THIRTY-NINE
This iswhat we’ve been waiting days for—the promised summons from the Sin Keepers. We’ve passed the week since the kidnapping quietly, only leaving the house on Tuesday for a quick trip to pick up takeout for Beckham’s birthday. Hopefully, now that news has broken of what we’ve endured, our professors will take pity on us and offer extensions on the coursework we’ve missed.
“Anyone else nervous?” I take Royal’s hand while Wilder puts an arm around me, resting his hand on my hip. Beckham grabs Wilder’s hand on the other side, and we move toward Broadmore Hall, united as one.
Wilder shrugs. “Nervous? No. Let’s say I’m highly interested in what this is all about.”
Squeezing my hand, Royal mutters, “They already know all our shit. It’s about time we knew theirs. I want some answers.”
“Yeah. I’d like to know what the deal is.” Beckham runs his hand through his hair as he catches my eye to shoot me a funny face and a wink. “The idea of multiple Sin Keepers is still blowing my goddamn mind.” With the same hand, he makes a gesture like his head is exploding.
Earlier, we’d all gotten the same set of text messages. I glance down at my phone, reading over the instructions again.
Meet in Broadmore Hall.
Ten o’clock tonight.
Ride the elevator to the basement.
Nothing freaky about that at all. I swallow. “Well, I’m not afraid to say I’m a little nervous.” My time at Kingston University has been nothing but a constant flux of relationships and emotions in addition to the threats and danger. Thankfully, in the five days since we rescued Chase, Kara, and River from the cabin in the woods, I’ve had a chance for my mind and heart to settle. For my soul to feel free.
The charges against the people who set out to hurt us are mounting, and for that I’m grateful. And there’s been one key I hadn’t expected, but maybe I should have. Smith flipped on Brent, Brian, and Megan. He told the cops everything he was privy to—and his story lined up perfectly with ours. Because it’s all the wild, crazy truth.
But still. We have questions. And it’s entirely possible that the only people who have the answers are the Sin Keepers. I let out a whole-body exhale.
“You alright, Echo?” Wilder lifts a brow, studying me.
“Yeah.” I glance ahead to the building we’re about to enter. I have things I need to say to these men, but I think it’s going to have to wait.
The door is unlocked, and we let ourselves in. The elevators are near the entrance to the lecture hall I have my English class in. The place where Brent watched me. My stomach flips, and my strides slow.
Royal squeezes my hand. “I know. That asshole was right here in plain sight watching you.”
I nod, an anxious smile reaching my lips. “Yeah. It gives me the creeps.”
“He can’t get near you anymore. None of them can,” Wilder murmurs, then tips his chin toward the elevator. “Ready?”
Beckham turns his head, eyeing the three of us. “This is too fuckin’ weird. Can’t wait,” he says, an uncomfortable chuckle falling from his lips.
“Let’s do this.” I push the down button.
The elevator is old and creaky, and when we get to the basement floor, it stops with an ominous groan. The doors slide open. I blink.
“What the fuck?” Ireland snaps, her perfectly groomed brows drawing together.
For once, I don’t disagree with her, because seriously, what the fuck is going on here?
I grimace, glancing from her to Savannah. I can’t fathom why these two girls would be here. “Well, this is awkward.” Stepping out of the elevator with the guys at my back, I cross my arms over my chest.
Savannah shakes her head, then blows her bangs out of her eyes. “You definitely shouldn’t be here.”
My brows raise at her insistence. The last time I had any real interaction with these two was when they crashed into me, dumping my drink down the front of my dress.
Wilder puts a hand on my shoulder. “We were told?—”
A door at the very end of the hall opens and a figure appears. They’re robed, with a hood drawn up that hangs low and hides their face. My heart rate picks up. There’s something familiar about them that makes the nerves along my spine prickle. Whoever it is beckons us toward them, then pivots and returns from wherever they came from.
Royal’s lips are pinched, and he growls, “You stay right with us, Echo.”
He didn’t have to say so. I wouldn’t dream of following if they weren’t with me.
Savannah and Ireland lead the way, and we follow. At the door, there’s some sort of keypad, completely out of place in this old building. A way to keep people out. A shiver runs through me.
When we get to the room, it’s dim, lit by a few candles. The door shuts with a heavy thud behind us. I blink, trying to get my eyes to acclimate to the low lighting… and that’s when what feels like an entire army of hooded figures steps forward. This is more than the five Sin Keepers that were on the TV screen the other night. There are at least a dozen. My head spins.
“Be seated.” This command—or maybe it’s an invitation, it’s hard to tell—comes from the Sin Keeper in the middle. No robotic voice this time. And the voice is surprising. Female. My brow furrows hard at that. Our entire group hesitates a beat, checking in with quick glances at one another. With a shrug, Royal gestures toward the table, letting me choose my seat before selecting the one to my left. Wilder settles in beside him, and Beckham pulls out the other chair next to me. Ireland and Savannah claim the remaining spaces at the far right.
It’s unclear whether this woman is the head of their organization or just an appointed speaker. With bated breath, I wait while everyone takes their place at the table. I stare at the robed figures before us, my eyes roaming over each one, looking for something that tells me who they really are and why we’re here.
Chase is home with Kara and River. What if this is a mistake? What if we’ve misunderstood what the motive is behind why we’ve been summoned here tonight? I figured we were finally going to learn more. Didn’t going through what we did in the early hours Monday morning mean anything at all? These people, whoever they are, know everything about us. All our deepest, darkest secrets. All our hurts and fears.
Every pause, every second I don’t know what’s happening brings on an anxiety like I’ve never felt before. Trust. I draw in a breath. I have to trust that these people mean us no harm. Letting out a skittering exhale, I press my lips together, waiting. Because that’s all I can do.
Thankfully, a moment later, the same woman clears her throat before beginning. “We are the Sin Keepers. For years, we’ve watched over this town, this university, and the people who reside here. The driving principle behind what we do is righting wrongs, stepping in to assist when there’s no other help in sight—when all hope is lost. We have connections throughout this town and beyond, and we’ve always made it our business to observe and determine where we can make the most impact. We patiently watch as situations unfold, then, when the timing is right, we show the ones we’ve selected to watch over a way out of the misery being inflicted. It is our primary objective to change what should never have been.”
I think I recognize the well-spoken voice, but I can’t be sure. I squint, trying to make out facial features in the shadows beneath the hood. If it’s who I think it is…
The speaker steps forward, directly across from me. My eyes widen. With a flourish, she throws back her hood, revealing her identity. Professor Silverton. My English professor. Brent’s academic mentor at KU. Holy shit.
And even though I had an idea she might be who the voice belonged to, the confirmation is still a shock. I flounder, my mouth dropping open, unsure if I’m supposed to say anything. Around me, confusion and tension rise as five more Sin Keepers step into a line with my red-haired professor. One across from each of the other five brothers—and apparently sisters—of SIN.
Across from Wilder, a large man throws back his hood.
“Coach?” Wilder chokes out, his brows furrowed. The man across from him inclines his head, then shoots him a wide grin. “Wilder. Told you I was watching,” he states gruffly. It hits me like a lightning strike—this must be the guy at the gym he and Royal mentioned seeing last week, the one who’d taught Wilder to fight.
And before I have a chance to say anything—not that I think the timing is right for that—the person observing Royal from across the table pushes his hood back, a smirk of hello dancing on his lips.
Theo.My mouth drops open again because… what?
His eyes are pinned on Royal. “Never stopped looking out for you. Good to see you still in one piece after your misadventures of the last week or so,” he murmurs.
Royal works his stubbled jaw to the side, giving Theo a wry grin in return. “Missing some skin, but yeah. I’m alive and kicking.”
Professor Silverton winks at me. “Glad you’re okay, too, Echo. I knew your mother—both your parents, actually—very, very well. We had a complicated relationship, to be honest.” She makes a clicking noise with her tongue, then nods, as if she’s trying to decide how best to explain whatever she’s about to lay on me. “Despite the fact that we didn’t see the need to officially give you a mentor in our organization and didn’t invite you to join the ranks of those we watch over until just recently, I have been aware of the situation that has unfolded since the car accident.” Her glance briefly flicks to Royal, then back. “How’s Chase?”
My lips tremble as I blink rapidly, trying to process that this woman, my teacher, knew my parents. “He’s okay.” I nervously glance down the table at Savannah and Ireland. Their confusion tells me they aren’t aware of who Chase is.
Giving me a warm smile and a nod, Professor Silverton glances at our former running coach. “Theo assigned himself to Royal after his arrest and was quick to point out there might be a need to watch over you as well… and he wasn’t the only one who made the suggestion either, but we’ll get to that in a moment.” She absentmindedly tucks a lock of red hair into place in the bun at the back of her head. “It wasn’t until you got here and everything began to unravel that I felt strongly about bringing you into the fold. And knowing your parents as I did, I thought it should be me to watch over you, though I’ve had plenty of help.” Her eyes are steady on mine, and I swallow hard as she continues. “I wish moving back home hadn’t been such a trial, but you’ve walked right through the flames and emerged stronger for it.”
Royal’s eyes find mine and he nods, silently telling me everything is okay. Despite his reassurance, my hands shake. “I have so many questions, but I can’t—” So many things are being thrown at me all at once, I’m finding it hard to arrange everything in my head in a way that makes sense.
“Take your time. Collect your thoughts. We’ll answer whatever you want to know. Now, or at any time in the future.” She gestures to the Sin Keeper beside her that he should continue with the unveiling.
Beckham immediately sits up and grabs at my hand under the table since it’s obvious it’s his turn.
A woman in her mid-forties pushes back her hood. “Hi, Beckham. You’ve been through the wringer lately. I’m sorry you had to come into contact with Megan like that.”
“Mrs. Anderson? What—? I mean—” He runs a hand over his face, then clears his throat. “I don’t know what to say,” he rasps.
“I’ve had eyes on you since you entered high school, but not in an official capacity until we discovered Megan hadn’t stopped what she was doing after you were removed from her care. I was hoping you’d appreciate the chance to do what needed to be done. What should have been done for you—and would have been—if I had realized in time what was happening to you.”
This is the guidance counselor he told me about. The one who was kind to him. I tilt my head, and her gaze drifts to mine, the corners of my mouth tip into an uncertain smile. I grip his hand tightly as he stiffly nods. “Yes. Um. It’s nice to see you.”
A feeling of calm washes over me. These people… they’ve been trying to help all of us all along. In a way no one else has.
By the time the Sin Keepers across from Ireland and Savannah reveal themselves, it doesn’t surprise me to lay eyes on the cops who came to help us deal with the pandemonium at the cabin, Officers Dubois and Minnick. They’d been helpful that night, diligently doing their job, unlike some of the other members of the police department that we’ve come into contact with.
I bite down on my lip. Quietly, I ask, “What about other SIN brothers—” I hesitate before mumbling, “Like Davis?” He’s a SIN brother. But he’s not here. There are plenty of them unaccounted for today.
One of the Sin Keepers in the back row draws back her hood. “Davis has a long way to go, honey.”