“Hey, I hardly recognize you.” Though her skin crawled, she rose to hug him. She wanted to scream at him and demand information, but, instead she offered a smile. “What’s going on?”
As he squeezed in beside her, the stench of stale booze and cigarettes nauseated her. But none of that mattered. She had a job to do. Time to get laser-focused.
The guy beside her moved over one stool. “Hey, man, take my seat.”
Evangeline tossed the stranger a nod. “Thanks.”
As soon as Monty sat, he motioned for the bartender. “A double shot of tequila and whatever’s on tap.”
She slid off her stool. “Be right back. Bio break.” Once in the bathroom stall, she texted Jacoby. “He’s here. He’s been drinking and he changed his appearance. Short blond hair.”
Returning to the bar, she slipped onto the stool. He’d already tossed back the tequila and downed half the beer.
“Your new look is super sexy. What’s up with that?”
He held her gaze an extra beat. Then, he broke away to guzzle more beer. “I got a job in Florida and I’m headed down there in the morning.”
He was a master at not answering her questions.
What the hell have you done with my family? Gritting her teeth, she forced herself to gaze into his eyes. “Damn, I thought we had a…never mind.”
His eyebrows jutted up. “Had a what?”
“I’m too much of a sinner for a pastor, anyway.”
He licked his lips. “I thought you and Develin were together.”
We sure as hell are. “He was a one-night distraction.” She shrugged a shoulder. “Plus, I caught the news. He’s dead, so he’s outa the picture.”
He sat taller, puffed out his chest. “No kidding? What happened?”
“No idea.” She brushed her shoulder against his. “Can you keep a secret?”
Leaning close, he murmured, “Absolutely.”
“I could lighten my load if I confessed all my sins to you. I mean, you are a man of God.”
A shadow darkened his eyes. “I’d love to hear them.”
“I hope you aren’t going to start preaching that you can save my soul, because the devil already owns it.”
“I would never preach to you, Evangeline,” Monty continued.
“Why is that?”
“Because I think you’re perfect the way you are.” His gaze floated over her face. “Can you keep a secret?”
Confess your sins, asshole. “You betcha.”
“I’ve been fantasizing about you from the moment I met you.”
“You’re naughty.”
His toothy grin made her stomach roil. “I could be, if you want me to.”
“Are you telling me the good pastor is a bad boy?”
His breath hitched while his gaze flitted between her eyes and her mouth. “Maybe we should move our party somewhere more intimate.”
She wanted to throw up. “I can be talked into getting out of here. Let me settle up.”
“I’ve got this.”
While Monty paid the bartender, Evangeline texted Jacoby. “Go time.”
“All set.” Monty pushed off the seat.
“Thanks for the beer. Where are we headed?”
“How ‘bout your place?”
“I’ll drive.”
“I’m at your mercy,” he said.
“The devil awaits you,” she said. I’m about to take you on a one-way trip to hell.
“Oh, God, yes,” he ground out.
They exited the bar. “I’m parked out back.”
When he draped his arm over her shoulder, she wanted to fling it off. Her heartbeat kicked up as they walked around the side of the building. She was coloring so far outside the lines, she had no roadmap, no rules to follow. Her commitment to finding Hannah and Robert had her snaking her arm around his back. He kissed her temple and she resisted the urge to deck him. Her love and devotion for Sinclair filled her with confidence.
“I’ve wanted to hook up with you since the day I met you at Charlene’s party.”
“Dreams really do come true, don’t they?” she crooned through clenched teeth.
Step by step, they continued onward until they reached the back of the building. Dakota’s SUV waited at the curb, engine running.
She pulled him toward the building. “I can’t wait any longer,” she said. “Kiss me now.”
“My God, you are so fucking hot.”
When she’d backed herself against the brick, she spied Jacoby fast approaching. She sandwiched Monty’s face, locking him in place. Jacoby jabbed a needle into his neck. Rearing back, confusion and anger burst from Monty’s eyes.
Gripping his shoulders, she kneed him in the groin. Monty doubled over, then collapsed on the pavement.
Jacoby picked him up and shoved him into the back seat. “Drive.” He climbed in beside him while Monty uttered a series of garbled sounds.
Evangeline jumped into the front seat and put the car in gear. As she pulled out of the parking lot, she said, “It’s time to face the devil, Thomas Monty. And he can’t wait to see you again.”
24
Casus Belli
Casus Belli: An event or action that justifies
or allegedly justifies a war or conflict
Sin’s arm throbbed and his body ached, but his discomfort was nothing when compared to what he was going to do to Monty. After the nurse removed the IV drip, he refused any narcotics. The pain helped fuel his rage.
After removing the sling, he forced himself out of bed and dressed. No way in hell would he confront Monty from a damn hospital bed.
Dakota glanced over at him. “You’re doing that growling thing.”
“I’m gonna rip his fucking heart out.”
“Not if I do it first. We’ve waited a long time for this, brother.”
Sin needed to calm the hell down, but he couldn’t. Decades of anger had been unleashed.
“You want me to put him in the hole?”
“Well, I sure as fuck don’t want you offering him cookies and milk.” Sin’s phone rang. “It’s Jagger.” He hit the speaker button. “Hey, Jag, did Maverick fill you in?”
“Yeah. Sorry I can’t be there in person. How are you doing?”
“I’m so fucking angry. What do you think?”
“He needs to be handled. He’s never going to stop coming after you.”
“What about the quarter mil he owes us?”
“We lost that money years ago. If he had a conscience, he’d donate it to Maverick and Carly’s charity. But he doesn’t. You have my full support however you choose to handle him.”
“Thank you.”
Dakota’s phone binged. “The guys are here.”
“Maverick, Colton, and Crockett are here,” Sin said to Jagger. “Gotta go.”
“Good luck.” Jagger hung up.
“He doesn’t get another pass,” Dakota said as he stood. “Jagger’s right, he’ll never stop coming after you.”
When Dakota left, Sin closed his eyes and was transported back to his life at Harvard. To the day when everything changed. The moment when Monty shot him, then left him to die. He opened his eyes and a growl shot out from the back of his throat. This time, Monty has gone too far.