Page 133 of Where Sinners Repent

“Please, Isaac,” I whisper, voice breaking. Soul breaking. “Whatever it is, I’ll do it. I want to help.”

Isaac leans forward, elbows resting on his knees. His hand reaches out, knuckles lifting my chin so that I have to look him I the eyes.

“See?” he murmurs. “Not so fucking hard, is it?”

My nails bite into my palms.

Humiliation burns so hot across my skin that sweat beads on the back of my neck. I keep my eyes on Isaac, anyway. Because this isn’t about me. This is about Maddy.

I can survive being brought to my knees again. I’ve done it before.

“I’ll help,” I whisper.

“I knew you’d see it my way,” he tsks.

Ethan barks an ugly laugh, and it takes everything in me not to spew hatred at him. He used to have some semblance of humanity. Back when Isaac would terrorise us both.

Now, he’s just as bad. Worse.

Even though he knows how it feels to be on the receiving end.

“Tomorrow night,” Isaac pulls my attention back to him. “Leave the back door to the Devil’s club open at midnight.”

My eyes shutter closed. No. No, no, fucking no.

“Why?” I breathe.

“Never you mind that, little sister,” he replies. “All you need to know is this: do as you’re told, and we’ll leave the girl alone.

So it’s either Maddy, or the rest of the Devils. Kaleb and Kai.

The impossible decision weighs heavily on my shoulders, pushing and pushing till I can no longer bear it.

Isaac stands, looming over me, clapping his hands once.

“I trust you’ll do the right thing,” he says, finally moving towards the door. He turns back, “Oh, and tell anyone about this, and I’ll kill the girl in a fucking instant. Then I’ll hunt you down like a pig and give you to my men.”

He saunters out, the threat hanging in the air like a bad scent.

Ethan pauses, and I dare a glance at him. He’s already looking at me.

For one stupid second, I search his face for something. Literally anything. Any remorse or guilt. Any sign of the brother who used to sneak me food when Isaac decided I didn’t deserve dinner.

I don’t see him.

“Ethan,” I whisper.

His name comes out like I’m still begging and I fucking hate that. His eyes flick towards the open door Isaac disappeared through before returning to me.

“You should do what he says, Roxanne.”

A broken laugh claws its way through my lips.

“Is that so?”

He doesn’t reply. Disappearing through the door and pulling it shut, just as the bells chime at the front door.

Five minutes.