Page 102 of Godless Saints

Status. Now.

Whitlock:

hyung. be honest. is the Irish bastard holding the phone or are you actually texting me willingly?

Still fine. We’re somewhere safe.

Whitlock:

somewhere safe lol bold of you. also Declan is alive before you start spiraling. ugly but alive.

What did you do?

Vivi:

Sawyer?

Whitlock:

he’s alive what more do you need?? i handled it. you’re welcome.

Vivi:

Stay hidden, Hyun. I mean it. The Favor board is moving fast and Vesper is getting bold. People are starting to ask dangerous questions about your disappearance. I’m handling what I can.

Whitlock:

translation: vivi’s been doing that terrifyingly calm murder thing where people start confessing unprompted. it’s lowkey iconic. come back in one piece princess or at least mostly intact. aster has standards.

Vivi:

Sawyer.

Vivi:

And yes. Come back to us whole. We miss you.

Whitlock:

i don’t miss you. i’m just bored without my favorite control freak. hurry up and get your fill of Irish dick so you can come home already ❤️

Vivi:

SAWYER.

Whitlock:

what?? i’m being supportive.

I will.

I set the phone down and tried to sleep. I failed. Every time I closed my eyes my body betrayed me, the deep, throbbing ache between my legs, the bruises on my hips, the ghost of his hands still gripping me.

Pathetic.

I got up, stripped the sheets with sharp, angry movements, and shoved them into the washing machine. Then I washed the clothes I’d been wearing. Anything to keep my hands busy.

As the machine hummed, the thought slid in anyway. I could leave while he’s gone. Disgust hit me so hard I almost laughed. I don’t want to leave.