Page 61 of Necessary Evil

Double fucking homicide. Don’t throw up.

“What’s going to happen?” Jenny asked.

“I’ll let you know when I get back.”

—

Evil was on his fifth cup of coffee and it wasn’t putting a dent in his sleep-deprived brain. Not that he was complaining. Lucy and he had gone at it a few more times last night, and he fully admitted he was in over his head with the emotions she was bringing out in him. A few more nights like that and he’d be spouting poetry and talking about soul mates or some shit like that.

The Sentinels were in what they called the “boardroom,” a room off the VIP lounge, waiting on an urgent call from the Judge. Evil hoped it was an execution order on the president of the Pyros, but that was wishful thinking. Lucy had woken up a few times from nightmares. He was glad he’d been there for her. Last night should have never happened. Lucy didn’t deserve to be in danger. He was going to eradicate the Pyros from the fucking earth.

Sentinel’s and Warden’s knuckles were raw and bleeding from the beat-down they’d thrown on the Pyros last night. Anyone they’d been able to track down who wore Pyros colors had gotten the shit kicked out of them last night. Ryder had done her share of damage too. They liked to play with fire? She’d taken out ten bikes with controlled explosions. The message was that they could have gone off when there was a rider on them. Instead, they were all parked.

No deaths. Because Lucy had walked away with only bruises. First blood had been drawn, but payback had evened up the score. Of course, Evil was still gunning for the demon-headed son of a bitch, whoever he was.

“They went after our weakest link. She’s a risk,” Ryder said. “She’s not a cop. Not a biker.”

Evil forced his attention back to the conversation. “She’s a fighter and she’s not weak,” Evil told Ryder. “And she’s not going anywhere. Get that through your head.”

Ryder sighed. “She makes you vulnerable.”

“She’s worth it.”

“No one’s worth that.” Ryder poured herself a whiskey.

Evil noticed it wasn’t Jack Daniel’s. “Is that any good?”

“You want some?”

“Nope.” That was all his stomach needed on top of the five coffees. “It’s just that Lucy thinks Jack Daniel’s is shit whiskey.”

Warden shook his head. “Snob.”

“She’s right,” Ryder said.

“I like Jack Daniel’s,” Warden protested.

“What are you, sixteen? Grow a palate. I bet you still drink Boone’s wine too.”

“Don’t be dissing Boone’s. I lost my virginity after drinking the strawberry.”

“Mad Dog 20/20,” Sentinel said, bumping fists with Warden.

“Men are pigs,” Ryder said. “Anyway, get her some Bushmills, the twenty-one-year-old if you really want to score some points.”

Evil made a mental note and took another pull of coffee just as the phone rang. He checked the door to make sure it was locked. The room was soundproofed, so nothing could be overheard. He flicked on the speakers.

“I have a new assignment for one of you.” The Judge’s modified voice was tinny through the speakers. “The mark’s name is Robert Bradford. He’s a convicted drug dealer, thief, and con man. He’s also been arrested for assault and battery, and assault with a deadly weapon.”

“A real charmer,” Warden said.

“Bradford beat up his girlfriend, Hailey Tate, a few weeks ago in Palo Alto, California. But because she had been in a bar fight earlier that night, the charges were dropped, because they couldn’t prove it was he who’d caused her injuries. Bradford came to Long Island to escape her cousins’ gang. They were after him not only for using their cousin as a punching bag but also for running out on them with a shipment of OxyContin.”

“He’s a keeper,” Sentinel said.

“Anyway, this weekend Hailey was beaten to death and evidence was left at the scene indicating that she stole the Oxy. An eyewitness saw Bradford do it. It was one of the Palo Alto cops’ snitches, a Rudy Pizzaro, who walked in on Bradford standing over Hailey’s dead body Saturday night. Pizzaro called it in as soon as he could later that evening. We picked Bradford up today.”

“Good,” Evil said, wondering where this was going.

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