Page 39 of Where Sinners Repent

Barely noticed the stains on the floor, a suspicious shade of red.

I notice it all now.

The way the air is charged with a current of danger, sizzling and ready to cause destruction. The way the men, covered in tattoos and scars and hard eyes, glance at me before flicking back to my shadow, who stands behind me waiting.

At Kai’s presence, they look away, returning to their games of pool or foamy beers.

The part inside me that’s programmed to run from these types of situations has my legs twitching to turn around and sprint for my dear life.

We already know that doesn’t work, Roxy.

Giving myself a silent pep talk, I lift my chin and saunter through the club. An older man at the bar is the only one who acknowledges Kai, giving him a nod before turning to me.

“Maddy will be down in a second,” he grumbles, eyeing me curiously.

“Thanks,” I mutter.

Kindness glows from his light eyes, framed by age-worn wrinkles. Waiting near him is probably the safest place here.

Kai is stiff, watching over the place with shadowed eyes.

“Oooo! Is that the famous baseball bat I’ve heard about?” a voice croons from the bar.

My eyes shoot to a younger boy, maybe my age. I didn’t notice him, too busy focusing on stopping my legs from running the other way. But now, I can’t help but notice him.

He looks completely different from the rest of the men here. Curly, sandy hair and piercing green eyes. A golden septum piercing glints in his nose, rings decorating his ears as well.

Even his tattoos are different. They are like mine.

I lift the bat in my hand, smirking at him. “This is Kitty.”

I give it her a little swirl. I wonder how she feels finding out that she’s a living legend.

Leon smirks, folding his laptop closed. “Nice to meet you, Kitty,” he purrs.

I like this one. Which is a travesty because I don’t like men like him.

He just seems so... different. No less dangerous, though, that’s for sure.

Kai makes the tiniest of sounds, one that I’ve never heard before. And when I glance at him, he’s not even looking in our direction.

I decide the sound is a scoff, but it better not be at me naming my bat.

“How do you hang around this one?” Leon mock whispers, loud enough for everyone around to hear. “Doesn’t he scare the bejeebies out of you?”

Oh, this man has balls.

“No,” I fake whisper back, making sure Kai can hear me. “Deep down, he’s really just a ray of sunshine. He even bought me a brand-new tattoo gun.”

Turning over my shoulder, I watch the muscle in Kai’s jaw jump.

Leon chuckles, biting his bottom lip. “Oh, so there is a sign of life inside him,” he drawls.

I hum, nodding my head and barely containing my laugh.

It feels good to smile this hard.

As Leon reaches for his laptop again, I notice his nails. “Oh my God,” I gasp, reaching for his hand. He lets me, wiggling his black nails painted with intricate designs of cobwebs and moons. “These are so cool.”