Until You Break (The Devout and the Damned #1)

4. His Sinner

Chapter four

His Sinner

Dominic glances down at the tray the masked man left him, a tray just like mine—some kind of mystery meat, a piece of stale bread, and a small bottle of water. He wrinkles his nose, lifting the bread up to inspect it, and makes a face.

“God, they couldn’t even try with this, huh?” he mutters, poking the meat with his finger. “Looks like something that’s been left in the back of a freezer since the ‘90s.”

A laugh bubbles up before I can stop it, a sound I didn’t think I’d ever make in this place. I can’t help it—he looks so disgusted that it almost feels normal. Like we’re just two people complaining about terrible cafeteria food.

“Don’t think about it too much,” I say, picking up my own piece of bread and nibbling on the corner. It’s dry and tasteless, but it’s better than nothing. “Just… close your eyes and pretend it’s something else.”

“Easy for you to say.” He rolls his eyes, but then he breaks off a piece and pops it in his mouth, chewing with a grimace. “Mmm, delicious cardboard. My favorite.”

I laugh again, covering my mouth, and he grins, clearly pleased with himself. Then he picks up his water bottle and holds it out to me through the bars.

“Here,” he says, pushing it a little closer. “Take it.”

I shake my head. “I’ve got one.”

“Yeah, but yours is half gone,” he says, cocking an eyebrow. “Take mine. I don’t need it.”

I hesitate, but he nudges it closer, his gaze steady. “Come on. It’s not charity. Think of it as… me sharing in the misery.”

Reluctantly, I reach through the bars and take the bottle, our fingers brushing for a second. It’s a small thing, just a bottle of water, but the kindness behind it is enough to make my throat tighten. “Thanks.”

“Anytime,” he replies, leaning back against the bars with a casual air that seems entirely out of place in this concrete prison. He watches me eat for a moment before his gaze shifts, almost like he’s lost in thought.

We sit in silence, both of us picking at the food, neither of us really eating much. The taste doesn’t matter; it’s just enough to keep us from passing out. But then, curiosity starts to tug at me, and I find myself wanting to know more about him, about the person who’s somehow making this nightmare feel a little less lonely.

“So,” I start, trying to fill the silence, “you said you have brothers?”

His face lights up in a way that surprises me. “Yeah. Two older brothers. We’re close, though ‘close’ might be the wrong word. More like ‘constantly at each other’s throats, but still always have each other’s backs.’ ”

I smile, intrigued. “Tell me about them.”

“Ah,” he says, a glint of mischief in his eyes. “Real pains in the ass, both of them.”

“Really? How so?”

“Oh, they’ve got a talent for driving me insane since I’m the youngest.” He leans back, crossing his arms and looking at me with a mischievous glint. “Take my oldest brother, Luca. Thinks he’s a damn saint just because he’s a few years older. Acts like he’s some wise sage, all-knowing and untouchable. Meanwhile, he’s the one who’d forget his own birthday if we didn’t remind him every year.”

I can’t help but chuckle, imagining this Luca he’s describing. “Sounds like a handful.”

“Handful doesn’t even begin to cover it,” Dominic says, rolling his eyes. “Then there’s my other brother, Matteo. Mr. Biker Badass. Covered in tattoos, practically lives on his motorcycle, and can’t go a single day without reminding me how much tougher he is. But deep down? Soft as a marshmallow. The guy would give his last dollar to help someone out.”

I laugh, and it feels strange, almost surreal, to be laughing in a place like this, with someone I barely know. But Dominic’s expression softens as he talks, like just mentioning his brothers brings him some kind of comfort.

“They sound like good guys,” I say, smiling.

He nods, a fond look in his eyes. “Yeah, they are. They’d probably burn this place down if they knew where I was.”

For a second, the statement hits me with a pang of envy, but then Dominic’s tone shifts, lightening again. “We all work together, too. They own this little auto repair and body shop on the edge of our town. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s ours.”

I raise an eyebrow, intrigued. “Wait, so you work on cars?”

He smirks, giving me a look like he’s sizing me up. “Cars, bikes, anything with wheels. Surprised?”

“Maybe a little,” I admit, unable to hold back a smile. “So, are you any good at it?”

He shrugs, a hint of pride sneaking into his voice. “I’d like to think so. I mean, I’m not as good as Luca, but I can hold my own. Give me an engine and a couple of hours, and I’ll have it running like new.”

“Impressive,” I say, genuinely meaning it. “So are you all bikers or just Matteo?”

He grins, a crooked smile that somehow makes this grimy cell feel a little warmer. “Luca and Matteo are part of some local club, but I just love to ride. They’re not into the whole ‘outlaw biker’ thing, though. They’re mostly just guys who like to ride and talk about engines. And, you know, give me endless shit.”

“Sounds like a real brotherly experience,” I say, smirking.

“You have no idea,” he says, a sarcastic edge in his tone. “They’re the kind of guys who think they’re doing me a favor by teasing me twenty-four-seven. But I guess that’s family for you.”

“Family,” I echo softly, a strange pang settling in my chest. I think of my own family—my parents, who’ve always supported me, even if they didn’t understand my drive to study law. “They sound like they care about you.”

“Yeah,” he says quietly, his gaze softening. “They do. We’ve been through a lot, me and them. Wouldn’t trade them for anything… even if I say otherwise sometimes.”

I smile, a warmth blooming in my chest as I watch him talk about them. There’s something about Dominic’s sarcasm, the way he talks with this half-smirk, that makes it easy to forget where we are, if only for a moment.

“So… what would your brothers say if they saw you now?” I ask, hoping to keep the conversation going, to keep my mind off the fear gnawing at the back of my head.

He laughs, a real, genuine laugh that’s rough but contagious. “Oh, Luca would lecture me to death about being more careful. He’s got this whole ‘big brother’ complex—like he’s supposed to protect me from every bad thing in the world.” He shakes his head, amused. “And Matteo … he’d probably say, ‘Dom, if you don’t get out of this on your own, I’m never letting you hear the end of it.’”

I chuckle, picturing it. “Sounds like they know you pretty well.”

“Too well,” he says, a mock grimace on his face. “But, hey, I give as good as I get. It’s kind of our thing. Bicker one second, have each other’s backs the next.”

There’s something in his voice, a softness, that makes my heart ache a little. I’m starting to realize that behind Dominic’s sarcasm and tough exterior, there’s a loyalty there, a deep love for his family. It’s strange, but that realization makes him feel… real. Like someone I can trust.

“What about you?” he asks, tilting his head. “Any family waiting for you out there?”

“Yeah,” I say quietly, fiddling with the hem of my shirt. “I’m an only child, so it’s just me and my parents. They … they mean well. They were so proud when I got into law school, even though I think they don’t really understand why I chose it. They’ve always been more… practical. Focused on making sure I have a good life.”

He nods, listening intently. “They sound like good people. Bet they’d be proud of how you’re handling all this.”

I let out a small laugh, a mix of bitterness and sadness. “If they knew I was here, they’d probably lose their minds. My mom would be calling every law enforcement office in the country until someone gave her answers.”

“Sounds like a force to be reckoned with,” he says, grinning. “Good to know you’ve got someone ready to raise hell for you.”

The image makes me smile, even though a lump forms in my throat. I can almost hear my mom’s voice, see her fierce expression as she’d demand to know where I am, refusing to back down until she had me home, safe.

For a moment, we just sit in silence, the faint echoes of our conversation lingering between us. I don’t know how long we’ll be here, or if anyone even knows where I am, but having Dominic here… it makes it easier.

He gives me a small, encouraging smile. “Hey. We’ll get out of here. One way or another. And when we do, I’ll introduce you to Luca and Matteo. Just wait until you see the looks on their faces when I bring you around. They’ll think I’ve gone soft.”

I laugh, the idea of that somehow comforting. “I’d love to see that.”

“Just wait,” he says again, leaning back against the bars with a smirk. “They’ll be on their best behavior for, like, five minutes. Then it’s all bets off. You’ll see how quickly ‘big brother’ mode kicks in.”

I shake my head, smiling. “I don’t know if I’m ready for that.”

“You’ll be fine,” he says, his tone teasing. “Hell, after dealing with these guys,” he gestures to the cell,“a couple of rowdy brothers will feel like a vacation.”

For the first time since I got here, I feel a spark of something close to hope. Dominic’s stories, his laughter—it’s like he’s given me a glimpse of something beyond these walls, a reminder that there’s still a world out there waiting for us. A world where people joke, where brothers bicker, where families fight for each other.

I pray to God that I can be part of that world again.