Page 81 of Atone

Alex smirks,circling me at my question. “I was wondering when you would ask me that.”

His expression is surprisingly playful considering what I’m asking.

“Does that mean you’ll tell me?”

“You want to know what happened?” He crosses to sit at the edge of his bed, motioning me to him. “It depends who you ask.”

“I’m askingyou.”

When I reach where he’s sitting on the bed, he snags my hand, pulling me onto his lap. He allows me to put my arms around his shoulders without pulling away. I can touch him here, when we are alone and not being overly intimate. But the second it goes farther, he’ll stop me.

I tip my forehead to his and take what I can get.

Absorb what he’ll give, even if he decides to force his fingers down my throat and make me spit him out later.

“Please tell me.” I practically beg.

He blinks his eyes open to look at me. “Do you know how the trials work?”

“For the most part.” I rake my nails over the back of his neck. “Initiates are put through seven trials to become a legacy of the House, but they’re a member after four. Members mark every trial passed on their bodies. Carving tallies or letters. Marco has fiveX’sunder his collarbone.”

Alex’s eyes narrow.

“Sorry.” I probably should have left Marco out of it. “You do know I never had sex with him, right?”

“I’m aware.” His confirmation doesn’t relax his shoulders.

And I guess the fact that I spent time with Marco shirtless wouldn’t make Alex feel better either way.

“Anything else?” Alex asks, skirting the subject of Marco.

“The trials are modeled after the seven deadly sins. Since the House rules say:From sin we are born, and through sin we are revealed.”

According to Violet and Teal, both Kole and Declan are legacies, but there are likely more living here than that.

“That’s correct.” Alex nods.

“What trial were you on when this happened?” I brush my fingers over the scars on his arm, trailing the path all the way to his collar and resting my palm over his heart.

“My third.”

“What sin?”

“Pride.” He rests his hand over mine. “But it was more about loyalty than anything. They were worried the friendship between me, Kole, Declan, and Liam would be a liability to the House.”

“Why would they think that?”

“Because once you’re a member, you don’t serveanyone but your oath to Sigma Sin. Regardless of personal feelings or friendships. It’s been known to cause problems.”

“Like Declan’s recent overturn of the Council, putting the three of you in charge?” I hitch an eyebrow.

“Exactly.” Alex smirks, not the least bit apologetic over the number of men whose reputations were burned in recent months because of what they did.

Some were sent to prison. Others ate a bullet. Some disappeared. Whispers all over town talked about the purge at Sigma Sin.

“What did they do during the trial?” I ask.

“They made us… uncomfortable.” His gaze drifts behind me like he’s traveling back to that day in his mind. “Bright lights. Music that makes your ears bleed. No food, barely any water. It was unpleasant, to say the least.”