Page 16 of Where Sinners Repent

“I love you, Roxy,” she murmurs into my hair.

“I love you, Maddy baby,” I whisper back.

Pulling back, she smiles.

“Did you get enough things from your house? I know it’s inconvenient, but Ash thinks you should stay here, just until we figure some things out.”

My face heats as I glance at the box full of everything I own.

“You’ve done enough for me; I can’t take your home as well.”

A sad smile curves her lips as she looks around the room.

“This house never was a home,” she murmurs. “Not to me. It’s yours as long as you want it.”

A fresh wave of tears burns behind my eyes.

I murder someone, and then I get to stay in a penthouse apartment that literally sparkles. Is karma even real? If so, I’m racking up a hell of a debt.

“Thank you,” I choke out, clearing my throat of the emotion that’s lodged there.

She smiles, pushing her blonde hair behind her ears. “You’re safe here. Kai will keep watch. No one can get through him.”

My mouth falls open, cheeks warming.

“I don’t need him here,” I blurt out. “Please...”

Silence stretches, Ash shifting in the doorway as Maddy glances back at him.

“My brothers don’t even care about me,” I continue, my voice cracking. “Jacob was just taunting me. That’s what they do. But I’m fine, I swear.”

Ash saunters towards us. Gritting my teeth together, I crane my neck to meet his gaze.

“Roxy,” he purrs, before his eyes darken, and the face of the club leader appears. Goosebumps crawl over my skin. “You know as well as I do, if anything were to happen to you, then my angel would be beside herself. Not to mention that your safety directly correlates with hers. So, forgive me if I decide not to pander to your little fear of men like me and Kai. Are we clear?”

I gulp, nodding my head. Being followed by a member of his club makes me feel sick, even though I might have already slept with said member. But the look in Ash’s eyes leaves zero room for debate.

In a second, his face changes again, a grin curving his lips and deep dimples popping into his cheeks. “I thought you’d see it from my point of view,” he winks. “Now, if you’d excuse us, we’ve had a long night doing criminal things. So, I’m going to steal my Angel now and take out every bit of my stress and frustration out on her perfect little body.”

Without looking back, he saunters out of the room.

My eyes round, darting to Maddy whose cheeks blush a bright red.

“Sorry,” she mouths, turning to follow him. “Call me if you need anything!”

“Insane fuckers,” I mutter to myself, although I can’t hide my grin.

The door shuts behind them, and suddenly, I’m all alone.

Everything falls silent. From up here, all the way in the penthouse suite, even the sounds of the city can’t reach me. Not a horn from a car, not a grunting fight from drunk people.

Peaceful...

There is something comforting about it. Something I'm not used to. Everywhere around me has been constant noise. For a second, it feels nice to have none.

But it only lasts for that second.

Because in the silence, the rattle of the door handle explodes through the apartment. Such a quiet sound, amplified enough to make me jolt.