Page 19 of Murder & Mayhem

I have to think on that one for a moment. When I started down this path, I didn’t intend on becoming some twisted version of a vigilante. I simply wanted justice for my mom, and I had to find an outlet for all the anger building up inside me, threatening to consume me. What better way to eradicate myself of that than by killing the man responsible. Except it didn’t stop there. If anything, his murder only lit a fire inside me, one that demanded the souls of the damned to keep it ablaze.

“I guess. Sort of. I didn’t exactly set out to become the Reaper, it just kinda happened.”

One corner of his lip quirks up in a small, sad smile. “I didn’t exactly have gang leader as my top career choice either,” he admits. “But we do what we have to for our family and to enable us to sleep at night.”

Truer words have never been spoken. The air between us is heavy with our truths and exposed vulnerabilities, but despite the pain and difficult topic of conversation, I feel lighter, as though my heart needed me to share my truth with someone else.

Neither of us says anything else—there’s no need to—and we soon leave. As I climb out of his car outside my apartment building, I feel better than I have in a long time. More confident, more optimistic about the challenges that lie ahead. It could be just the surge of endorphins from getting some ice cream, but I get the feeling that it’s more than that.

I trudge up to my apartment, toeing my shoes off just inside the door. “Hey,” I greet as I step into the living room, spotting Luc sitting on the sofa. “How come you’re still up?”

“Couldn’t sleep. How was work?”

Walking toward him, I collapse onto the sofa. “Fine. What are you watching?”

“Some zombie movie,” he responds distractedly. “It’s good.”

I sit there and watch it for a bit, not finding the same draw he clearly does. “How was your day?” I eventually ask, pulling my legs up onto the sofa and getting comfortable.

He gives a casual shrug. “Fine.” After a second, he seems to remember something, and turns to face me. “Did you tell Cain or Oliver to enroll Tank and Rampage in my school?”

My brows raise at that. “No,” I admit. Although, damn, whydidn’tI tell them to do that? Luc’s eyes narrow on me as he tries to figure out if I’m lying or not. I don’t blame him. It’s absolutely something I would do. “But it’s a smart move.” I try to get a read on him before asking, “Are you angry?”

He’s quick to shake his head. “No. It’s actually been nice to have someone to hang out with in school. They’re enrolled as seniors, so they aren’t in any of my classes, but it’s cool having people around at lunch and before class. Not sure they’re seeing the appeal of being stuck in school all day, though,” he chuckles.

“Ha.” Yeah, I can only imagine how strange it all seems after probably never setting foot in a school before. I’m sure they are thrilled to be missing out on club business to keep tabs on Luc in school. “Do you know much about their past?” I question, wondering if any of them have opened up to him.

He shrugs. “Not much. They don’t really talk about it. I gather Cain rescued them from some sort of prison. I dunno what, but I’ve seen their scars.” A sadness fills his eyes, and the corners of his lips pull down in a frown. “The sort of pain that must have been inflicted. I can’t imagine…”

I reach out and squeeze his hand. If I've got any say, it’s not a kind of pain he’ll ever have to experience, but yeah, whatever those kids have had to endure, it’s not something I’d wish on anyone. “They got lucky with Cain,” I say quietly. “He’s built them the perfect home.”

Luc quirks a surprised brow. “So now you’re team Cain? You realize now that the Rejects aren’t the bad guys?”

“I wouldn’t say I’m team Cain,” I argue, “but yeah, the Rejects aren’t all bad.”

Luc snorts and shakes his head. “They’re practically golden boys by Black Creek standards.” I laugh at that before he continues. “But from what I’ve heard from the others, Cain’s a good guy. Oliver too.” He nudges my shoulder. “So, you know, if you liked one of them, I don’t think it would be the end of the world.”

I gape at him. “What? Where would you get that idea from?”

He just scoffs. “Please. From what I hear, the only time Cain is seen with a girl is when he’s fucking her, and Oliver hasn’t been seen with one at all since he arrived… except you.”

Well, I don’t know what to say to that. Oliver had said he hadn’t been with anyone since before prison, but hearing it confirmed—by my brother of all people—is a little jarring.

Luc must be able to see the shock on my face as he chuckles softly. “All I’m saying is that it would be okay if you had feelings for them. I know you’re all doing some sort of job together, and I can only imagine how that has your trust issues all haywire.” I frown. Luc knows me too damn well. “But for what it’s worth, I don’t think you’re breaking any of your own rules. The Rejects aren’t like any of the gangs we know. They aren’t like the people you had to deal with when we were on the street or the kids who used to harass me at school, trying to get me to join the Satan’s or whatever.”

I shift in my seat to rest my head on his shoulder and sigh. “Yeah, I know. It’s just been difficult to change my perspective. To trust them to look out for you.”

“Sawyer,” Luc sighs. “You don’t need to worry about me. I’m not a little kid anymore. I’ll be sixteen soon, and Jon’s been teaching me to fight. Not that anyone at school hassles me anymore. All of the gangs they were sucking up to have been destroyed by the Rejects. I’ve gone from being the outcast to the kid everyone wants to get close to ‘cause they think I’ll be able to get them in.”

“Into the Rejects?” I shake my head. What is wrong with them all? Why do they have to be a part of any gang? There’s more to life than selling drugs, gun-running, and violence.

“Yeah. They’re the only gang left on the south side of town. Everyone wants to be a Reject, but Cain’s already said no high schoolers. He won’t consider any new recruits unless they are at least eighteen.”

Cain continues to surprise me, although I’m not sure why. He’s more than proved that while he’s a moody bastard with an over-inflated ego, he’s not the monster I initially thought he was.

“Well, even with the kids sticking close to you and Jon teaching you to fight, I’m still going to worry,” I say, lifting my head off his shoulder to look him in the eye. “Because it’s what big sisters do.”

He smiles softly, squeezing my thigh. “I’m gonna head to bed, sis. See ya in the morning.”

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