Page 127 of Where Sinners Repent

Stevie’s playful expression disappears when she hears my tone. She folds her arms across her stomach, long hair sliding over one shoulder.

“Couldn’t tell you much. It was dark and all.” Her eyes flick towards the stairs where Theo disappeared up. “They were huge, though. Both had black hair. Creepy blue eyes, too. One was bigger, the other was a bit skinny.”

“Wraiths?” Griff asks.

She shrugs. “They weren’t wearing cuts.”

I can barely hear them talk. Blue eyes and black hair. I’m suddenly grateful that my brother has turned all caveman and won’t leave the girl’s sight.

“Did you say anything?” I grit, interrupting them.

She flinches, looking offended. “Of course we didn’t. Why do you think my brother looks like that? I ended up running off to call for help and found a Devil....”

And that would be fucking Benny. The Devil we found stabbed and dead on the sidewalk when we went to investigate.

Me and Griff share a look. My teeth grind.

“Anything else you’ve forgotten?”

Jules steps closer. “She’s told you everything. Now, how about you start talking.”

When I turn to him, I let loose every single ounce of fury, fear, and fucking wrath I feel. This family is protected by us. But if anyone hurts that fucking girl, I don’t give a single fuck who stands in my way. Don’t care who I have to kill.

“Careful,” I murmur.

He looks like he wants to keep pushing. His jaw feathers, and hands curl into fists. Luckily for both of us, he keeps his lips sealed.

Stevie pushes her hair over her shoulder, eyes flicking between us. “Is everything going to be okay?”

I don’t say anything. Because any truth I can give her won’t be what she wants to hear.

Without looking back, I march up the stairs, ready to rip Leon off Theo if I fucking have to. We need to get the hell out of here. First, to lay my eyes on the black cat. Make sure she’s where I left her. Secondly, to go hunt down those fucking Kavanagh brothers. Zeke be fucking damned.

“Call if you need anything,” Leon murmurs, brushing Theo’s blonde hair off his forehead.

He’s crouched beside Theo, who is now tucked into a soft lounge, a blanket wrapped around him. A book rests on his legs, one that is bright pink and has vines crawling over the title.

“Come visit me soon?” Theo sounds so damn hopeful.

Not like we aren’t the reason he was nearly beaten to death. None of his softness and innocence seems to have been beaten out of him. Which is unfortunate for him.

Leon nods, leaning down to kiss his forehead softly. “Get some rest, kid.”

When he glances up at me, I jerk my chin towards the exit, and he stands, following me out.

“I’m going to have to break his poor little heart,” Leon grumbles, boots clanging on the metal stairs.

I grunt.

Griff shakes Graham’s hand. “Call if you need us. We will keep you updated, sir.”

The older man nods, but I can see the worry lining his face. He can hear what we aren’t saying. He’s been through a war with the Devils himself. The one that started and ended with Ash killing his father.

And he knows this is worse.

Just as I’m swinging my leg over my bike, a low rumble of an engine reaches me. My hand stills on the handlebar, eyes flicking to the black truck. It slows down past the garage. Too fucking slow.

Every window is tinted so dark that I can’t see the driver. It slows even further, and for a second, I think it’s going to stop. My hand reaches for my gun, preparing for anything. But it speeds up, wheels screeching on the asphalt.