Page 66 of Savage Sin

“Persi. Where is she? Persi!” My voice is no better than a tortured croak.

Persephone.

I don’t deserve to know about her. She needs to stay away from me. Blades made from guilt and shame reopen old wounds I thought were long healed over. Becoming a Savage didn’t do anything to absolve me of my past sins. They are there just below the surface. No matter how much good we do, it takes the monsters in us to beat back the vileness the shadows the underworld produces.

And the last person I wanted witnessing my true self saw me in all my raw ugliness.

She makes me want to be a better man, but today proved I’m nothing but exactly what she hates. I’m no better than her step-father and her step-brother.

“Is she alright?” At least let her be breathing and unharmed. I’ll take solace in knowing she survived. I rub my eyes and dislodge the pain buried behind my lids at the sight of her terror-filled face. Blood covered me and my wrath led to five men dying by my blade. Seeing her mortification at the sight of me at my worst will follow me into hell after I stop breathing.

My hands itch for a smoke.

“Easy man. Take it easy, alright. You can’t move around like you don’t have twenty stitches in your chest.”

I finally get my eyes to stay open long enough to verify what my ears are telling me. Ares has taken the place of Dragon, who has moved to stand at my feet. Grim looks pull both their ugly mugs into scowls.

“Yeah, that would explain why my body feels like I’m on fire. Where am I? Where is Persi?”

“She’s close. The women are looking at her stitches. She busted a few, and she’s getting fixed up while we talk a minute.”

“Whereis she?” Trust issues are snarling beasts that demand full and straight answers. I don’t care that it’s my brother telling me things are okay. I want details. Take the crayons out and draw me a fucking detailed picture.

“Jesus Christ. She’s upstairs. We’re at Doc’s old place. She’s out of harm’s way and getting medical care.”

I nod.

“You up for explaining why I answered a call from a girl using a Colombian kingpin’s last name?”

“Because she’s his daughter. What other name would she use?”

I try to sit up again and this time I shrug off the hands, trying to hold me down.

“Alright, damn, let us at least help your stubborn ass.”

Someone turns on the overheads and the Doc’s basement floods with bright white light. I cringe and blink.

“Uncle Wage!”

I crane my neck around and someone throws a sheet over my chest just as a little girl in pigtails looking like a softer, prettier version of Dragon comes bounding down the stairs.

“Hey, Little Dragon, where have you been all day?” It takes a monumental amount of strength to keep my head clear enough to talk with Dragon’s baby girl. Ever since my brother discovered he was a daddy and brought her and the mom to live at the compound, she’s been stuck to me. Why? I have no clue. But every time she gets something glittery and pink, she has to show me. This time, it’s a new stuffed toy. Sunshine follows her everywhere she goes and watching her grow up is a privilege I don’t deserve.

“Come here, Heaven.” Dragon scoops his sweet baby girl into his arms and holds her up so we are at eye level. The girl’s mother comes up and Dragon has an arm for her, too.

“You okay?” Asena eyes the sheet over my chest with worry.

“The shoulder has felt better. Some piece of…” I bite my tongue and swallow what I was really going to say and opt for, “…mean guy gave me his silver blade the hard way.”

Little Dragon giggles and buries her face in her daddy’s neck. “Did you tell him not to huwt you again, Uncle Wage?”

My gun did the talking for me. “I sure did, and he listened.”

The metal slab they have me on is about as comfortable as it sounds, but I smile and play like I just had a rough day playing tag football instead of nearly dying. My darkness will never touch this child’s life.

“I have someffin for you, Uncle Wage.” Her inability to use the letter R and her two missing front teeth slay me. She thrusts a fat unicorn with a glittery horn in my face and wiggles it.

“Vis is fow you. Mommy said you got huwt.” My smile is as big as hers.

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