Page 147 of Shadowman

“I’m serious,” Ren said on a heavy breath. He almost seemed fucked up… Like he was on something. “You’re the only one—”

“Dude, I can’t,” Luthor grunted, turning his shower off and grabbing a towel. He whipped his face in my direction and shot me a pleading look, as if he wanted me to say or do something.

I blinked. “Ren, just… stop talking.”

“I can’t!” He flopped against the wall. “I can’t hold it in. The drugs… They won’t let me.”

“What’s his deal?” Landon stepped over, wrapping a towel around his waist.

“I think they gave him sodium pentothal.” Luthor rubbed his eyes.

“Ding ding ding! We have a winner!” Ren croaked, shoving his pants down. “You’re so damn smart, baby. I don’t deserve you. But I want you—No, Ineedyou. See?? It’s true!”

“God, this is gonna get bad,” I mumbled, chewing the inside of my cheek.

“What’s… sodium… pent-a-something?” Landon asked.

Love the kid, but he was kinda ditzy.

“Sodium pentothal, airhead Barbie,” Ren snickered. “The truth serum.”

“I gotta get out of here,” Luthor sighed, dressing hastily.

“Don’t put clothes on…” Ren whined, launching himself at Luthor.

Luthor ducked away from him, and I stepped in between them, grabbing Ren by the waist. “Okay, bro… That’s enough. Just take your damn shower and shut up before you really incriminate yourself.”

“Parker’s dead,” he sniffed.

At that, we all froze. Gaping at our friend, the unbridled sociopath, our collective mood fell in an instant. From slightly amusing to full-on despair with those two words.

“Why…” Landon whimpered.

“Why the fuck would you say that?!” Luthor hissed, dropping a supportive hand on Landon’s shoulder.

Parker was still a sore subject, after all. Ren’s cellmate, a guy we considered like a brother to us, especially Luthor and Ren, had contracted life-threatening pneumonia a few months back, and had to be air-lifted to a hospital. That was the story, anyway.

I think we all knew, deep down, that he was most likely dead. But none of us were ready to admit it out loud yet.

Knowingandacceptingare two different things.

“Because it’s… true,” Ren croaked, face contorted in obvious hurt. “I couldn’t save him… Itried, I swear to God, I did!” He squeezed my shoulders, locking his sad blue eyes on mine. “You believe me, don’t you?”

I didn’t know what to do or say. So I just nodded.

“Fuck this,” Luthor growled. “I’m out. Come on.” He grabbed Landon, guiding him out of the showers, casting me a look on his way. “Stay with him. Please.”

My lips parted to protest, but they were already gone. I tried to swallow it down andfocus, but my stomach was tumbling with unease.

Because Ren was back, and now, we were alone.Nakedand alone, his hard body draped on mine.

“I’m sorry… I’m so sorry….” He cried softly into my neck. His flesh was cool and mine was scorching, and when he pressed into me, I broke out in chills.

“Ren… stop apologizing,” I muttered, voice gravelly.

I’d never been given the truth serum before—thank God—so I didn’t understand what Ren was feeling. But he seemed like he could barely hold himself together.

His lies made up most of his anatomy, and without them, he was too weak to stay upright.