Page 3 of In the Light of Sin

I knew coming to this party was a bad idea. But saving Jordyn was worth it… even if she did nothing but shoot me a smug look as I was dragged off by a total stranger with ill intent.

It was my fault. I deserve to suffer whatever consequence I had coming in order to save her from herself.

My eyes burned at her reaction. My mind rationalizes that I deserved it and it was my fault. What was even the point of fighting him? I was only five foot three, and he had to be almost six feet tall and wide enough to fit three of me inside of him. Even if I tried to fight him, there’s no chance the people at this party would care enough to bat an eye. They’d let me be swept away like they were doing right now.

He was moving us swiftly through the party, the Bloods and potential new members parting like the Red Sea for him with grins on their faces. I was glad I couldn’t hear their chants as this stranger led me to the door. Someone opened it for easy access for my assailant, slamming it behind us as we stepped onto the porch. The walls must’ve been soundproof since as soon as the door clicked, the sounds disappeared, allowing me to hear my surroundings again. Panic settled in as he began to drag me down the stairs—

The man’s grip on my shirt disappeared when his foot touched the sidewalk. I still couldn’t hear anything as my head swiveled in every direction. I gripped my chest to ease my heaving breaths. I pinpointed two figures on the side of the building: my attacker and a giant shadow of a man brawling against the mortar. The slight relief I felt from being freed from my attacker’s grasp, but fear racked into my body as his top half slammed against the brick siding. His hands clawed at the larger man, trying to get him to relinquish his hold. His struggle became more desperate as he was slammed against the mortar, head rippling painfully as it made contact.

Again.

And again.

I wasn’t sure if the red coloring was from the brick or the blood seeping from the back of his head.

The side of the house was shaking, and I couldn’t tell if it was my own trembling or my attacker’s body being rammed into the dilapidated old brick.

One final slam and his struggling stopped. He went slack, neck drooping to the side and chest unmoving as the dark figure breathed heavily. I couldn’t see his hidden expression due to the hood he always wore. The man’s lifeless body dropped to the ground, never to move again. All I could do was stare unblinking, both of us still heaving calm breaths in the stunned silence now enveloping us. His growl zapped from my shock and back into reality from my drunken stupor.

“Touch her and fuckin’ die.” His words were as dark as the shadow that hid his face from the world. He turned around, suddenly more collected, looking every bit as menacing as the day I met him all those months ago at the Unforgiven Souls’ clubhouse.

“You okay?” His gravelly tone sent goosebumps down my body.

I think I forgot how to speak. Every time I opened my mouth, no words came out, so I settled for nodding my head, trying not to focus on the burning behind my eyes.

Sarge moved towards me, and I involuntarily flinched, taking a step back. He paused and held his steady hands out in caution, “I’m not gonna hurt you, Sunshine.”

Sunshine.

The name he let slip past his lips made all the darkened clouds invading my thoughts disperse.

I opened my door, knowing he was watching me from outside. I knew he couldn’t resist correcting my seemingly careless act - leaving myself open to the unknown dangers of the Bloods and the Flock. The two gangs were like a dark plague in our quaint city of Diamond Ridge. No one was safe.

I grinned as I put my hearing aids in. The first sound breaking through was the slamming of my front door. His boots pounding in time with my heartbeat. His aggravated growl was like music to my ears.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doin’, Sunshine?” I froze. Sunshine? That’s new. He was obviously too worked up to realize what he called me. “Are you askin’ for someone to come in here and hurt you?”

“No.” My reply was easy, coming off my lips as a smile spread to the edges. “I was waiting for you to come in and stop hiding behind that tree. I get lonely at night, ya know?”

His growl was menacing but something I could easily brush off. He’s had this temperament since day one. At first, it was intimidating, but then I learned that it was just how Sarge was.

And he did everything but terrify me.

“Joslyn.” His baritone voice was lower as he caught my attention again. “If I have to ask again, I’m gonna shoot this fuckin’ place up. Are. You. Okay?”

My chin dipped without permission, eyes trained on the limp body on the ground. Shivering at the thought that just moments ago, he was dragging me through an uncaring crowd at his mercy. “Is he dead?”

Sarge didn’t look in his direction, instead just shrugging a large shoulder. “Hopefully.”

An awkward laugh escaped my lips. I laid a trembling hand over my forehead, unsure of what to say or feel about Sarge just taking someone’s life in front of me. I know he’s killed before. It might as well be the bare minimum required to be in an unlawful motorcycle club.

A grimace smile strained my lips, remembering the first night I met the Souls. Darrell, the gun, that man’s blood splattering on every surface and body within reach. It felt so long ago, but it’s only been five months. “Is killing people in front of me going to be a habit with you guys? This is the second one in five months.”

“Would rather see their blood than your tears.”

I knew he meant that, making my eyes soften. Since day one, Sarge has always been in my vicinity in some way. Be it simply watching me across a room or from behind the giant oak tree in my front yard, I’ve felt his eyes on me every day for these few months.

Always watching me, and tonight was no different. Thank God for it.

---