Page 119 of Where Sinners Repent

“And these Wraiths are running the club like reckless little shits with zero fear and something to prove,” Kaleb confirms.

Leon hums his agreement, and Kaleb mutters a curse.

And that’s where my brothers fit in, I suppose.

“Things have changed, Roxy.”

Nausea roils in my stomach, and I distract myself with the machine buzzing in my hand. Leon continues going on about the Wraiths, but when I look up, everything fades away. Kaleb’s eyes are on mine. This close, they are all-consuming.

My hand pauses and my lungs halt.

“I didn’t say stop,” he whispers on a breath.

My brows draw in confusion until his hands land on my hips and help me move them again. I feel heat crawl up my cheeks, and I force my hand to move again.

May as well enjoy the pleasure now. Because after he sees this tattoo, it’ll be nothing but punishment. Turns out I’m a glutton for it.

I slip into that easy space, where it’s just skin and ink. Thankfully, their voices fade into the background, my creativity taking over. With the added bonus of draping myself over this sex on a stick of a man.

It lasts a whole half an hour before I hear a name that makes me bristle.

“Isaac Kavanagh seems to be a big player, vying for president,” Leon says quietly.

The hand wrapped around the tattoo machine freezes, and my spine shoots up straight. My tongue feels like lead in my mouth. I feel Kaleb staring at me, but I don’t meet his gaze. I don’t need him seeing everything clearly written on my face.

“Is this something that he’s always been eyeing, Roxy?” There is a softness in Leon’s voice that makes me sick.

My teeth sink into my lip to stop it from trembling.

“She doesn’t have to answer that,” Kaleb murmurs darkly.

Blood rushes through my ears, and I wipe at the skin, bringing the needle back to it. Trying to swallow the lump forming my throat.

“She doesn’t,” Leon agrees. “But we need to know everything. Otherwise, all we’re doing is putting out their fires and not lighting any of our own.”

Kaleb’s thigh stiffens, his hands gripping my hips tighter.

“Then find it out a different way.”

There is a warning in Kaleb’s tone.

Leon sighs. “Roxy, I just...”

“Don’t say another word,” Kaleb’s voice drops an octave, and if my brother’s name hadn’t just been brought up, I’d be salivating.

“It’s okay,” I whisper, turning my head over to Leon. “My brothers have always had a sense of entitlement. I’m sure they were ready to jump at any opportunity to rise.”

The thumbs on my hips move in calming strokes. Such a jarring feeling from a man like Kaleb. The small act makes my eyes burn with unshed tears.

Taking in a slow breath, I steel myself for this conversation. If it helps the people who helped me, even just a little, I can do that.

“As far as I know, my dad, Patrick Kavanagh, wasn’t a patched-in member. The Wraiths just hired him when they needed... his violent tendencies. He was stupid and hot-headed and got killed before I was ten.”

I continue to tattoo Kaleb. It’s the only thing keeping me tethered.

“My brothers were sixteen and eighteen at that point and wanted to follow Dad’s footsteps. From what I gathered, they were too much of a liability, that even the Wraiths wouldn’t take them on. Too busy getting high and chasing girls. But the Wraiths used them when they didn’t want to get their hands dirty.

I shake my head at the pictures flashing behind my eyes, before whispering. “They were never afraid of getting their hands dirty.”