Page 160 of Where Sinners Repent

Ash stands next to me. “Ceasefire!” he screams.

Men groan on the ground, and my ears ring with the aftermath of the shooting.

“Roxy,” I whisper.

A broken, desperate whisper. Her blue eyes find mine. I drop my gun on the floor. And drop to my knees.

Chapter 40

Roxy

The entire bus ride over, my leg shook like crazy. It was the most agonising ride of my life, not being able to do anything but sit there. Imagining all the horrible things that might be happening.

Every stop made me want to scream. Every red light had me biting my nails until they bled.

How could I have ever thought I was doing the right thing? How could I have been so stupid?

I thought I removed their claws the night I left. Turns out they were still embedded deep in my skin. I was just blind to it, pretending it wasn’t there. Out of sight, out of mind. Turns out, deep-rooted trauma doesn’t work like that.

Now, I’m sprinting. Through the night, as fast as my legs will take me. Fuelled by guilt and adrenaline and fury, and fear. My lungs work overtime, breaths heaving in and out as my body reaches its limit. But I can see it.

The huge seafood-processing building. The freezer. Looks like it’s been dead for decades, but when I see a light shining in the distance, I grit my teeth and move.

As fast as I can until I near the building. I hear voices. I sneak around the building to where the light spills from a huge roller door. When I peek into it, I cover my mouth to stifle a sob.

Four Devils on their knees, before a group of Wraiths. Well, three. Leon... fuck.

Ducking back around the corner, I force myself to breathe. To hold it together. My jaw rattles and my body shakes so violently I have to press myself against the wall to stay upright.

Fear has never felt like this. Never.

My heart beats so hard I think it might just explode. Pins and needles bloom through my fingers, and my knees feel weak.

I was right, and I hate that I was.

They have them. I squeeze my eyes shut, giving myself a moment to lose my ever-loving shit. Where is Kai? Do they have him too?

I did that.

The thought nearly makes me retch, but I force it down. Grinding my teeth together, I squeeze the handle of the baseball bat until my hands ache, and force my eyes to open.

Isaac’s grating voice makes my skin erupt in goosebumps. The words don’t reach me. But his do. Kaleb grunting. My head flies back around the corner, to watch men drag Kaleb down a hallway, my brothers following with wicked smiles on their faces.

Fuck. This.

With my head held high, I walk right in.

Ash and Xavier watch me with narrowed eyes. Guns point in my direction, Wraiths’ turning their attention to me. Immediately they pounce. They know who I am.

Ash struggles against his restraints, growling and throwing his weight against the ties. A Wraith presses a gun to his temple. I have to look away.

“Roxy,” Ash growls. “Turn the fuck around.”

His words carry a bite of command, one that hundreds of men would listen to blindly. But I don’t. I won’t.

“Roxy!” he roars, ignoring the gun at his head as he thrashes..

I want to tell him that I’m sorry. That I didn’t mean for this to happen. But now is not the time, and I’m not sure I’ll ever get the chance. He accepted me as much as Maddy did, and I betrayed him too.