Page 169 of Where Sinners Repent

My fault.

Fighting my tears, I look away. Unable to hold his gaze for a second longer. Two men who have already gone through unimaginable things, sitting side by side with new wounds.

I choke back my sobs.

I’m not sure what comes after this. After I beg on my hands and knees for the Devils to hear my apology. After that, I’ll leave. My brothers... They are dead now. Wherever I go, at least I know they won’t follow.

They might have cost me the best thing that ever happen to me. They don’t have that power anymore.

“Roxy...” A soft voice makes me flinch.

I squeeze my eyes shut, not ready to face Maddy, softly shaking my head.

“Are you okay?”

“Maddy,” I rasp, balling my hands into fists over my lap. “Don’t be nice to me right now.”

Her cold hand lands on my arm, and her head falls onto my shoulder.

“I heard that you did it because they threatened me,” she murmurs. Her voice is thick with emotion, and it forces a tear from my closed eyes. “Never in my life did I think I’d find a friend who loves me that much.”

A quiet sob falls from my lips, and I turn into her, wrapping my arms tight around her. She holds me back.

“I’m sorry,” I rasp.

It’s all I’ve been saying. It’s the only words that keep coming to me.

“You’re sorry?” Ash growls.

Maddy pulls away from me, and it gives me enough space to see the president, standing in the middle of his club.

Like this, the word frightening doesn’t even begin to explain him. My lip wobbles and I stare at him, ready to take whatever he wants to give me. I betrayed his club. Their safety.

“Did I hear that right?” he takes a slow step.

I nod, steeling myself and blinking back the tears.

His eyes narrow on me. “Fuck your sorries.”

I nod again, no words forming on my lips.

Every step he takes towards me is slow and torturous. The room around us falls silent, everyone watching for what is about to happen.

“The Devils invited you into our club, into our homes,” he continues, each word a cut to my heart. “Trusted you. Helped you. Protected you.”

“Ash...” Maddy murmurs.

His eyes shoot to her, but only for a second, before sliding back to me.

“And what did you do?”

Swallowing down the pain and guilt lodged deep in my throat, I open my mouth finally. “I betrayed them.”

It comes out as a pathetic whisper.

“No,” he grits out, now just a step away.

His stormy blue eyes bore down into mine.