Page 85 of In the Light of Sin

She was in pain. Physically. Mentally. Emotionally. But she still put everyone before herself, even if they were the ones causing it.

Like her sister… that was a tough thing to fathom. There was a time when she cared about Joslyn enough to give up her future just to get Joslyn out of a sure-death situation. I didn’t know Jordyn before the Bloods took over every facet of her personality and habits, but she was the strongest of the two of them. Joslyn lived in her shadow with her disability, watching her sister be who Joslyn wished she could be.

Jordyn didn’t deserve to get involved. Joslyn didn’t force her to take her place either. But fuck, was I thankful she did. Joslyn would be six feet in the ground if Jordyn hadn’t done what she did, but Joslyn lost everyone who was supposed to care about her. She’s spent the past nine years unloved, feeding her addiction just to give it up and lose her only family in the process.

But now, she had me. And I was the only one she needed in her life.

“Wake up, Sunshine.” I felt dumb after I said it. Her hearing aids were out, so she couldn’t hear me. One day, she would, when she got the implant. Which reminds me that the appointment for that was tomorrow. I wasn’t lookin’ forward to dealin’ with that dick of a doctor. I was half tempted to give Hex a marker to do it.

I brought my hand up to her peaceful face, surprised but thankful that she didn’t have a trace of darkness plaguing her when she slept. My thumb brushed her cheekbone, her steady breaths always bringing me comfort.

Her eyes opened groggily, revealing her emerald green eyes that captivated me like nothing else could. The woods were always my place. It’s where I went hunting with Pops and picked berries with Ma. It was my calming place… just like Joslyn calmed whatever the fuck was inside of me.

“Mornin’.” She read my lips, and I blew out an amused breath when she groaned, burying her face back in the pillow. I tapped her cheek, making her look at me again. Her cheeks were caked with dried makeup, bags under her eyes, and slightly bloodshot. She was still fuckin’ gorgeous, but I knew she’d feel better cleaned up. I reached behind me, picked up her hearing aids that I took out, and gave them back to her. I made sure she had them in before I tried to talk again, “Go get a shower. I’ll make some breakfast.”

She perked up at that. “French toast and berries?”

I’d given up my morning routine in favor of watching her sleep. Now, I was giving up my normal carnivore breakfast. The things I was doin’ for this slip of a woman. “Guess I can do that.”

She beamed that smile I always craved from her as she squealed, throwing her arms around my neck and pressing her lips to mine. I didn’t reciprocate, too surprised at what she did. She noticed my lack of return, and her expression faltered. “Oh, uh, sorry? I really liked waking up seeing your face and you making breakfast.“

I shut up her little rant by pressing my lips against hers. Fucking loved the feeling of her soft lips against mine. This was gonna have to be part of my morning routine with her. I pulled back, her eyes wide and cheeks flushed. “You just caught me off guard. Like you always do.”

She just grinned, coming back in for one more kiss before jumping out of bed. She was still in my oversized hoodie and a pair of leggings from the fight. Her clothing was wrinkled. I’d have to get her some more. She may have started wearing my shirts because she gained a few new curves, but I was gonna make damn sure that’s all she wore at our cabin.

Our cabin?

Christ, she wrecked some of it. Now, I was giving her slight ownership of it. She owns me. What’s my space compared to that?

I huffed, throwing the covers off me and getting started on her frilly breakfast.

If it was gonna be our cabin, I would be making some changes to it.

* * *

“I can take the day off.”

She could. I wanted her too, but I needed her occupied to do what I planned on doin’. “You’d be crazy worryin’ about puttin’ Claudia out.”

That was also the truth. Her cute pout returned, “Get out of my head, please?”

“Can’t,” I grunted, hood up as I opened the door to Poppy Oaks. “It’s mine.”

The scent of fresh flowers hit me like a freight train, and I had to refrain from sneezing. Nyla and Oakley were behind the counter, quietly chatting while V was leaning against the wall, eyes blank as he watched us come closer.

Joslyn, being her bright self, cheered when she saw her friends and threw her arms around them, Nyla reciprocating while Oakley tolerated it. V stepped forward, noticing Oakley’s discomfort, but I stepped in front of him. “Don’t.”

His dark eyes looked at me. He was the only brother who matched my height and strength. It’s never come to blows between us, and if it did, I wouldn’t know who would come out as the winner, but I knew we both wouldn’t back down. “She’s uncomfortable.”

“Oops,” Joslyn muttered when she heard V’s words. “Sorry, Oak.” Her apology was sheepish as she let go of her shy friend.

“I-It’s okay.” Despite her trying to calm down from the touch, she smiled at her. “I thought you were going to take the day off?”

She looked at me. “I was, but I need something familiar to keep me from going crazy.”

Nyla snorted, sporting a knowing grin. “Sarge couldn’t have kept you occupied?”

She cocked an eyebrow back at her. “Who says he’s good at doing that?”

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