Sinner's Revenge (Sinner's Creed MC #2)(76)

He doesn’t wait for my answer; he just leans in and kisses my head, then bolts out of the room and across the hall. I stand in the darkness, waiting for him to return. Everything was going to be okay. I feel in my back pocket and smile when my fingers touch the jump drive. Soon, we wouldn’t have to worry about hunting Death Mob. They would be coming to us.

Shady returns minutes later and I can tell by the look on his face that Fin is dead, but he didn’t die the slow death Shady was hoping for. Pulling off his hoodie, he hands it to me and I slip it on over my torn blouse. Dammit. It was one of my favorites.

“We need to leave. Now.” Grabbing my hand, he pulls me into the hall, keeping his head down as we walk to the elevators. “Rookie and Clark are waiting outside.”

I smile beneath the hoodie, but he can’t see it. I guess he was smart enough to figure out my plan. I just hope Clark doesn’t hold any hard feelings against me. Business is business, after all.

“Clark doesn’t know anything about this. Rookie doesn’t know much either.” I turn to look at him as we board the elevator, his hand tightening around mine as he clenches his teeth. That vein next to his temple bulges and I know he’s pissed. And he has every reason to be. “What the f*ck were you thinking, Diem?” he growls between his teeth, burning me with the intensity of his gaze.

When I don’t answer, he reaches out and punches the stop button on the elevator. I guess he wants an answer now. “I had to do this alone. I figured turning each of you against the other was the only way for it to work.”

“Why did you think you had to do this alone?”

When I take too long to answer, he lets out a growl of warning and suddenly I have diarrhea of the mouth. “Because I didn’t want to risk getting caught. I’ve worked too hard and sacrificed too much for anybody to jeopardize this all because they thought I was too weak to handle it.”

“You’re the one in charge, Diem. Simply telling us to stay the f*ck away would have worked.” But even as he says the words, I can hear the doubt in them.

“Really? You’d have stayed away? What about Clark? His head is further up my ass than yours is.”

A low rumble rips through his chest, and I can see him biting his tongue to keep from yelling at me. Or kissing me. Either wouldn’t be very smart right now. Although I wouldn’t mind being kissed out of anger. He has a way with his mouth when he’s pissed.

“So the leak on the inside? Is that bullshit too?” he asks, seething.

“Not entirely. Dorian does think it’s safer for me to have you around. In the event someone gets the idea to take me out. He’s always been a little paranoid. You can never be too sure how people will react when someone new steps up.”

“And Rookie being your second? What the f*ck is that?” he barks, and I know he’s trying to scare me, but I’m too relieved that he’s here to be frightened.

“It went with the plan.” I shrug. “If you really would’ve killed Clark, then that’s exactly what would’ve happened. I needed you prepared just in case.” Either he isn’t pleased with my answer, or he’s going over it in his head. But then I remember I have a question of my own. “How did you even find me?”

Digging in his back pocket, he grabs his phone. Holding it up, I see the picture of me and Fin in the bar displayed on the screen. I can’t help it, I smile. “I knew you’d find that.”

A little tension leaves his face, and eventually, he lets out a sigh. Looking to the ceiling, he mumbles a string of obscenities under his breath. I don’t know if I do it in my shitty attempt to apologize or just because I need to feel his arms around me, but I bury my face in his chest and slide my hands around his waist.

Without hesitation, he engulfs me in a hug. “Please don’t ever scare me like that again,” he says, his voice deep. There is something comforting about having my ear against his chest as he speaks. The vibration soothing me and making me feel safe. “I’m only asking you to trust me, Diem. I know what you’re fighting for. I’m fighting for it too. But I can’t be here for you if you keep me in the dark.”

I close my eyes, delighting in the only feeling of protection I’ve ever experienced. He makes me feel secure. Like I can conquer the world as long as I have him to lean on. I don’t answer, because I refuse to make promises I can’t keep—especially to him. Pulling away from his chest, I hit the button on the elevator and we’re descending once again.

Rookie and Clark are waiting in the car at the front entrance. I slide in the backseat with Shady, keeping close to him because I can’t bear the feeling of distance between us. I’d waited too long to be near him and I wasn’t ready to let go just yet.

“Clark,” Shady says, taking charge while I stay lost in my own thoughts. “I need a sweep of room 1859. Rookie, get Cleft on standby. We got some stuff coming his way.” I meet Clark’s eyes in the mirror, giving him a nod and confirming Shady’s orders.

“You okay, ma’am?” Clark asks, refusing to move the car until I answer him.

“I’m fine,” I say, but it doesn’t appease him. “My head’s still a little fuzzy from the hit. Shady’s taking lead on this one until I can think straight. Do as he asks, please.”

He nods. “Yes, ma’am. Should I call Dorian?”