Page 60 of When Sinners Rise

I turn to look at her, watching those eyes hope I’m gonna say something to ease her fears down. Why would I do that? I look back up front to keep steady on the road. There were enough lies between us early on for a fucking lifetime. “It used to be owned by a guy called Chance. He made snuff films. He got killed, though, and the place fell into our hands. Abel sold it on to a guy called Reece Carlise. From what I know of him, he’s not into the same kinda kink as Chance was. She’ll be alive, but you better prepare yourself for a fucking mess, Miri, because these kinda clients are high ballers, and they get what they want from life.”

“Okay.” She doesn’t look okay. “Thanks for the honesty,” she says quietly. “Are you okay?”

I look at her again. “What?”

She lets a sigh of her own out and pulls up her knees. “I might not like what your family do and have done, but I know what you’re risking by doing this for me. It must hurt a bit maybe? To think of losing them?”

“I’m fine.”

“I bet you’ve said that a lot in your life.”

“What does that mean?”

“Well, I’m assuming you’re doing this because you’re not okay with what your family does to women and girls in general. I guess you’ve had to hide that a lot, like you’re hiding your feelings now.”

“Something like that.”

“You don’t want to talk about it?”

“No.”

“Alright. How do you feel? You’ve got some nasty bruises, and that cut still looks sore.”

“Fine.”

“Okay. Do you know how you’re going to get Naja?”

“I’ll deal with that when we get there.”

“How long will that be?”

“An hour or so.”

“Okay. Will you need your gun? Silly question. Of course, you will.”

“Why are you talking so much?”

She snaps her head toward me. “Sorry. Nerves, I guess.”

My brow cocks, as I look at her. I’ve barely seen one inch of nerves on her since we’ve met. Rage and scepticism, maybe some coy shit, too, but nerves? None. Other than a random panic attack. “Where’s that feisty ass bitch that attacked me gone?”

She smiles and rests her head on the seat, shifting her body so she’s fully facing me. “She’s worried about her sister. Don’t try any shit, though. Feisty ass bitch can be back any minute.” I smirk, remembering it, and the fucking after it, and look back at the road. “So, what changed your mind?”

“About what?”

“Letting me go?”

I sigh. “I don’t know, Miri. Maybe I just started listening to my own guts.”

“That’s all?”

A smile breaks out on my face for the first time in forever. “You looking for some declaration of love, sweetheart?” She chuckles but stays silent other than that. “You come from where I do, not quite fitting into it, and it takes some years to find answers in your own head, I guess. I can’t explain it. Don’t even want to in reality. Just is, you know? I guess you tipped the balance somehow. Right timing, maybe.”

I pull off the freeway and down towards the outskirts of Nashville, circling my way through the suburbs in the direction we’re heading. “You get those panic attacks often?”

She looks away, maybe embarrassed. “Sometimes.”

“My family’s fault, yeah?”