“You cooked?” Stitches looked from the macaroni and cheese to Sin.
Sin nodded. “Yeah. Sorry. I didn’t know if she’d eaten—”
“It’s homemade?” Stitches narrowed his eyes at Sin.
I looked at the food. It definitely looked homemade. It smelled otherworldly. My stomach gave a loud growl.
“Yeah.” Sin shifted awkwardly as he stood with us in the kitchen and rubbed the back of his neck before he looked to where Sirena was sitting on the couch watching some documentary Stitches had put on about Bigfoot being in Michigan.
I didn’t think it was a good idea for her to be watching that on TV since a lot of the stories from eyewitness accounts came from the area we were in. She didn’t need the stress of more bullshit. I hated the thought that crept into my head, however.
Maybe it’ll keep her out of the woods.
I wanted her to be safe. Peaceful sleeping had eluded me since everything happened. My fear of her sneaking out again kept me from completely going to bed. Even the slightest of noises jolted me up these days.
I’d told Sin and Stitches this very thing a few days ago when we’d smoked on the patio the night Sirena had to be sedated.
“I didn’t know you could cook.” Stitches grabbed a plate and piled the food onto it before he took a big bite. “Fuck. That’s good. What the fuck, man? Why didn’t you ever tell us? We’ve been tempting fate with Asher making dinner every damn night. I think I’ve eaten more burned meals than properly cooked ones.”
“Man, shut up,” I said to Stitches, rolling my eyes at him. “I’m not that bad.”
Stitches shrugged and took another bite. “Yeah, it’s not that bad. It’s not Sin’s macaroni good, though.”
I had to find out what he was raving about, so I got some and ate it, swearing softly after my third bite.
“See? It’s good, right?” Stitches asked around a mouthful of noodles and cheese.
“It is,” I agreed. “I like this.”
Sin gave us a small smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes before he looked back to Sirena on the couch.
“Should she be watching that?” he finally asked.
“I’m hoping it scares her enough to keep her out of the woods,” Stitches said unapologetically, voicing my exact thoughts. I was torn on it. He didn’t seem to be, in any case.
“Yeah, but it might trigger her too.” I looked in her direction to see if she was showing signs of another freakout. She appeared to be watching it without issue.
“Thanks for watching her tonight,” I said, focusing back on Sin, whose attention was still on her.
Stitches glanced at me with raised brows. I gave him a quick smile. Sin had it bad but didn’t realize it yet. Or maybe he did and knew he was backed into a tough corner that Church didn’t seem to have any desire to let him out of.
Me?
I could see the change in Sin. Seeing him broken and sad was hard, but I also saw his strength. I wanted him to come home. Having our lives return to normal would be a godsend. Knowing Stitches was more on my side than Church’s helped too.
“Sin?” I called out when he didn’t answer me.
“Huh?” He turned and looked at me.
“I said thanks for watching her tonight. How was everything?”
“It was fine.”
Stitches and I exchanged another look.
“Fine?” I pressed. “What did you guys do?”
“Nothing. I made some food,” he muttered. “We sat on the couch. She did some homework. That’s, uh, pretty much it.”
“Is it?” Stitches asked. “You two were close when we came in.”
Sin shook his head. “Just. . . I don’t know. Nothing. Just sitting there.”
He looked back to her again, ending the conversation. It took him a beat before he walked forward. Paused. He shook his head and muttered something we couldn’t hear.
I looked at Stitches again, knowing something was definitely up.
He gave me a knowing nod and studied Sin.
“You leaving?” Stitches asked.
“Uh, yeah. Yeah, I should probably go. I told Say-Mirage I’d watch a movie with him tonight.”
“What kinds of movies does he like?” I asked, curious what sort of stuff Asylum was into. Or Mirage. Whoever the hell he was today.
Sin scoffed. “Weird, obscure horror. Shit sucks.”
“Figures.” Stitches rolled his eyes. “He’s so fucking weird.”
“He is,” Sin agreed, letting out a sigh. “I’ll see you guys.”
“See you,” I said wistfully as he pulled his jacket on. He paused at the door when Sirena got up and went to him.
We watched the exchange wordlessly.
Sin took a cautious step toward her. She simply stared at him.
“See you, siren,” he said softly before backing away. She remained silent, watching him open the door and leave. The cool breeze from the Michigan night fanned across her face, feathering her dark hair.
“Something’s going on,” Stitches said when Sirena returned to the couch and sat back on it.
I nodded. “Seems to be.”
“What do we do?”
I mulled it over before answering. “I think we let it happen, whatever it is. Maybe Sin will come home.”
“What if he fucks up again?”
I pulled my attention from Sirena as I scooped another forkful of noodles and cheese into my mouth and chewed.
I swallowed, hating the words coming from my mouth but knowing they were true.
“You know the rules. None of us will go unpunished if we hurt her. He had his warning. Next time, I’ll burn him until his screams fade into the night,” I whispered.
“Just wanted to make sure we’re on the same page.”
“We are,” I said, finishing my food before putting the bowl into the sink.
“And Church?”
“I think if Sirena wants Sin, Church will allow it. I know I will.”
Stitches considered my words before scraping his bowl with his fork. “I will too. I might punch him in the face so he remembers, but I think I’d welcome the grouchy fuck with open arms.” He ate quietly for a moment before speaking. “And Asylum?”
I sighed and rubbed my eyes. “I think it’ll be the same deal. Even Bryce. We’re not blind.”
Stitches scowled. “He’s too fucking nice. We’d break him.”
“Might be fun.”
He grinned. “Promise?”
I pulled my lighter out, then opened it and closed it five times. The flame flicked on the fifth time, and I looked at Stitches from over it.
“I do.”
I snapped my lighter closed and started my ritual all over again, my eyes fixed on my girl on the couch.
If Bryce wanted in, he’d have to be initiated.
I was sure the complete hell we put him through would be worth it in the end.
And if it wasn’t, it gave us something to kill.
I reeled my ugly side back in and went back to flipping my lighter open and closed, my eyes on my girl.
