Page 7 of Where Sinners Repent

He eyes the room over my shoulder with those dark, unblinking eyes and shame twists low in my stomach.

One step, and he’s in front of me, taking the box from my hands before reaching into it and passing Kitty back to me.

Everything feels better when she’s in my hands. She saved me. Again...

“What about...?” I turn, gesturing to Jacob. Or what’s left of him.

“It’s sorted,” he grunts quietly. “Let’s go.”

I don’t have to be told twice, running after him as he stalks out of my studio. The truck is enormous. I’ve barely climbed in when he tears away from the curb. My stomach lurches with the speed, and I grip the bat until my fingers crack.

The place that was meant to be mine disappears in the rearview mirror.

Chapter 3

Roxy

Looking in the mirror of Maddy’s ensuite, you would never guess that I just ended somebody else’s life.

For some reason, I feel like it should be obvious. Like there should be blood staining my hands and evil glinting in my eyes.

It might just be that I’m standing in a billionaire’s bathroom, and in here, everything shines; but I don’t look like a killer.

I just look tired.

I just spent a good hour in the enormous shower, using Maddy’s luxury soaps and face washes. It feels wrong to be washing brain and blood with such luxury soaps.

My hair hangs damp down my back, and I’ve thrown one of my oversized rock shirts over my body. Finally leaving the bathroom, I see my favourite part of this whole place.

The bed.

Every time I visited Maddy, I’d sprint and jump on the soft cloud, enveloped in the mountain of pillows and soft sheets.

So, that’s what I do now.

And it’s just as good as I remembered. Better.

Turns out killing someone is tiring work. Immediately my body feels heavy, threatening to melt into the soft blankets and disappear completely.

Prying myself from the clutches of comfort, I turn towards the door. Feeling him, without having seen him. And surely, I’m right.

The man in the shadows. Dark, endless orbs focused on me. My breath turns shallow.

“You’re Kai, right?”

He gives the slightest dip of his chin in confirmation.

Every move is robotic. A machine wrapped in skin and tattoos. A mouthwatering machine.

“Well, you’re right to go now. I’m safe here, in this tower of diamonds and glitter,” I huff a laugh, looking around the space in awe.

So different from the grimy, rundown space I called a bedroom where I grew up.

Kai shakes his head in a soft movement.

Another huff falls out of me.

“Thought so.”