Page 7 of Breaking the Sinner

Lex nodded, squeezing his shoulder. “I feel ya. But, dude, it’s easier on this side. Don’t forget that.”

Cobra took a pull at his beer. Over half of him disagreed with Lex. The remaining minority was curious. Wondering at the truth hidden behind his words.

“I gotta go. Lila’s waiting for me.” Lex cast him a mischievous grin. If there was any couple he rooted for in life, it was those two. Probably the one example of a successful relationship he’d ever seen in his life. Even with their fucked-up past, they still made it work. Sorta made him think that maybe someday Cobra could hope for the same, but…well, he wasn’t stupid enough to really believe that. Not with what was swimming around in his DNA. “You good to get home?”

“Yeah, dude. I brought my car.”

Lex nodded, then pointed to his beer. “Don’t drink and drive. I’m a dad, I have to say that, right?” He slapped Cobra’s back and wandered away.

Cobra smiled to himself, assessing the glittering backdrop of the bar. Half-full—or half-empty?—bottles lined the shelves. To his left, Amara leaned over.

“Party’s petering out,” she said, then laughed. “That’s a tongue twister.”

Cobra hefted with a silent laugh.

“You don’t talk much.” Amara elbowed him. The liquor had loosened her. No way she’d say this to him in broad daylight at the gym. “What’s your story?”

He stiffened, taking another pull at his beer. “Nothing special.”

She eyed him, then a commotion at her side yanked both of their attentions to Red. She’d fallen off her chair. Cobra shot up to help her, but Amara beat him to it. So did another guy, someone who wasn’t from the gym.

“Hey, we’ve got her.” Cobra approached the guy, shoving his hand off her shoulder.

The man backed off, raising his palms in submission. Cobra watched until he wandered away.

Once she got Gen back into her seat, Amara’s arched brow waited for him. “Protective, much?”

“She’s drunk.” He slid back onto his stool. He’d been keeping an eye on her since she set foot in the bar with that ridiculous outfit on. He couldn’t tell if it was a joke or not. High waisted khaki shorts with a tie-dyed tank top tucked in. She looked like the uniformed employee of some theme park from the nineties.

“Yeah. Good to know you’re looking out for her.” Amara sent him a mysterious smile. “She needs all the help she can get.”

“What do you mean?”

Amara drew a deep breath, biting her lip as she looked over at Gen, who was in the middle of ordering another shot—this time, tequila. Cobra had already personally witnessed her take shots of rum, vodka, and even wine.

“She can’t be serious,” he muttered. The bartender reached for a bottle of tequila.

Amara gracefully intercepted, cancelling the tequila order without Gen realizing. “I’m not gonna let her take it. She’s a little…new.”

“New?”

“Yeah. New to…” Amara whirled her hand in the air between them. “All of this.”

Gen slammed her fist against the bar. “Hey, didn’t I order a tekweela?” She pushed at the hair that had fallen in her eyes.

“She needs to go home,” Cobra said, taking the last pull of his beer. Amara’s words echoed in his head.New. What the fuck did that mean? Maybe she really was an alien.

“Yeah. I’m calling her the cab now.”

He nodded, flagging the bartender to settle his tab. Might as well see her out. Make sure she could walk. See if a spaceship really came to pick her up.

Amara helped steady Gen and led her to the front door, waving Travis off when he tried to join. Gen limped a little at Amara’s side. Probably the alcohol. Except her foot dragged. Outside, Gen groaned, taking an exaggerated inhale of the night air.

“God, it smellsgood,” she enthused.

“It smells like the city,” Amara cracked.

“Yeah, but you don’t get it.” Gen drunkenly waved her off. “You don’t get it.”

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