Sins of the Innocent - Jamie McGuire Page 0,49

we were all standing, pacing, or standing in place but rocking back and forth.

The courtyard was visible from the sitting room window, and I watched the decorations blow in the wind. Somehow, that made the brave face I was trying to keep for Bex disintegrate.

Levi stood behind me, wrapping his arms around my middle, as if he could read my mind. He touched his cheek to mine, whispering words of comfort in my ear but not in English. He spoke in my favorite dialect—the language of Heaven.

Grandmother stood, looking around as if she sensed something. “Bex?”

Bex nodded. Levi only hugged me to his chest.

“They’re here?” I asked.

Levi touched his lips to my ear. “Stay close, no matter what you see.”

I nodded.

The doorbell rang, and we all looked at one another.

Bex pulled a pistol from behind him.

“I’ll go first,” Grandmother said.

We followed her to the mouth of the hallway leading into the foyer, her heels clicking against the marble. Agatha appeared from the dining room, but Grandmother held out her hand, and Agatha froze mid step.

“Go home,” she said. “Through the back. Have Robert take you home. Go now.”

Agatha nodded, rushing past us toward the back hall.

Grandmother took in a deep breath and then perfected her posture, turning the knob. The door opened with a sweeping motion, and before her stood Morgan.

I gasped and instinctively moved forward, but Levi grabbed me before I could take a step.

“No,” Grandmother said simply.

“Morgan,” I breathed, my eyes instantly filling with tears.

My friend looked past her with bloodshot eyes. “Eden,” he begged, “help me.”

“Leave us,” Grandmother said.

Morgan stepped through the threshold, easily pushing Grandmother aside. Bex stepped in front of me, as did Levi. Grandmother’s heels tapped quickly against the floor as she rushed to head Morgan off. She stood between the three of us and Morgan, lowering her chin.

Morgan laughed, the sound nothing of his own making. “Who do you think you’re dealing with, woman?”

“Father,” Levi said quietly.

“Oh, shit,” Bex said, bracing himself.

Morgan turned to Grandmother and violently shoved her to the ground, sending her body sliding across the room and into the wall.

I tried to push through my uncle and Levi, but they stopped me.

Morgan’s expression softened. “Eden?”

I puffed out a breath, the pain of his suffering burning in my bones. “Morg,” I cried, my face crumbling.

Morgan smiled, and a frightening voice spoke from his mouth, “I’ll break his bones, one by one.” His arm moved into an unnatural position, and a horrible crack echoed throughout the house. He looked surprised and then cried out in pain.

I covered my mouth.

“Stay close to me,” Levi said. “No matter what.”

“Do you think you’ll be spared, son?” Morgan asked, his arm dangling as he stepped toward us.

“Not at all. But you won’t touch her.”

Another crack sounded, and Morgan fell to the ground, grabbing his shin and howling in agony.

“Stop!” I shrieked. “Make it stop!”

Morgan lay on his side, holding his leg with his good arm, the other lying limp behind him. Then he bent backward, his back snapping.

“Ah!” Morgan screamed, frozen in pain. His eyes found their way to mine. “End it,” he whispered, his words catching between gasps for air.

I shook my head, and I pushed through Bex and Levi.

“Stop!” Levi said, grabbing my wrist.

“This is my purpose. If I can’t save my best friend, I can’t save anyone.”

Levi’s expression was severe, a deep line forming between his brows.

“Let me go,” I said softly.

Levi shook his head.

I reached out with my other hand, peeling his fingers from my skin, and then I spun around and ran to the center of the room, falling on my knees next to Morgan. I cradled him in my arms.

“I’m going to make it stop,” I said, feeling a tear fall down the bridge of my nose. “Stay with me, Morgan.”

The corners of Morgan’s mouth turned up, and then his eyes rolled back into his head.

I held my breath. “Morgan?” I sniffed. “Morg?”

Twin black orbs replaced his eyes, and he smiled as his arm snapped back into place. I scrambled back, and then Levi picked me up off the floor.

Morgan’s leg made an identical noise and then his back, and he slowly climbed up to a standing position.

Tears streamed down my cheeks. “Did you kill him?”

Lucifer smiled. “He’s still here. Still in pain. Still crying your name.”

Levi’s fingers dug into my shoulders to hold me back.

“I’ve gotta do it, Eden. I’m sorry,” Bex said, aiming his handgun.

I grabbed the gun out of his hand and exposed the clip. Then I