Page 19 of When Sinners Fear
My eyes are closed now. I’m not sleeping, I’m thinking. Mainly about the fact that my phone isn’t with me, and whilst that wouldn’t be a problem for most people, for me and my life that’s a real fucking problem. No one knows where I am – me included – and no one even knows I’m missing. Abel and Kai are in Mexico, Mariana’s doing whatever the hell she does. Shaw’s probably fucking something pointless, and Dante’s not even part of us at the moment.
And if this bitch beside me doesn’t stop mumbling and muttering to herself about fuck knows what, I’m about to let loose on her. “Shut the hell up, Peyton. I’m trying to think.”
She doesn’t. I’m not even sure she heard me.
I look over at her, taking in the shaking and shivering and her legs tucked up beneath her. It could look cute if we were in any other situation. In fact, it would probably be revving me to cause more of those tears I saw earlier. Regrettably, though, fucking her is the last thing on my mind.
Line of sight back at the door again, and I keep waiting.
Eventually, it opens.
The figure moves through the gloom until he pulls up one of the chairs, dragging it closer to the cage I’m in. He sits, and it’s only when he leaves the shadow that I realise who it is.
“Look at little Knox Cortez all caged up,” he says. “How’s that feel for you?”
“Fuck you, Logan.” He stares at me, a smile on his face like he owns the goddamn world. I sneer in reply, pissed at his attitude and tired of being made to wait. “What the hell is this?”
“This is consequence.”
“What for? We’ve stayed wide of Cane ground, and you, for years.”
“You did, but then Abel decided to try threatening me with my priest. Stupid fucking move.” I keep my eyes fixed on his, knowing all too well that information came from me, and that if it wasn’t for my own need for revenge about Elias’ death, I wouldn’t be here now. Why the hell Abel didn’t tell me he did that isn’t important right now. “How did you find out about him? Assuming it was you. You’re the intelligent one, aren’t you?”
I don’t answer. Fuck him if he thinks he’s getting anything out of me.
He looks over at Peyton. “Who’s she?”
“No one.” That causes a wide smile to form on his face. “What do you want, Logan?”
“Nothing. I’m just facilitating.”
“Facilitating what?”
He stands up and walks over to Peyton’s cage, titling his head about at her like he’s more interested in playing with her than he is with me. She’s still muttering to herself. “This one looks a little crazy. Shame. Pretty little thing.”
“Logan, stop fucking around. Why am I here?”
He sighs and turns back to me, coming in close to the bars and looking downwards at me still on the floor. “You took something that wasn’t yours. A girl. Naja.”
I stand and get closer to him. “She was ours to take. She was marked as ours. Reed took her from us in London, blew up his bar, and killed my fucking brother in the process. It’s nothing to do with you.” My jaw clenches together as I try to stay calm.
“The details don’t mean shit to me. All I know is Abel tried threatening me, and then when that didn’t work, someone came onto my ground –my fucking ground, Knox– and took something without asking. This is what consequence looks like.”
“What? Locking me up?”
He backs away, no fucking care about anything. “I’m not locking you up. I’m just here to help you understand where this came from and what crossing me results in.”
“Let me the fuck out then.”
“You know well enough that life doesn't work that way for us. Someone has to pay for insulting me, let alone threatening me. Seems like that’s you. One Cortez will do for now.” Four more steps and he starts turning as if he’s done and is about to leave. “Maybe that pretty sister of yours can be next.”
My hands brace the bars I’m behind, and I rattle them hard. “Logan?” He fucking laughs, low and rumbled, and keeps moving. “You leave her the hell alone. You don’t fucking touch her, you hear me? What the fuck is this? Logan?”
No answer. Nothing. He’s gone.
I pace, agitated as fuck now he’s mentioned Mariana.
She’s alone right now, as is Lexi.