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“Okay.”
Apple jerks away from me and lifts her head to look me in the eyes. “Okay?”
I nod. “Soul said you could be a part of Kyle’s purge.”
She knits her brows. “Purge?”
“He’s a sinner. Sinners need purged from the world. The club… we purge them.”
“Like you did with Travis and Jason?”
“Exactly.”
“Why is Soul okay with me being there?” Her expression turns thoughtful. “Why are you?”
I rub my hands up and down her arms as I level my gaze on hers. “Soul’s not okay with it, but I reminded him that he broke the rules for Cece and owed you the same consideration. As for me being okay with it…” I measure my words carefully, wanting to be honest with her. “I’m not thrilled with it. And before you get upset, my reservation isn’t because I think you can’t handle yourself. But I will always want to protect you, even from yourself.”
“What do you mean?”
“Apple, taking the life of another human being isn’t easy. It leaves scars that you’ll never see, but you’ll feel them for the rest of your life. It’s one thing to stand here now and say you want to watch him suffer or get revenge, but when he’s in front of you… it’s different. I don’t want you to have to live with how killing will change you, but I respect you enough to let you make that choice.”
She appears thoughtful for a moment before nodding. “I appreciate that, Malice. I really do. And maybe I’ll change my mind when I see him, but I do want to make him pay for what he’s done.”
“Okay, then let’s go.” I clasp her hand in mind and lead her out of the room, toward the elevator. “I should warn you… this will be bloody. It’ll be violent. It’s a purge in what essentially amounts to a dungeon, not a sterile day at the spa.”
“Okay.”
We’re both silent as we make our way to the Confessional. Soul and Grim are standing guard when we reach the deepest depths of the clubhouse.
“Where’s Mark?” she asks me. “I thought he’d be down here.”
“He’s not a prospect or member,” I explain.
“You should do something about that,” she says.
Then she breaks away from me and rushes toward Soul and Grim to throw her arms around their necks. It’s awkward because they’re much larger than her, and her feet hover above the floor.
“What’s that for?” Soul asks when she releases them.
“Thank you,” she says. “For taking care of me and not shoving me to the sidelines for this.”
Grim’s eyes were focused on her lips, and when she stops speaking, he takes out his phone. Apple rests her hand on his arm and shakes her head. Then she lifts her hands and silently communicates with him.
“I’m learning how to sign.” Grim’s eyes widen, and he grins as she continues. “The girls are teaching me. Thank you.”
“Why are you thanking me?”
Apple looks at me to translate because she can’t quite read ASL yet, and I tell her what he said.
“Because you…” She pauses and narrows her eyes in thought. “I don’t know.”
“You don’t know why you’re thanking me,” I say as Grim’s hands fly.
Apple’s shoulders deflate, and she looks at me again. “Tell him I don’t know how to sign why I’m thanking him. Tell him I’m just grateful for him.” Her eyes light up, and she snaps her fingers. “Never mind.”
Apple turns back to Grim and signs, “Thank you for being you.”
Grim smiles at her, and he nods. “You’re welcome.”
