Page 89 of Where Sinners Repent

Remaining just a step behind her, I follow her as she leads the way to the abandoned factory building, also known as my torture chamber. The same one I strapped her to a St. Andrew’s Cross and unravelled her sweet little mind.

Her next step lands funny on the gravel, and her ankle twists. Before I know what I’m doing, I’m reaching for her, stopping her from colliding with the ground.

“Fuck,” I mutter, scooping up her small body and wrapping it around mine.

Timidly she wraps her legs around my waist and her arms around my neck.

My muscles are so stiff they feel like they are about to snap.

“Take this,” I growl, shoving the baseball bat into her hand.

With sharp claws, she wraps her fingers around the worn handle, clutching it tight in her grip.

“Thanks for getting Kitty for me,” she breathes, voice broken.

Kitty. She named her fucking bat Kitty. This night...

I ignore her, marching to where my brother waits. I kick the door open, and the beautiful whimper of a terrified man soothes something inside me.

I make it three paces before crouching, trying to set her back on her feet. She doesn’t let go. Instead, her arms close tighter around my neck and her legs squeeze around my waist.

A quiet, panicked sound escapes her, and she presses herself closer, burying her face against my shoulder. My entire body freezes.

“Black Cat...”

The way her warm breath lands on my neck has my brows drawing tight. She’s... holding me like I’m the safe one. Like I didn’t just carve a blade into her skin hours ago. Like I don’t bring men into this very building and strip away their souls before I strip away their bodies.

Nausea swirls in my stomach. I don’t like it.

“Black Cat,” I say, firmer this time. “It’s time to let go.”

Her grip only tightens, a shiver rolling through her soft body against mine. She’s scared. But not of me.

Stupid fucking girl.

With all my strength, I find her wrists and untangle them from my neck and ease her from my body. Finally able to breathe now that she isn’t clinging to me like a saviour.

Her pouty bottom lip trembles, but she grips that baseball bat with all her strength.

If she weren’t the bane of my existence right now, she’d look fucking sexy.

Right on cue, the man rattles his shackles, and Roxanne’s attention turns to him.

His wrists are shackled together, suspended by a chain that hangs from the ceiling. One eye is already swollen shut and his lip bleeds.

Her hand flies to her mouth, wide eyes stuck on the man. “Harrison,” she gasps.

My hands fist at the way she says his name. I don’t care if he terrifies her. She shouldn’t be saying his name.

Kai waits in the shadows, and I don’t think she’s even realised he’s here.

Questions sparkle in her eyes as she turns to me.

One of my brows rises, waiting for her to spit it out.

Her eyes flick from Harrison to me, and I see that mind whirring.

“What am I doing here?” she whispers.