

His hand grabbed my shoulders roughly, shaking me with his teeth clenched tightly together. The aggressive jolts of movement caused my aids to blare even louder than before, my body tensing up and my eyes slamming shut. I have to try to play this off so I don’t give it away. He grabbed a fistful of my dress, slightly ripping the fabric as he dragged me through the crowd. My mind was paralyzed by fear. Oh God, was he going to find the wire? Was he going to rip it off of me and broadcast my betrayal to the entire party of people who wouldn’t hesitate to put an end to me? They were already looking for a reason to. This guy finding the wire would just make it more justified to them. The wire was taped between my breasts, not the most ideal place, but a place that wouldn’t be the first choice for someone to grab.

I would be caught if his hand moved downwards and to the right. I had to keep my composure and follow him even though every thought in my head told me to claw his hand off my body and run. But I couldn’t. Where would I go? I had a better chance at survival going with the man who might literally kill me.

My feet were moving without consent as my eyes shot around the crowd, looking for a savior in a room full of people who would surely just tell me I deserved whatever this man had planned for me. My eyes suddenly stop on Jordyn’s. My own shade of emerald green mirrored back at me. By design, they are identical, but by years of wrong roads taken, they are vastly different.

Mine looked at hers with fear and desperation.

Hers with a cold glint that can only be perceived asyou deserve this.

My stomach sank as I watched her with the catty women surrounding her. I could tell by the way her mouth was moving that they were all laughing at my misery, a smirk on Jordyn’s lips as she sent me off with a mocking wave.

My heart dropped to my stomach. She was just going to let this man do whatever he wanted to me? Whatever his intentions were, I could feel it radiating off of him was a dire situation for me. I’d been to the Bloods’ parties in the past. At the end of the day, there was always an unfortunate soul covered in blood, never to open their eyes again.

Tonight, it looks like that poor individual might be me.

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