I found myself staring at Ed, heart and head pounding as the realization came to a point.
“I’ll look into it.” Noah’s head tipped my direction. “But she’s not a part of this.”
“Yes.” My voice rang off the ceiling. “I am a part of this.”
Noah’s light eyes flashed when they fell on me. The corner of his mouth twitched when he noticed my fists balled at my sides. “Since when?”
I lifted my left hand between us. “Since the moment I vowed to spend a lifetime at your side.”
Noah’s forehead creased when he focused on my wedding ring. “I believe I broke those vows when I undertook this project without your knowledge, alienating you from my life as a result.”
Closing the distance between us, I slid my hand into his. His fingers knotted through mine, his wide palm engulfing my hand. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“I’ve lied to you.”
“To protect me from the truth,” I replied.
“I’ve cheated on you.”
“By expelling flesh, not indulging in it.”
“I’ve stolen from you,” he said. “Our family.”
“Time lost we’ll make up for going forward.”
His eyes flickered to mine. “I’ve murdered thirty-three people.”
My fingers tightened around his. “And saved countless children’s lives by doing so.”
A storm of indecision cascaded down Noah’s face, his throat moving when he swallowed.
“Looks like your solo act just became a trio, Dr. Wolff.” Ed clucked his tongue as he moved closer. “I’m here to assist in whatever way so you can continue with the good work you’re doing.”
“You make me sound like some missionary building schools in impoverished countries. I’m not a saint, make no mistake of that, either of you. If you don’t believe that, come watch me end the life of the next man I decide on.” A gleam flashed in Noah’s eyes, predatory in origin. “There’s no remorse in my face when I watch the breath leave him, no conflict in my eyes when I watch the light disappear from his. My hands don’t shake, and my pulse doesn’t quicken. I’m more machine than man when I take a life. A saint I’m not.”
A grunt rolled deep in Ed’s chest. “You’re free to think of yourself as some unredeemable sinner, but I’ve dealt with enough bad men to recognize a good one.”
Noah sighed, his gaze cutting Ed’s direction. “You’re sure? Once you take the first step down this path, there’s no turning back or stepping off. It’s a lifetime commitment if you want membership to this grim organization.”
“Let’s see. Am I sure?” Ed mused, eyes narrowing. “My whole life I’ve dedicated to cleaning up the streets. It’s only recently I’ve accepted that unconventional ways have their merits too.” Ed shifted his weight. “I’ve worked in law enforcement long enough to accept its shortcomings. So yeah, I’m damn sure.”
Noah nodded solemnly, his free hand brushing a piece of wet hair behind my ear. “And you?”
“I’ve already given you my answer. How many times do you need to hear it before you accept it?”
“At least once more.”
My head angled up toward his. “I’m with you.”
His mouth quirked. “There is power in numbers.”
“You just tripled your power in five minutes,” I replied, one eyebrow rising. “Plus, the Huntsman’s been caught in the eyes of the authorities.”
Something dark registered in his eyes before he let go of my hand and turned away. “I’m not sure I can allow an innocent man to pay for my crimes.”
“Innocent is not a word I would use to describe Sammy Sullivan,” Ed scoffed. “And let’s not forget he was arrested for nearly beating the life out of a man, and then he confessed to being the Huntsman.”
Back to us, Noah ambled past a couple of pews in silent contemplation. “Why confess to crimes he didn’t commit? Especially when those crimes come attached to a life sentence spent behind bars?”
“For the notoriety. The attention. The glory.” Ed leaned into the doorway. “The Huntsman’s been elevated to cult-level fame, a real-life superhero with a dark side. What’s a life spent behind bars when Sullivan knows his name will be eternalized for his actions?”
“For my actions.”
Ed’s brows lifted. “You’re jealous some other person is getting all the credit for your hard work?”
Noah’s back moved from his sardonic huff. “Not jealous, but conflicted.”
“That’s because you have a conscience. Something Sullivan is void of.” Ed shrugged. “Let the bastard take the fall. He volunteered for that honor, and in so doing, he lets you continue cleaning up the refuse the first line of defense let slip through.”
“It’s the first time an innocent man has paid with his life for my actions.”
“There’s nothing blameless about any of Samuel Sullivan’s actions.” I watched Noah as he appeared to be seeking counsel from the crucifix bolstered behind the pulpit. “This isn’t only about you, Noah. Think about that. What you started . . . it’s bigger than you and your conscience. It’s larger than wrestling guilt and weighing your options. This is about protecting those children the legal system is going to fail. It’s about keeping those monsters under their beds a fable they’ll look back on in adulthood and laugh at, instead of having their fears confirmed that monsters really do exist. Don’t let one man, Sullivan or yourself, be the reason the veil of protection gets lifted from future victims.”
Noah was silent for a while, weighing his convictions against my words, I guessed. When Ed opened his mouth to say something, I shook my head at him. Noah had been a silent reflector as long as I’d known him, but to his credit, he worked out his problems and doubts in that stormy mix more times than not.
“We’re going to need a place to meet,” Noah said a minute later, turning around to face us. “Somewhere private.”
Ed glanced at me, sharing a private smile, before circling his finger. “How about here?”
“A church?” I stated, blinking.
“Why the surprise?” Ed replied. “If memory serves, churches have generations of experience concealing scandals and housing unsavory plots.”
Noah chuckled faintly, giving an approving nod as he inspected the sanctuary. “This place will hold our secrets.”
“Great, so we’ve got a bat cave.” Ed crossed his arms. “We should flesh out our individual roles within the organization. Speaking of, we should give ourselves a name.”
“A name?” Noah’s head tipped. “I’m not some comic book villain.”
“Who said anything about villain?” Ed replied.
Noah shook his head, exhaling. “I’m most definitely not the other guy either.”
“I wouldn’t expect any other answer from you.”
“Ed—” Noah groaned, rubbing his forehead like he had a headache.
“What happened to your hand?” I blurted when I noticed his swollen knuckles.