Page 27 of Final Sins

Her eyes caught on the intricate cross tattoo on Gravy’s forearm. “That’s beautiful work.”

Gravy beamed. “Thanks! Jason actually got me into church. My family wasn’t into that stuff, so I had no idea what I was missing.”

He turned to Alex, curiosity bright in his eyes. “What about you? Are you a believer?”

Alex paused, memories of her childhood flooding back. “For sure,” she nodded. “Both my parents and my yaya—my grandmother—they instilled faith and prayer in me from a young age.”

“Same here,” Jason chimed in.

“What about your parents?” Alex asked, surprising herself with her interest.

“Dead,” Jason replied, his tone matter-of-fact. “Kind of like your cousin. But my sister and I had our grandparents. We had a good childhood. Better than it could have been.”

A pang of sadness hit Alex as she imagined a young Jason, robbed of his parents too soon. It reminded her of Gabe, and of her own losses—her father to a heart attack five years ago, her mother to diabetes just last year. She’d been an adult, but the pain was still fresh.

Uncomfortable with the growing sense of connection, she fidgeted in her seat. “We should go.”

Jason nodded, already reaching for the bill.

As they exited the diner, Alex noticed Jason’s subtle shift in posture. His shoulders tensed, eyes scanning their surroundings.

“What?” she asked, keeping her voice low.

“Two potential hostiles,” he murmured, barely moving his lips. “Two o’clock. Behind that black SUV. About 300 yards.”

Alex’s gaze darted to the spot Jason indicated. Two men in nondescript jeans and dark jackets stood beside the vehicle. Too bland to be owners. Too clean to be stable hands.

Her heart rate quickened. “I see them. What’s the play?”

Jason’s voice was calm, belying the tension in his frame. “We act natural. I’ll take point, you bring up the rear. Keep Gravy between us.”

They set off, their pace measured and unhurried. Alex fought the urge to look over her shoulder, focusing instead on the steady rhythm of Gravy’s footsteps in front of her. The morning air, tinged with the scent of hay and horse, felt electric with potential danger.

As they rounded the corner to their motel, Jason’s stride lengthened. “I think we’re clear,” he said, relief evident in his voice.

Alex released a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. “False alarm?”

“Looks like it. But better safe than sorry.”

They entered the motel room, the musty air a welcome reprieve from the tension outside. As Alex began gathering their belongings, her phone buzzed. A text from Gabriel flashed across the screen:

Big disaster. Call me ASAP.

Her stomach dropped. Just when they thought they were in the clear, another crisis loomed. She looked up at Jason and Gravy, their faces expectant.

“We’ve got a bigger problem,” she said, her voice tight.

Or at least she did.

14

Jason easedthe motel room door shut, his eyes still scanning the quiet street beyond. The rhythmic thud of horses being led to morning workouts mingled with the low rumble of diesel trucks from the nearby interstate, creating an oddly soothing backdrop to their tense situation.

Alex made a beeline for the bed, her phone clutched like a lifeline. “Give me a minute,” she said, her voice tight with worry.

Gravy disappeared into the bathroom, the sound of running water quickly filling the air. Jason sprawled across the other bed. He couldn’t help but watch as Alex initiated the video call, curiosity getting the better of him.

The moment Gabriel’s battered face appeared on the screen, Jason sat bolt upright. Even from his vantage point, he could see the bandage wrapped around Gabriel’s head, his eyes blackened and swollen. The young genius was propped up in a hospital bed, his left arm encased in a splint.

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