Page 32 of Where Sinners Repent

He knows.

Good.

Finally, they slide down to Maddison.

Ever since the kidnapping, tortured and left to fucking die together, he’s grown a soft spot her. Eyes on her like danger is everywhere. Which it is,, according to Kai.

“She’s okay.”

The words come out clipped. Not that anyone else would notice. It sends a thrill through me.

He takes the seat next to me. Back rigid. Head straight.

Maddy settles again on Ash’s thigh, the table falling silent.

“I never once doubted Kade or his children,” Ash murmurs, talking about the Northview family. “Kai, when you pick up your bike, put some fear of God into them.”

Once a Devil, Kade was retired from a shotgun to the knee. Took his four kids and old lady to the garage that Ash offered him and has been there ever since. In fact, it’s where Shadow, Kai’s bike, currently is. I’m sure he’s itching to get her back.

“Griff, what about the Kings?”

Griff is barely able to take his attention off Leon. The hate in the room is palpable, and I love to see it.

“They don’t get involved in shit like this. It’s the street criminals who think that quiet means weak,” he grunts. “Dealers and thugs who realise too late that this is bigger than they can even comprehend.”

Ash’s fists ball. “Yeah, well. Enough of them are sniffing around and it’s becoming a fucking pain. Every shipment is delayed, and I can’t find a single employee worth hiring at The Ninth Circle since drugged-up psychos keep slipping through the doors and attacking my staff.”

Ash tightens his arms around Maddy.

“This isn’t random anymore. They’re testing us.” He drums his fingers on the tabletop. “None of it’s enough to start a war...”

“But enough to make us bleed,” Xavier finishes.

Ash’s jaw ticks. “They are choking us slowly.”

They’re right. It feels like they are mapping the north side of Havenport Harbour. Mapping our entire empire and finding every crack. Waiting to see what breaks first.

“And then we have the Wraiths to think about,” Matt grumbles.

“Which ones?” Leon quips sarcastically. “The ones in hiding or the ones still harassing the south side of Havenport?”

He has a point. We all know Zeke is still alive with enough money to fill the harbour. And a good chunk of the Wraith men.

They aren’t in that underground palace under the grey zone. They aren’t anywhere. They’ve vanished into thin air.

Wod on the street, the Wraiths still around think their president is dead.

“And the studio,” Maddy’s soft voice interrupts. “Roxy’s brothers are Wraiths, and they’ve come to the North Side.”

Her face twists in an anger that simmers in her dark eyes, and Ash falls in love all over again.

Ash skims his hands through Maddy’s hair, smiling. “Don’t worry, Angel, they’ll pay for what they’ve done. Roxy will be okay.”

He solidifies it with a pointed look in Kai’s direction.

Talk of Roxanne has me simmering with a need to be with my brother alone. To hear exactly what he thinks of my little game with the girl. I wonder if he knows that I sliced her. That I drew my knife across her soft tongue, while I took her body for myself.

“I’ve got a fucking migraine,” Ash sighs, leaning back in his chair.