Page 109 of Concluded
“Me either.I’m just hired muscle.”
Naw.Muscle’s a dime a dozen.Townsend recruited you because you had something important to add.Just like the rest of us.Every damn one of us makes a contribution somehow.
Achilles considered this.“Maybe he was wrong about me.Maybe he was wrong about a lot of things.He’s not helping a whole lot right now, is he?”He waved toward Charles, who was still talking to first responders—a task that could undoubtedly be managed without being possessed by Townsend.
He was right about your man Dee, right?
“Well, yeah.Dee’s incredible.Jesus, even after he’d granted huge wishes, he managed to blow a hole in the wall so we could escape.”
With your help.You made the wish.
“Yeah, but?—”
“You empower me.”Dee didn’t open his eyes until after he spoke, and when he did, he stared right at Achilles.
“You need to rest,” Achilles scolded, although he was secretly rejoicing that Dee seemed to be recovering.
“Don’t need rest.Needyou.”Dee reached up, his hand shaky, and grabbed Achilles’ arm.“My master gives me strength.”
Think about it, dude.You guys screw, he’s superman.Super-djinn.
Achilles scoffed.“I don’t have a magic penis.”
Worked when you kissed too.Or when you simply touched him.You guys got synergy.
Dee smiled.“Refill my tank, master.We can do more.”
Hearing those words from Dee’s mouth made Achillesalmostbelieve.He wanted to believe.He wanted to be Dee’s support in every way possible.
He looked up and noticed how many agents were offering help of various kinds to their partners.Maybe they all had synergy of some sort.Keaton, for example, who’d endured more torture from Spurling than anyone else, was walking hand-in-hand with Owen, and together they were checking on the more severely injured.Keaton’s empathic gift was probably useful when rendering first aid.
Wait.Empathy.That had been the key to the original plan, but Keaton had quickly been put out of commission.He seemed functional now—but Spurling and his buddies were likely far away, well out of Keaton’s range.
Unless….
Yes!You’re onto something, dude.
“Dee, if I gave you a jumpstart, do you think you’d have another wish in you?”
“Are you going to fuck me right here in the parking lot?”Dee’s eyes sparkled with humor.
“Um, maybe not.”Especially with Santiago inhabiting him.He didn’t want a threesome.
I’m not even into dudes.Santiago seemed amused too.
Achilles bent at the waist and kissed Dee—upside-down, Spider-Man style—before easing out from beneath him.He slipped off his filthy shirt to pillow Dee’s head.“Hang on.Be right back.”And then he ran.
First he found Keaton, who’d just finished some kind of consultation with Isaac regarding Con’s injuries.It looked as if Con would have new scars to add to his extensive collection, but he was awake and alert.
“Keaton, I think I need you.Can you guys go wait near Dee?”
“You’re excited about something,” Keaton said, head cocked slightly.“Hopeful.All right, we’ll meet you there.”
The next stop was Charles, more challenging due to the surrounding cops and firefighters.For once, Tenrael wasn’t nearby; he and Ish were lurking behind a minivan, maybe hoping nobody would take much notice of them.The last thing Charles needed was to try to explain an angel and a demon to the LAPD.
Achilles marched up to Charles, hoping he looked at least a little official and authoritative.“Chief?Need you for a few minutes.”
Charles smiled—an expression Achilles had rarely seen on his face—and spoke in a voice that wasn’t his, although it was familiar.“Is that so, son?”He nodded briskly at the nearest cop.“I have something to attend to.As you can see, my men and women have things under control here.I recommend you direct your resources elsewhere.You’re needed by others.”
