Branded (Sinners, #1)

I guess I should change too. I feel like a sweaty mess. At first, my muscles are taut, but as I move around, they loosen. I stretch upward, then touch my toes and arch my back.

The siren coincides with the blatant sound of steady gunfire. That’s twice in two days. The building rocks violently, and people stampede in the hallway outside the room. I hear the lightbulb dangling in the center of my small cell shatter from the jolt. Fear gnaws at my insides as I steady myself against the wall using my hand. Don’t give out. Don’t give out. My legs start to wobble and threaten to collapse as I press against the cold cement. When the tremors stop, I jump to the window in hopes of seeing what’s happening.

A voice shouts loud enough from below I can hear it up here. “Did you see that? That red car that passed by earlier, it was a bomb and it just leveled five buildings!”

“Freaking crazy,” another says.

“Unbelievable. Will someone please tell me what the point of that was?” I hear a woman’s voice this time. Their voices fade as panic ensues.

Cole swings open the bathroom door and he looks furious. Shaving cream covers half his jawline and the tip of his nose.

“What the hell was that?”

“All I heard was a car bomb took out five buildings.” I press my cheekbone against the glass and try to get a better look.

People emerge from the curtain of smoke blocking the street from four blocks away, covered in dust and blood. Some of them scream in agony. The heavy smoldering of ashes, dust, and chemicals rises upward like a mushroom. Vehicles, mostly the men in black, clog the street, attempting to cordon off the bombed section of the Hole. Their dark figures form a checkpoint, and woe to anyone who fits the description of who they’re looking for.

That easily could’ve been our building—I shiver just thinking about it.

“Well, my pager didn’t go off so I guess I’ll finish shaving.” Cole walks back in the bathroom without closing the door and resumes sliding his razor over his face.

“Good, you were starting to resemble a caveman.” I hear him chuckle and something about his laugh makes me smile.

Should I worry? I guess not. If he’s not shaken, then I shouldn’t be, but I can’t tell that to the delicate nerves in my hands. Needing something to occupy my mind from the gore, I begin to clean up the strips of linen on the floor. Zeus warily follows me around as if he also smells danger. Or maybe I stink. I take a quick whiff of both of my armpits. Nope, still fresh.

“Zeus, it’ll be fine.” I chat with him while bending over and sweeping things up. I go into my room and attempt to clean up the shattered glass. Guess I won’t have any light at all in here now–but I can’t stay in Cole’s room forever. The thought of spending another night in his room sends warmth flooding through me. I feel more secure knowing he’s within arm’s reach.

Cole comes out of the bathroom in his black dress uniform. It’s newly pressed and formfitting.

“What’s with the uniform?” I eye the formalwear pensively.

“I should wear it just in case.” He shrugs. “Anytime we have a special assignment, we have to wear this crap. I’m still trying to figure out why. You should try running in these pants.”

“They’re a little tight on you, but I’m sure the prostitutes will eat it up.” I push against the window again and view outside. The thick cloud covers everything with gray soot. Except for the guards, the street’s almost shut down.

“Very funny.”

A knock on the door makes me shudder and Cole opens it. He lets in a large black man, and they talk as if I’m not here. He stands taller than Cole and almost another body wider with a pronounced brow and high cheekbones. A small glimmer reflects in his pupils as if he’s capable of mischief.

“Dude, how’d you get here so fast?” Cole asks.

“Aww, man, it’s nuts out there,” the guy I assume is Bruno says.

“What happened?”

“A car was hijacked and loaded with a bomb. It was set off a couple blocks down, took out five whole buildings right when the buses came. Bodies, limbs—crap is everywhere. Never seen anything like it…”

“Great. Another nonstop special ops until they find someone to hang for it,” Cole laments.

I clear my throat, interrupting their conversation.

Bruno’s head pivots toward me and evaluates my appearance.

“Oh, I guess I should introduce you two.” Cole suddenly remembers why Bruno’s there in the first place. “Lexi, this here is my friend Bruno. Bruno, meet Lexi.”

His massive size makes me forget my manners and I don’t stretch out my hand to shake his. “He’s going to patrol the hall while I’m gone. If you need anything, anything at all, let him know.”

I nod while staring at Bruno with wide eyes. I’ve never seen a man his size before. He’s enormous.

Abi Ketner & Missy Kalicicki's books