40. Sirena
SIRENA
I was in a lot of pain. Church pulled out a joint and lit it before offering it to me. I inhaled deeply, letting the high soak into my soul. I wasn’t someone who got high, but I needed something because the burning ache over my hipbone was making my stomach sick.
But the look on my Sinful’s face made me know it was worth every ounce of pain. He stared at me like I was the most incredible and precious thing in the world. It was even more than before Adam and the nightmare at the mausoleum.
“More,” Church urged as I blew out the smoke.
I took another hit, the fuzziness engulfing me.
Sin helped me dress. Instead of what I’d worn there, he slid a pair of Church’s sweatpants onto my legs before pulling down Church’s hoodie over my body.
“Perfect,” Sin murmured, drinking me in.
Church took a drag from the joint before handing it to him. Sin smoked his share and blew out a cloud of smoke as he kneeled in front of me.
He adjusted my hoodie and fluffed my hair.
“There. Even more perfect.”
“As much as I want to watch you fuck her, we need to get downstairs. Stitches and Shadow were getting a little too vocal with one another earlier, and I don’t need another fucking broken lamp.” Church nodded for us to follow him.
Sin helped me up and took my hand. Before we got to the door, he pulled me to a stop.
“I’m sorry for everything. Thank you for taking my pathetic ass back. I’ll spend the rest of my life worshipping you. I swear I will. I just… It’s going to be a hard road. With Cady and the baby,” his voice wobbled. “If you don’t want to deal with it, I’ll understand?—”
“Shh.” I pressed my finger to his lips. “I love you.”
“I love you, too,” he murmured.
“And I will always love you. Forever, Sinful.”
“Promise?” Worry filled his face.
I kissed him gently and cradled his face as I backed away.
“Promise.”
“Fuck, how did I get so lucky?” He pulled me in for a hug. I whimpered against him, the cut aching.
“Damnit, baby. I’m sorry,” he said, releasing me. “Fuck. I-I forgot. I’m high as shit.”
I was, too. I could use a little nap. I shook my head, letting him know I was OK.
“Come on.” He took my hand. “We don’t want anyone fighting downstairs.”
We walked down the hall, my hand in his.
“How are you and Bryce?”
I smiled at him, letting him know we were good.
“I’m not upset you picked him. I think he’s a good guy and his heart is in the right place. I just worry I won’t get to see you as much because you’ll have to divide your time.”
I squeezed his hand and pulled him to a stop. I didn’t wait for more words from him. I went up on my tiptoes and kissed him. He kissed me back, groaning softly against my lips.
“I believe you,” he whispered against my lips.
I gave him a dazed smile, my body feeling like it was floating. Cady approached us. I hadn’t even heard her come up the stairs.
“Hey,” she said, clearing her throat.
“What’s wrong?” Sin demanded, snapping his attention to her.
I looked at her, worry coursing through me.
She smiled at us, though, which relaxed me.
“I’m going to head to bed. I wanted to say good night.” She came directly to me and hugged me. “Love you, Rina.”
I signed quickly as she pulled away, asking her if she was OK.
She frowned and looked at Sin.
“She wants to know if you’re OK,” Sin said softly.
“Oh. I am. I’m just tired. Plus, you have all your guys here. I don’t want to be the weird seventh wheel. I think hanging out together would be good for you all.”
I hugged her again, whimpering when she squeezed me too tightly this time.
“What’s wrong with her?” Cady demanded, releasing me. “And why are her clothes changed? What did Church do to her?” She immediately shifted into protective mode.
“Nothing. I did it. She needed more comfortable clothes,” Sin answered.
“You?” Cady raised her brows at him before looking to me. “Are you really OK? I worry?—”
I took her hands in mine and squeezed them. “I’m OK.”
She breathed out and nodded. “OK, but if you’re not…”
“She is,” Sin said. “I promise she is.”
That seemed good enough for Cady, who bid us good night and went to my room, the door closing behind her.
“She loves you so much,” Sin said as we went to the stairs. He kept his hand on me the entire way down as if he thought I’d fall. And maybe I would have. My head was definitely spinning from the potency of the drugs I’d smoked.
I loved my sister as well, and only wanted the best for her. I’d do whatever I had to do to ensure she got it.
We stepped into the living room and all talking ended. Everyone stared.
“Hey,” Ashes finally called out, breaking the silence. His eyes darted to Sin’s arm around my waist, and a small smile graced his handsome face.
“Hey,” Sin replied, leading me deeper into the room.
“Where are her clothes?” Shadow asked, frowning as I sat next to Sin on the L of the couch.
“Not your concern,” Stitches snapped at him.
“It is my concern,” Shadow shot back. “She’s my girl now, too. She’s walking like she’s in pain. I want to know what’s going on.”
“Church’s dick. He fucks hard.” Stitches sneered at Shadow.
“I know exactly how he fucks.” Shadow sat forward. “I’ve been with him when he fucks her.”
Stitches got to his feet. I scrambled quickly over to Shadow and straddled his lap, pulling his attention away from Stitches.
He immediately focused on me.
“Hey, cupcake. What’s wrong? I’m worried. You look hurt. Where are your clothes?”
I signed quickly to him that I was OK. That I was talking to Sin, and everything was good now. That the clothes were for comfort.
He nodded. “OK. I worry.”
I leaned in and kissed him gently. It would be the first time everyone witnessed it.
He was hesitant, but I didn’t blame him. I was, too. Based on Stitches’s attitude around him, I didn’t want to provoke anything.
I felt him harden beneath me, though, as I tried to deepen the kiss.
“I-I can’t,” he whispered against my lips, breaking the kiss off. “I-I, um, need to excuse myself. Sorry.” His cheeks flamed red.
I crinkled my brows at him.
“I didn’t,” he said quickly before wincing. “But if we keep it up, I will. I’m sorry.”
I moved off him, and he quickly got to his feet without another word and walked out to the patio.
“What the hell is that about?” Ashes asked, frowning as he looked toward the patio.
“He’s a weird fuck,” Stitches muttered, getting up and taking Shadow’s spot. He pulled me onto his lap and kissed me, his hand around the back of my neck.
I kissed him back, relishing in the way he was just so… Stitches. But I also needed him to get along with Shadow since he was one of them now.
“Be nice,” I murmured.
“I’ll be nice, angel, when you’re coming on my dick for me,” he answered back, grabbing my hips roughly and tugging me against his hard dick.
I cried out because he’d pressed on the cuts above my hip. The cry was sharp and laced with pain.
Immediately, he stopped and stared at me.
“What’s wrong?” He growled, his entire mood shifting. “Why are you hurt?”
“It’s my fault,” Sin said, clearing his throat.
“What the fuck did you do to her?” Stitches snapped at him.
“He traced her skin with sharpened grace. Each cut a vow time can’t erase. Their promises carved, not softly spoken. A love in blood that cannot be broken.” Mirage cocked his head to the right and studied me from beneath his mask. “I like it.”
“Sin cut her?” Ashes demanded. “Why?”
“It was his vow,” Church said. “She wanted it, right, Sinclair?”
Sin looked at me, his face filled with adoration and devotion. “Yes.”
I cried out as Stitches shifted me quickly and put me on my back on the couch cushions and tugged my pants down to see the damage. Church had put a bandage over the wound, but blood had started to soak through.
“What the fuck?” Stitches snarled. Ashes surged forward to look at the mess.
Stitches reached out and removed the bandaged and sucked in a sharp breath the same time Ashes did.
“Relax,” Church called out. “It’s fine. I dressed the wound. Of course, now I’ll have to redo it.”
“What’s going on?” Shadow came back in and moved to kneel next to Ashes. He sucked in a sharp breath at the damage to my skin. “What the fuck is this?”
I signed quickly, not wanting things to get out of hand.
“You asked him to do this?” Shadow frowned at me. “Why?”
It took me a moment to work out the words with my hands, but when I did, Shadow sighed and Ashes grunted.
“What? What did she say?” Stitches demanded.
“She said she did it because she loves him and wanted him to know how permanent her love is.” Shadow shook his head and looked over to Sin. “She’s going to scar.”
“I know,” Sin murmured. “She’ll match me.”
“What did you do?” Stitches asked wearily.
Sin stood and unbuttoned his shirt to show everyone all the wounds on his body, my name littered across his skin.
“Fucking hell,” Shadow muttered.
I signed quickly to the guys again.
“What? No!” Shadow snapped.
Ashes shook his head but didn’t say anything.
And Stitches, he seemed to understand what I said this time.
“You want us all to do it? Baby…”
“Heal, specter. If you decide you still want to, we will do what you ask,” Dante called out softly. “Think on it.”
I nodded, accepting this answer. I didn’t want to hurt more tonight anyway, but I would if any of them said they wanted to.
Stitches put my pants back in place and brought me onto his lap.
Shadow sat next to us, making Stitches roll his eyes, but Stitches didn’t say anything snarky. Ashes moved back to his seat, and silence descended on us.
“This is uncomfortable,” Mirage finally said, his voice void of emotion.
Church laughed softly before beckoning me to him. Stitches grumbled, but he released me, and I went to Church and slid onto his lap.
“I was thinking Shadow could put on a show for us,” Church said.
“Uh, what?” Shadow crinkled his brows and stared back at Church.
“You’re part of our group now. Mirage will be soon. We’re all family here. May as well get to really know one another. Entertain us.”
“I didn’t prepare a skit,” Shadow grumbled. “I have nothing to entertain you with.”
“Sure you do. We can start by you telling us why you’re in Chapel Crest. Aside from your old man thinking you suck dick in your down time, what’s the real reason? Sucking cock is hardly a reason to be considered crazy.” Church raised a brow at him.
I looked at Church. He stared serenely back at me, like he was innocence on a throne.
“Everything is a test,” he murmured to me. “He must past the tests. This one is the easy one.”
I swallowed hard and looked back to Shadow.
Church was relentless, but I knew he’d not stop until Shadow spilled his secrets.
Maybe this would make things easier on the transition for him into the watchers.
I sent up a silent prayer, though, just in case.