“What the fuck is happening?” I demanded. “Where was she?”
I’d been pacing the room since Ashes called to let me know she’d left Cady’s and gone with Bryce. Ashes instructed me to stay behind in case she came home. It took all I had not to bound out of the house and find Bryce before introducing him to my fists.
Again.
Ashes went to the couch and settled on a cushion. He stared into the crackling flames of the fireplace before pulling out his lighter and flipping it open and closed as was his way.
I scrubbed my hand down my face and sat on the L of the couch as I waited for him to speak. Whatever it was had to be bad because this Ashes was subdued. Worried. Angry.
A full ten minutes of silence passed by, his flipping of the lid on his lighter beginning to slow.
“Asher?” I ventured.
“I went to Bryce’s. I was walking the path to his dorm when I heard Sin yelling. I stopped to listen,” he said, his voice soft and shaking.
“What was he saying?” I asked, hoping it wasn’t stupid shit that would get his ass kicked. This time, it really would end in his death, the stupid bastard.
Ashes shook his head and went silent again.
It took several long beats until he finally spoke.
“He told her his feelings. Then. . . they kissed.”
I stared into the fireplace at Ashes’s words. Stunned didn’t even begin to describe my feelings. While I could easily see Sin was developing something for Sirena, I never thought he’d do anything about it.
But I’d be a fool to not think so because I was there when he’d brought her back to us. I’d heard his words and seen him kiss her then. Granted, she wasn’t conscious, but this was huge.
Especially if Church caught wind of it.
He explained in great detail to me when Ashes left earlier what he’d do to Sin if he caught him getting close. Church was stubborn. So was Sin. This was a fucking nightmare.
I got where Church was coming from on it. He knew Sin was unstable sometimes. He failed to realize we all were. I was stuck in the middle with Ashes between the pair of them. I wasn’t even sure which side I was on. While I got Church’s side, I was seeing Sin’s too.
I rubbed my eyes. “What now?”
“I honestly don’t know,” Ashes murmured. “Church is against Sin coming back. He’ll lose his mind over this. Sirena initiated it, so that means something. And god knows what she has going on with Asylum or Bryce.”
We were quiet, contemplating everything.
“Church wasn’t opposed to Asylum. At least he didn’t really seem that way.”
“Well, she wasn’t out there kissing Asylum, though. So if she wants him too, that’ll be a whole other thing. Right now, it’s Sin. And probably fucking Bryce because I see the way they look at one another.” Ashes finally sank back against the cushions and stopped flipping his lighter open and closed. “Fuck, Malachi. What are we going to do? Church will be back soon.”
I nodded. He was right.
“Well, I think we should let them be together as much as they can be before Church gets back,” I said.
Ashes looked over at me. “What? How will that help?”
“They might realize it’s not worth it. Sin might be too much of a broody pain in the ass for her. You know he’s a grouch. Letting her hang out with him like that might be what they need.”
“And if it makes it worse? Then what?”
“Then we deal with it. I don’t know how, but I think it gives us some options. Like I said. She might hate him after spending too much time with him. If she does, we never speak of it. Let her get it out of her system.”
“He was meant to be with her with us,” Ashes said, sitting up.
“Yeah. So. . . it’s truly the best option.”
“You want him to come home?” Ashes studied me.
I sighed. “Yeah. And no. I’m still angry because of all the shit that happened, but I don’t hate him. Not like I did a few months ago. I’m willing to do this. For angel. I want her to be happy.”
Ashes raked his fingers through his hair before blowing out a breath.
“You’re right.” He pulled his phone out and stared down at it for a moment. “Church is still in Chicago. Did he say for how long? An estimate?”
“He said at least a week. He’ll be calling Wednesday to update.”
“OK. So then, let’s do this.” He pushed the screen and put it on speaker. The phone rang on the other end several times before Sin answered.
“Asher, man, I can explain.”
“Do you love her?” Ashes asked. “No bullshit, Sinclair. Just answer the question honestly. Do you love her?”
Sin was quiet on the other end before he finally spoke.
“Yes.”
“Then come over. Church is gone yet, and we want to talk. Sound good?”
“Yeah. I’ll head over now.”
“Sin?”
“Yeah?”
“Only you, OK?”
“Of course. I’ll see you soon.” The phone clicked off, and Ashes looked at me.
“Well, here we go,” I said. “Are we going to tell Sirena?”
Ashes shook his head. “No. He can tell her.”
I nodded, realizing I’d have to give them space while Sin was here. All I wanted to do was hold her close and tell her I loved her, but I forced myself to remain on the couch.
Fifteen minutes later, there was a soft knock on the front door.
“Ready?” Ashes asked.
I looked at him. “We’re dead if Church finds out.”
“The way I see it, we’re already dead.” He shrugged and got to his feet, and went to the door.
He probably had a point. Ashes always did.
