Page 116 of Where Sinners Repent

“Leon,” Kaleb barks, making the younger boy flinch in his chair. “Ignore her. Keep going.”

Leon clears his throat, continuing to tap against the keys of his laptop. I can’t help but smirk. Adding to the percussion I’ve started, I drum my nails on the armrest of the chair. Tap, tap, tap.

I finally get those dark eyes on me, and a satisfied thrill zaps down my spine. He lets out the faintest exhale through his nose.

“I’m bored,” I whine.

“Should I find you some crayons?” Leon drawls. “Maybe a juice box.”

Flipping him off, I turn pleading eyes on Kaleb. “I haven’t worked in a fortnight now. I’m going stir-crazy and now I have to sit here like a misbehaving child while you discuss, God knows what. For all I know, you guys are planning to overthrow the government, and I’m here... fucking doodling.”

The muscle in Kaleb’s jaw feathers just once, his shoulders drawing back as he regards me.

“You certainly are whining like a misbehaving child,” he replies quietly.

My mouth pops open. He’s not exactly wrong, but that is beside the point.

Leon’s eyes spark with mischief.

“Listen to your daddy,” he whispers loudly. “We are doing adult things.”

“I’m older than you, asshole,” I throw back.

All he gives me is an amused shrug of his shoulder before turning back to his laptop. I sigh, flopping my forehead against the table. I should go find Maddy. Or Kai. Maybe they’d involve me in whatever they are doing.

Scratch that. It’s highly likely Kai is doing something that would make me throw up.

Peeling myself off the table, I reach into my pocket. My new favourite toy weighing heavily.

Of course, the purple butterfly knife can never replace my Kitty. But I’m obsessed with it. Flicking it open, I feel Kaleb’s eyes on me. This time, I ignore him.

The sharp blade glints under the dim lights, and I turn it towards the table. Ash will probably kill me for this. But Kaleb wants me to entertain myself, and I’m doing just that.

Even against the wood, the knife carves away at it easily. The first letter forms quickly.

R.

Leon and Kaleb’s voices taper away as I start working on the O. I start humming one of my favourite David Bowie songs. Under Pressure, of course.

O.

I’m halfway through the X when I hear boots slowly making their way towards me.

“I’ll give you two seconds to hand over the knife,” Kaleb murmurs.

Although he sounds calm and collected, as always, there’s heat behind his words. I’ve never claimed to be very smart. That’s why I continue carving the X.

X.

“One,” he growls.

I start on the Y. I’m so damn close.

He doesn’t bother saying two. A second later I’m being ripped from the chair and thrown onto the table on my back. I didn’t even feel the knife leaving my hand, but now it’s pressed against my throat.

The air leaves my lungs as the steel teases close. He leans over me, his stony face bored.

Biting my lip, I grin.