6. Stitches
STITCHES
I groaned as a warm hand gave me a gentle shake. Blearily, I stared through slitted eyelids to see Ashes peering down at me.
“Hey, get home and get some sleep,” he murmured.
I lifted my head off Sin’s mattress after resting my head on it while sitting in my chair. My back was aching, and I was beyond exhausted. Despite my hatred of everything about this place, I wasn’t going to abandon Sin when he needed me. I needed to deal with my shit and not make it everyone else’s problem. It wasn’t fair to anyone else if I couldn’t pull my weight.
“I’ll stay?—”
“Malachi, go home. I got this,” Ashes said firmly.
I sighed and got to my feet, but not before I looked down at Sin, who was sleeping peacefully. We’d talked for a little bit before he’d fallen asleep. Mostly, he’d been drugged up because his pain seemed to be worse tonight. Under the influence of all the pain meds, he’d spoken.
His garbled words haunted me.
“I didn’t want to, Malachi. Fuck, I didn’t. I didn’t. I need her. I’ve never needed anyone in my life like I need Siren. Please. Please…”
Then he’d whispered Sirena’s name amid a soft sob before drifting off.
“Doc came in and said he might go home this week if his pain lessens and his breathing improves. His oxygen dropped today, but he was in a lot of pain,” I said, shaking Sin’s words clear of my head so I could focus.
“I hope he gets to come home soon,” Ashes murmured, taking the seat I vacated.
“Has Sirena said anything today about… you know?” I shifted awkwardly on my feet, my hands in my pants pockets.
“Not really,” he mumbled. “She’s upset about Sin and Cady. Worried. I guess I should make that clear.”
I nodded. “I get it. I’m worried, too.”
“Yeah?” Ashes looked at me.
“Yeah, man. He sort of talked about it after he got his second dose of pain meds. I-I think something major happened. I really hope he wasn’t forced to fuck her, but I honestly think he was.” My words came out in a rushed mumble, their impact making my guts churn.
“Fucking hell.” Ashes rubbed his temples. “It’s just another bump in the road. Everything will work out.” He repeated that for a few seconds before he pulled his lighter out and began flipping it in his ritual of five.
“Are you OK here?” I asked, breaking the silence.
“I’ll be fine. I’ll burn this fucking place to the ground before I let anyone get hurt,” he said, his blue eyes locking on mine. “I’ve been itching to do it for years, so all they need to do is step out of line for just a moment, and I’ll send this place up like the Fourth of July.”
I gave him a tired smile, knowing he would.
“Go,” he said, returning the smile. “Get some sleep. I’ll make sure Sin is safe.”
I backed away and went to the door. He waved me off, and I walked out into the hall before leaving the building.
I hadn’t made it ten steps before two people sidled up next to me, sandwiching me between them.
“Nice night for a walk,” Asylum said cheerfully.
“Bit cold,” I muttered, my breath puffing out in a small white cloud.
“Could be worse,” he answered. “Right, Shadow?”
I glanced over at Bryce to see him in all black. I never saw him in anything but his preppy clothes, but tonight he looked like he was ready to fight the fucking night.
He was an enigma.
And my girl wanted him.
I fucking hated that.
But I loved her, so I tried not to make waves. I wasn’t so sure how long that would last, though. I teetered on the edge of violence whenever I was around the guy. One wrong move on his part, and I’d lose it on him.
I was still pissed over him having her first. At least as far as status went. They’d never fucked. Had they, I’d have busted his face in long ago. Even now, the thought of it sent my hackles rising.
“Could always be worse,” Bryce agreed, his voice low.
“Where are you guys headed?” I asked as we trudged along. “And where’s Mirage? Got him caged away?”
“Something like that,” Asylum mused. “As for where we’re headed, I thought we’d pop in and see my firefly before we paint the snow red.”
“Red? Who are you killing?”
“Who. What. It’s not important.” Asylum waved me off. “What’s important is that I need to see Sirena.”
I said nothing. I was fine with that. He’d saved her and me in the facility. He’d been there when no one else could be. And she loved him too, even though she sometimes flinched away from him. All I knew was that he’d have his work cut out for him with her, at least in his Asylum personality. As Mirage, he was a shoo-in.
“I don’t know if she’s awake,” I said as we walked up the steps to the house. I opened the door to find Church sitting in the living room with Sirena on his lap, holding her like she was the most precious thing in the world.
“Why are you here?” Church demanded at Asylum as I closed the door behind us. “And why is that fucking weasel with you?”
“Well, you took Sinclair from me,” Asylum said without missing a beat. “It’s lonely in my world when the voices are silent.”
“Do they ever go silent?” Church asked, raising a brow at him.
Asylum smirked. “Not usually. Anyway, Shadow and I came here to see Sirena.”
Sirena made to get to her feet, but Church tightened his hold on her and held her in place.
“Come see her where she sits,” he said, narrowing his eyes at the guys.
I knew why he was doing it. He didn’t think Bryce was brave enough to approach him. I even considered that Bryce would just forego it and catch her on campus next time she was out.
Shock raced through me as he moved forward and kneeled in front of Church. Clearly, Church was surprised, too, because he stared back at him, dumbfounded.
“I brought you something,” Bryce said, pulling a small container from his jacket pocket. Inside was a pretty pink cupcake.
She eagerly took it from him, wiggling on Church’s lap. He glared at Bryce.
“Your favorite… Cupcake.”
“Her name is Sirena,” Church snapped at him. “You don’t get to give her cute fucking names. You aren’t one of us, and she isn’t yours.”
“Easy, man,” I said, moving to sit on the couch so I was near enough to prevent a fight if it came down to it. Although I wasn’t so sure I would because I hated Bryce.
“Asylum and Mirage do. They aren’t watchers.” Bryce didn’t move from his spot and continued to stare Church down.
Church sneered at him. “Listen, you dumb motherfucker. I will slit your fucking throat and fuck her with your blood as lube?—”
“Church, man. Come on,” I said, wincing as I glanced at Sirena, who looked like she was on the verge of putting him into his place. I didn’t want to deal with a fight tonight. I also didn’t want to deal with Bryce, but here we were. One problem at a time was all I wanted.
“While I understand your need for blood and violence, I have a need, too.” Asylum broke in. “Dante, may I have a word with you? Alone?”
Church shifted his focus from Bryce to Asylum. I stared uneasily between the pair. Church didn’t often entertain people, and I knew he was at the end of his patience with these seemingly new additions to our lives.
“What is it?” Church demanded.
“Alone, Dante.” Asylum raised his brows at him.
I didn’t think Church would go, but he finally released Sirena and shifted her into his spot before standing. He leaned down and whispered something to her that we couldn’t hear before nodding for Asylum to follow him out to the back patio, grabbing his jacket along the way.
I didn’t move. Instead, I stayed and watched Sirena and Bryce, noting his affection for her. If he gave a shit I was still there, he certainly didn’t seem like he did as he took the cupcake he’d gotten her and opened it.
“Here,” he murmured. “Try it. I made it in the baking class I’m taking.”
She parted her lips as he fed her a bite of the cupcake. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. We fed her, and seeing it made the rage inside me creep closer to the surface. I inhaled deeply, trying to calm myself.
She chewed and swallowed, a bit of frosting on her lip. He made to reach for her and wipe it away, but I jumped up and got between them. Lifting her easily, I sat and put her on my lap.
Bryce let out a sigh and gave me a frustrated look.
“I’m hungry, motherfucker. Feed me,” I said.
He narrowed his eyes at me for a moment before a soft laugh left him. He held the cupcake out to me and smirked.
“Try it, Malachi,” he said, clearly testing me.
I stared back at him momentarily, noting Sirena's tension. She was worried I was going to lose it.
Fuck it.
I leaned forward and bit into the cupcake Bryce was holding. I tugged it away and let the rest fall into my mouth as I tipped my head back. Chewing, I maintained eye contact with him. He gave me a sour look.
“Bring enough for the whole class next time,” I said.
He shook his head. “I’ll make a note of that.” A muscle thrummed along his jaw. He turned his attention to Sirena in my lap before reaching for her hand. She slid her hand in his, the move irritating me.
“I’m not the one,” I whispered, tearing my focus from their hands to Bryce’s face. “I’ll choke you to death with my fucking noose.”
“And I assure you you’d be in for a big surprise.” His hazel eyes were hard as he stared back at me.
I shifted Sirena off my lap and grabbed him by his shirt before dragging him to his feet.
“Fucking wow me,” I snarled at him.
If he was afraid, he made no show of it as he stared back at me. In relation to height, he was only slightly shorter than my six feet three. And size? I worked out a fuck of a lot, so I had height and mass going for me. All of us guys did, even fucking Asylum, who was just as tall as I was and could probably match me a pound for pound. Church was only slightly taller by an inch, something he proudly made sure we all knew in our house. Asher was the shortest at six-two. But this little fucker’s size was irrelevant as I stared back at him.
“No,” he said softly. “I will not.”
A warm hand rested on my arm, and I looked down to see Sirena staring up at me. She looked upset.
I turned my attention back to Bryce. He needed to learn who was in charge around here.
“If you aren’t brave enough to prove yourself, how will you ever protect her? Why do you think you’re good enough?”
His Adam’s apple bobbed for a moment before he looked at Sirena and then back at me.
“With all due respect, Malachi, you’re strong and brave and couldn’t protect her.”
His words hit an emotion within me that I didn’t think I had.
My fist connected with his face in a sickening crack, sending him stumbling back. I didn’t stop. I was on him in an instant, my fists hitting any part of him I could get to, my rage blinding.
I could feel Sirena’s hands trying to pull me off. There was no stopping me when rage took over. Everyone knew that. I’d go until someone died.
I straddled Bryce, smashing my fist into his face. In a surprising move, his legs came up and bent around me. He shoved me back with them, effectively knocking me off.
I was on my feet in an instant, barreling down at him as he wiped at the blood on his face.
“Malachi, don’t do this,” he warned before I swung on him again.
The last thing I expected was for him to block the hit. That was before he landed a solid hit back on me. I stumbled back as he squared up, a hard look on his face.
He wanted to play.
Perfect.
So did I.
We launched ourselves at one another, fists flying. He was good. He landed hit after hit, but so did I, both of us exchanging blows and knocking shit over and breaking it in the process. A lamp crashed and shattered. I launched for a piece of glass, ready to carve his ass like a Thanksgiving Day turkey. His eyes flashed as he backed away; I twirled the glass elaborately between my fingers, only death in my eyes.
Sirena tugged on my arm, trying to get me to stop. When I didn’t, she released me, ran to Bryce, and got in front of him.
“Move, angel,” I called out, glaring at the prick behind her.
She stared me down, begging with her colorful eyes for me to stop.
Sirena was new to my rage. There was never any stopping me.
Bryce must have sensed that because he pushed her away. She landed on the couch. That was all it took. I threw the heavy shard of glass, aiming for his heart. I was good at throwing sharp objects. It was an impressive talent of mine. When one couldn’t beat a motherfucker with their fists, they needed alternative methods. This was mine. I’d spent hours as a kid throwing knives, glass, and anything sharp and deadly I could get my hands on. Everett used to praise me for my abilities.
Someday, I planned on sending one of my sharp objects straight through his fucking skull.
My shard should have met flesh and bone and sent him to an early grave. Instead, he stepped aside so fast that he was a blur.
I stared in confusion as he caught the shard. Without hesitation, he flung it back at me with just as much precision and deadly force as I’d done to him. My reflexes kicked in, and I dodged the throw. The shard spiraled through the living room as Church opened the patio door to step inside.
I let out a shout as the shard whizzed past his head, missing him by just a fraction, and embedded in the wall next to him.
He stopped and stared stupidly at us for a moment before looking at the glass stuck in the plaster. His green eyes slowly moved from the shard to the mess in the living room from our fight before they landed on Sirena, who had slid off the couch and onto her ass on the floor, tears streaking down her cheeks.
I swallowed hard as I took her in, the anger leaving me as I realized I’d lost it in front of her.
Without hesitation, Church rushed across the room and went to her, scooping her into his arms and bringing her back to his chair. There, he held her, whispering things to her I couldn’t hear.
I stared at them, a lump in my throat.
“That went well,” Asylum said, clearing his throat. “Shadow, a word? Outside. And…” Asylum cast his gaze around to land on Church and Sirena. “Probably at my place. Come.” Asylum moved quickly across the room and pushed Bryce to the door.
I glared at Bryce, desperate to get one last hit on him. I even made to step forward, that familiar surge of fury bubbling up within me again.
“Malachi,” Church growled.
I stopped and ground my teeth.
Asylum pushed Bryce out of the house and turned back to me. “Don’t dare tempt fate in the Shadow that you hate. He is more like you than he is like me. In the fists and blood, you’ll likely see. Not sweet like sugar, but violent like murder. A surprise, for sure. Have a good night, Watchers.” And with those words, he departed, taking Bryce with him.
I stared at the closed door for a long time, dragging deep, calming breaths into my lungs. Finally, I turned and took in the mess I’d made, namely Sirena in Church’s lap, her face buried in his neck as he held her.
My heart sank. The last thing I wanted was for her to be mad at me.
Slowly, I approached, fell to my knees in front of Church, and reached for her. I thought she’d tell me to go to hell or shove me away. Instead, she came to me easily, winding her arms around my neck as she sat on Church’s lap.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered to her. “For scaring you. He pissed me off, and I lost it. You’re my girl. I didn’t like him touching you.”
“I’ll do better,” she answered, her voice so small and soft that I wouldn’t have heard her if her lips weren’t at my ear. “I’m sorry.”
I breathed out and locked eyes with Church, who stared back at me, a muscle thrumming along his jaw.
He was pissed. I was sure we’d have it out after Sirena went to bed.
I’d broken his favorite lamp.
“We’ll talk later,” was all he said before he took Sirena back and gestured at me to clean up the mess I’d made.
Sighing, I got to my feet and set to work, knowing he’d probably punch me in the face later. Judging by how tender my face already was, I doubted anyone would notice another hit to it.
Bryce Andrews truly was an enigma. I was going to unravel all his fucking secrets before I choked him with them.