Page 77 of In the Light of Sin

We were back in the Catacombs for another Sarge fight. He didn’t want me here, but he knew there was a good chance I’d follow him here again, so he took the safer route, me coming along with Tyrant and Knight.

Oh, and I wore his hoodie to hide my appearance and cover me in his scent. I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. Men.

“You know exactly why he got it. Stop bitchin’,” Knight told his best friend. “Easier vantage point to see everyone anyway. Should’ve done it sooner.”

The giddy feeling in my stomach as Sarge thought ahead of my comfort spread. I couldn’t believe the turn of events. Violence used to make me squeamish, having seen all the homemade blood matches the Bloods hosted in mine and Jordyn’s home, scarring me from it. But seeing Sarge fight changed my mind about it, or it could just be anything Sarge did memorized me. “Maybe I can actually enjoy his fight this time.”

“Him hitting assholes get you hot?” My face flushed, making Tyrant grin. “Maybe I should start fighting in these? I want a girl all hot and bothered for me after a match.”

“I’m sure if you flash that smile at them, it’ll turn them into a puddle.” Tyrant was a handsome man with baby blue eyes, brawny skin, and curly black hair. From what I’ve heard, he had no troubles with the ladies. Knight was no slouch, either. Women throw themselves at him, but lately, he hasn’t been paying them any attention. “Knight would, too.”

Tyrant rolled his eyes, narrowing at Knight. “This little bitch used to be the best wingman. Now he’s the worst.”

“Shut up,” Knight whined as his head fell back. “Not everything has to involve your dick gettin’ wet.”

“Have you met me?” Tyrant cocked his eyebrow. From the whispers around the club, well, Victoria, he was the one who loved the women. He never turned a single one down. Apparently, his mindset was if someone gotta give people love, why not him? “Faith got your dick that tight in that prissy grasp of hers?”

Knight pushed threateningly off the table, coming eye to eye with his best friend. He was always carefree with his partner in crime, the newfound disdain in his eyes a huge contrast from what I was used to seeing. “Better watch your mouth when it comes to her.”

“Or what?” He tilted his head, challenging him. I was worried it would come to blows. Knight’s body was tight and running on nerves while Tyrant maintained his usual nonchalant attitude. “Gonna spank me? It’s been a while for me. I might like that.”

He groaned in response, his hand slapping his face. “Can’t you take anything seriously?”

That was Tyrant’s charm. Always providing a smile when everyone wanted you to drown in your sorrows. But I preferred large, broody men with scars and one eye.

“Did you guys ever fix Faith’s shop?” I interrupted their fight. I hadn’t met her, but from what I heard, she could hold her own in a clubhouse full of men twice her size. She sounded a lot like Victoria. She was strong, capable, and could take care of herself without anyone’s help.

“Yeah, and the prince here made sure she had that fruity drink she loves so much.” He cackled. “Fuckin’ simp.”

“Y’know,” he started, eyes trained on the crowd below us. The glass was thick, preventing us from hearing any sounds from below. It worked out in favor of all of us– me so my ears didn’t feel like they were bleeding, and them to focus on watching the crowd for suspicious activity instead of potentially missing something while deciphering the sounds in the crowd. “One day, someone is gonna come knock you on your ass. I’m gonna give you a hard fuckin’ time like you’re giving me right now.”

His ice-blue eyes rolled in response, his grin infectious. “Are you even my best friend if you don’t?”

He snorted, but that brought a smile to his lips. He could never stay mad at him for long. But still, his reaction was interesting… I hoped I could meet Faith soon. “Guess not.”

“I’m sure you’ll meet a lovely girl, Tyrant.” I’ve heard stories of the women he brought around of all sizes and cultures. They all ranged from sweet to possessive. Victoria told me about a few cat matches she’s had with some for disrespecting her and the club. After that, Tyrant mellowed out slightly when he saw how much turmoil it caused with her. Victoria was strong-willed and protective of every member of the club, so the olive branch Tyrant gave by not bringing his meaningless one-nights back to his room in the compound was a sweet gesture.

“Or man,” Knight corrected, making me look at Tyrant, not with judgment but with surprise. I’d never heard about the men he brought? He shrugged his shoulders.

“I’m bi,” Tyrant jabbed his thumb at Knight. “Our friendship began because I thought he was hot. Turns out he’s as straight as the pole I used to dance on.”

My jaw practically dropped to the floor, probably not thinking about the right thing. “You used to be a stripper?”

“Keep it classy,” he chided me. “People liked the helicopter thing I could do with my dick and paid me for it.”

Knight burst out laughing. “Nothin’ wrong with bein’ a sex worker, brother. You made more money than most people with a bachelor’s degree.”

“Hell yeah, I did.” His eyes looked distanced. “I could buy anything except the one thing I truly wanted.”

That piqued my interest. “What’s that?”

He smiled at me, not as brightly as his previous ones, but showed a dimmer side of him. “Gotta have some mystery to me, right? That’s what got you shacked up with Sarge?”

I bit the inside of my cheek to stop the smile that formed, but it did no good. Was Sarge a mystery? Yes, he was. Was it appealing? I couldn’t deny it’s what drew me in. The darkness he tried so hard to cast around himself to force people out is what ultimately drew me to him.

It may have been the beginning of my interest, but it wasn’t the reason why I stayed. “It was the way he took the effort to hide himself.” I peeked down at the crowd, Sarge’s opponent—nylon shorts, thin and shirtless with buzzcut hair. His arms were thrown up, I’m sure, as the crowd cheered or booed. Sarge was the favorite down here, and looking at his scrawny stature, I felt way more at ease this time than the last time we were here. “It made me do whatever I could to find him.”

“That was a lot of searchin’.” And patience. Any normal person would’ve given up at the first stone wall he planted to guard himself. “Never thought the fucker would let anyone get to him. We’ve been brothers for years, but only Prez has seen his face.”

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