Page 42 of Sinner's Salvation

“Why not?” Baz asked.

Because he didn’t look at her with fear in his eyes.

Because he smiled at her, and it wasn’t fake.

Because he made her feel things she hadn’t felt in years.

She couldn’t say any of it.

“Because he blew up a building to aid in our escape.”

“And damn near got all of us killed,” Brian said.

“Ledger was going to kill you,” Evan said to Brian. “He planned to kill you and I, and torture Anna.”

“Sounds like it was a huge bonding experience for you,” Bazyli drawled.

“It’s a fucking problem because Ledger is the Counterterrorism Coordinator for Homeland Security,” Evan said. “And stop acting like an asshole. You’re better than that.”

“Are you sure?”

“Baz, you proved it more than once over in the sandbox. Acting like the heavy now just makes me want to laugh some more.”

“Fuck,” Baz swore. “Counterterrorism? That’s not a problem. That’s a fucking nightmare.” He abruptly turned a corner and stepped on the gas.

“He’s not our only problem,” Anna said. “The Agosti brothers tried to steal Brian from the back of the ambulance we were in.”

“I shot both of them in the head,” Evan said, helpfully.

“And then we had the paramedics just drive us away,” Brian added, waving his hand toward the big wide world.

Baz didn’t say anything. Nothing. Nada.

Not a good sign.

“I believe the Agosti brothers told this Ledger that I have...abilities.”

“Ledger told me he’d gotten information about Anna, fast healing and other superhuman abilities,” Evan added. “But didn’t say how he’d gotten the info, or who gave it to him.”

“We are supposed to be a secret,” Baz growled. “We are supposed to stay off law enforcement radar,” he got louder and louder with every word. “And now we are oneveryone’sradar.”

“Huh,” Brian said, into the following silence. “When you say it like that, it sounds really bad.”

“Where are we going?” Anna asked. “This direction won’t take us to Manhattan.”

“Going to Yvgeny’s place would make it easy for any of the people looking for you. No, we’re going someplace else.” He shook his head. “I can’t believe this. All those years of you lecturing me and the rest of the family. Hell, the rest of all of us whackos, and you’re the one who ends up outing us.”

“I am a victim of someone else’s greed for power,” Anna told him, with as much dignity as she could manage, dressed in bloody and burned clothing.

“Yeah,” Baz said, sounding tired. “It’s the golden rule. Someone else is always responsible.”

He drove them through a quiet neighborhood, past a diner, and parked the car in front of a small bar.

He turned around, taking a long look at Evan. “It’s not open yet, but Joe will be in the kitchen. I’m going to the back door. Stay in the car until I open the front door for you. Got it?” He looked at each of them in turn.

“Of course,” Anna said.

“Sure,” Evan said, with a casual shrug.

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