Page 5 of Penance

“NOW!” I scream at the top of my lungs, using the last of my energy to ensure everyone hears the threat in my tone, no voice breaks and no wobbles.

I’m quickly coming apart at the seams, and I don’t know what’ll happen if I do.

Then another familiar face is appearing in front of me, tearing through the red mist that’s engulfing my vision.

Gremlin.

“Boss, what can I do?” he asks me with a serious frown, taking in my almost catatonic state.

I don’t think I’ve ever been this bad; I’m losing my control rapidly.

“I need Charlie,getCharlie, I need Charlie,” I repeat mumbling through my shivering.

He nods, instantly tapping away on his phone as he bellows out another command.

“YOU HEARD THE LADY, EVERYONE OUT, MOVE IT PEOPLE!” Gremlin shouts.

Circling his hand in the air to gesture wrapping it up, I take another step back up. If I don’t, I’ll most definitely do something I may or may not regret.

I use both hands to hold myself up, digging my nails into the banister on either side of me, nails splitting the wood. My entire body trembling so hard my teeth are chattering, my ears buzzing with static, my breathing so out of control I’m not sure how to get any air in. A sharp pain ricochets up my spine as my coccyx hits the solid wood of the stairs, my hands dropping from the banisters like they weigh a hundred pounds. I squeeze my eyes shut, touching my forehead to my shaking knees.

I can’t breathe.

‘We’re endgame, Lala, you and me. Soulmates of the darkest kind, you’ll always be mine.’

Chapter2

Max

Lala.

Is here.

In my house.

What in the fuck is going on?

My eyes scan the room as the last of the guests file out, walking around us as we’re still stuck standing in the doorway. They murmur their awkward thanks, Merry Christmases and goodbyes as they pass but I don’t really hear them at all. My ears are ringing, my heart thundering in my chest, why is she here, in my house? And looking likethat?

Holy mother of god.

She is astounding, breath-taking, beautifully fuckingdamaged. Her heart shape face and razor-sharp cheekbones are fiercely feminine, her hair’s longer than it’s ever been and a shimmering silver in colour, she’s so fucking beautiful. She’s a woman now, full breasts, slim waist and curvy hips. And all that ink.Fuck.

My cock thickens in my jeans at the mere sight of her but it’s those grey-green eyes I’ve been dreaming about for the last ten years that really capture my attention. They’ve haunted not only my dreams, but my nightmares. But they don’t look the same. Not as I remember them, not as I’ve pictured them over and over. They’re haunted, shadowed, shrouded in darkness, frightened and sad,sofucking sad.

Why you so sad, Lala?

My heart is cracked in two, bleeding. I’malwaysfucking bleeding. I’ve been bleeding without her for the last ten years and now here she is, in my fucking house.

The way she’s looking at me right now cuts me to the bone, shehatesme and worse than that I think she’s scared. Of me?

It takes everything in me not to run my hands through my hair. Sink a cigarette between my teeth and walk out, but looking at this broken girl, I can sense the danger. It wafts off of her in thrashing waves, threatening to drown everything and everyone in its swirling storm.

Kace and Hux both look at me with confusion in their expressions, but I can’t speak, I can’t even breathe, let alone explain to them what’s happening right now. I’m not sure in this moment I even know how. So fucking damaged, my warrior,where are you?My knees wobble so hard I’m sure they’re about to buckle beneath me and I’ll hit the deck. If getting on my knees in front of her will help, in any way, any way at all, I’ll fucking do it. Anything to get her to stop looking at me like that, like I did that to her, put that look in her eyes, I didn’t.

Did I?

Kacey looks to Huxley, some silent communication passing between them. How the fuck do they know my Lala?

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