Page 78 of Where Sinners Repent

It’s stupid how disappointed I am when I open my front door and find the big man that Leon has a crush on standing in the hallway. Obviously, it can’t always be Kai. He needs to sleep and eat, and all the other Devils things he has to do.

Still, my shoulders slump when instead of charcoal-black eyes, golden ones scowl at me.

“Maddy wants me at the club,” I murmur through a yawn.

He grunts, following me to the elevator and leading me to a huge black truck.

I’m almost asleep by the time the tires crunch over the gravel parking lot, eyes squinting open to find the red glow of the club. The second my Ugg boots hit the ground, the front door squeals open, revealing a wide-eyed Maddy.

She runs at me, arms open to wrap me in a tight, frantic hug.

“Thank God you are here.” Her voice shakes, so I wrap my arms around her tighter. “I’m scared, Roxy. Ash has been gone for hours and I haven’t heard from him.”

Pulling back, my eyes widen. “What?!”

She’s fighting back tears, her eyes blinking furiously.

“Wait,” I interrupt her. “Let’s do this over a drink.”

She lets out a watery laugh and nods, linking her arm in mine.

I’m surprised at how warm the club is. With the yellow glow of the dim lights and the scent of cigarettes, it’s weirdly comforting. It is emptier than it usually is, only a dozen or so men slowly sipping drinks with heavy lids.

The older man at the bar watches us approach, Griff close behind.

“Can we please have two wines, Matty?” Maddy asks.

“Of course, kid,” he winks, before grabbing the wine bottle and two glasses.

As he pours them, he eyes me curiously. I offer him a small smile, then turn to my best friend.

“Tell me everything.”

She reaches for her now-full glass of wine and takes a long gulp. “Ash has been... unravelling, Roxy. It feels like it’s just one thing after another, and tonight he came home and held me in a way that made me sick before he ran out, promising to be back by morning.

It’s been four hours!” She shakes her head, tears finally forming. “I haven’t heard a single thing from him.”

I reach for her hand and squeeze it.

“I need to go find him, or something. I can’t just sit here, knowing he’s out there somewhere, and might need my help.” Her voice is growing more and more frantic with each word.

A large hand lands on her shoulder and squeezes. Griff looks down at us with his perpetual scowl. “Sit down, Mads.”

She looks up at him, eyes glassy and red. “I can’t,” her lip trembles.

“You can,” he grunts. “Panicking isn’t bringing him home any faster. He does this kind of stuff all the time. He’s come every time before, and he’ll come home today.”

A shaky breath leaves her. “Where is he?”

Griff seems to hesitate, eyes dipping to me, before turning back to Maddy. The look makes my stomach knot up for her.

Finally, he exhales through his nose.

“Retaliation. The Wraiths, or the version of them that’s still in Havenport, has a truck entering the city. Ash got word and took a crew to destroy it.”

Maddy’s shoulders loosen and she sighs.

“So... he’s attacking them?