Page 160 of Hellbent

Evan rose abruptly, shattering the guy’s nose with the back of his head.

The boyfriend reeled back, leaning against the mail slots, hand to his face. Bright red blood streamed down his forearm.

“Oh, jeez,” Evan said, “I’m so sorry.”

Behind him Joey coughed into a fist. He saw something in Lorilee’s eyes, something like a smile.

Evan gave an apologetic nod, patted the guy on the back, and started for the elevator. “Keep pressure on that and send me the bill.”

* * *

Inside the Vault, Evan fed Vera II an ice cube. He hadn’t watered her in a while, and the tips of her spikes were browning. Then he crossed to the gun locker, unclipped his holstered ARES from his waistband, and put it away.

Sitting on the sheet-metal desk, Joey watched him disarm. “This is so stupid. It’s way too dangerous.”

He removed the spare magazines from the hidden pockets of his cargo pants and set them aside as well. “Yes.”

“You’re just gonna walk in there? Confront the entire gang?”

“Yes.”

They’d been having this argument for hours, and it was showing no sign of abating.

“You cannot go into that church unarmed,” Joey said.

“I told them I was coming back to kill them all,” Evan said. “There’s no way they let me in with a weapon. Not this time.”

He smoothed down his shirt, checked his Victorinox watch fob. It was almost time.

“If every single thing doesn’t go exactly right—”

“Joey,” he said. “I know.”

“Why don’t you wait until we figure out a better plan?”

“I told Freeway twenty-four hours. A guy like him will get restless if I don’t show, start asking questions, exerting pressure. If he finds out Xavier’s behind it, he’ll kill him.”

“You’re really gonna do this? For some guy you barely even know?”

“Yes.”

Unarmed, he started out.

She slid off the desk, put her palm on his chest. Her yellow-flecked green eyes were fierce. “Why?”

“Because he needs help. And I’m the only one who can give him this kind of help.”

She implored him with her eyes.

“Joey,” he said. “This is what I do. It’s what I’ve always done. Nothing’s changed.”

“I guess … I guess I have.”

“What do you mean?”

“Once you realize you want a life,” she said, “it’s a lot harder to risk it.”

He thought of Jack stepping out of that Black Hawk, riding the slipstream, spinning through darkness.