Page 53 of Acts of Contrition
“I’m ready.”
Lisa stands on the other side of the door. “I made the call. You have to meet with Hank first at the location I just texted you,” she says. “Ugh, just talking to that creep makes me feel vile.”
“Thank you for helping me,” I say. “Helping us.”
“No problem. I was in the unique position to do so. God be with you.” She waves and walks away, and I take a breath before Thomas leads me to his car.
“It’s nice being in here without being drugged.” It’s out of my mouth before I can stop it, and I want to slap myself.
Thomas doesn’t seem to be offended as he backs out of the driveway. “I had faith you would take to the training. Had I only known it would take you divulging your trauma to do it…” He sighs.
We drive into town with his hand in mine over the console of the BMW, bypassing the nice area and going into what would be considered the “wrong side of the tracks” in the novels I like to read.
“I grew up here. Lisa and I,” Thomas admits. “She always took care of me the best she could; stealing mostly. Then in high school, she started dating this guy, and he offered us another way to earn money. A lot of money.”
“What happened to your parents?” I ask.
“Dead. Our grandparents were destitute and didn’t care if we lived or died. A part of me wanted to live just to spite them.” His eyes don’t hold any animosity, just a hint of nostalgia. “Hank’s my sister’s age, but he already had his apprenticeship under the organization’s last owner. Until Hank got rid of him and took his place. And he ensured we lived a good life. When we decided enough was enough and joined the church, he let us go with a promise that he’d still look out for us, if we did the same for him in case police ever came inquiring about his activities.”
I want to ask a dozen questions, but I also don’t want to interrupt.
“I always had a code: I never killed people just for the money. I killed the scum of the Earth, the people even Lucifer doesn’t want. I became God’s right hand here, meting out justice and salvation at the same time. That’s why I felt it was right to eliminate Rick; to destroy someone who forced sin upon my dove.”
“And why you feel it is right to do it again,” I add.
He nods. “Your soul is still burdened. It is time to unburden it.” He parks in an alley behind some derelict office buildings and when he gets out of the car, he flashes his cell phone light twice, as if signaling someone.
Sure enough, a man gets out of a pickup, walking towards us. When he gets under the light, he’s so imposing my first instinct is to cling to Thomas.
The man smiles at me, but there is no joy in his eyes. They’re as blank as that of the skull tattooed on his neck.
“Tommy.”
“Hank.” Thomas nods and then gives me a reassuring squeeze. “Diana, this is Hank, my friend and former boss. If there was one person outside of the church I’d trust not only with my life, but with yours, it would be him.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” I say, trying to remember Thomas rescued me from Hell. He wouldn’t put me in danger. “Sorry I—”
Hank holds a hand up. “Little girl, I can’t imagine what this fuckwit up there put you through. Just a quick check on the dark web and the only reason I didn’t go up there and end his miserable life already is because Tommy needs you to do this.”
He looks over at Thomas and holds out two leather pouches of some sort. “His and hers daggers. That’s a first for me.”
Thomas takes them both, checks one, and hands me the other.
It’s a no-frills piece of metal with a white handle. I can feel the cool steel under the thin kid leather gloves Thomas gave me. His matches, just a bit bigger to better fit his hand.
“I can keep people out for as long as you need, but the timer on the security feed being blocked will only last an hour,” Hank continues. “Get your shit done quickly. I know you like to linger over your kills like a lion, but tonight is not the night for slow torture.”
Thomas sarcastically pouts. (How do you pout sarcastically? Good question; if you saw him, you’d understand.) “Fine, spoilsport.” He turns to me, his free hand now on my shoulder. “Diana. I need to be sure you’re ready for this. All of it.”
I take a shuddering breath. “I am. I need this over. I need my old self to die so I can live this new life with you.”
“Let’s go then.” He takes my free hand and Hank leads us to an employee entrance.
“I checked; fucker is alone, thinking he’s waiting for Lisa. Once you’re done, the cleanup crew goes in and we will have all his shit confiscated too,” Hank says as he unlocks the door. “Ladies and pastors first.”
I find myself smiling a little. Maybe in this new world, I really don’t have to be scared of everyone and their motives.
Thomas goes ahead of me, whispering, “Stay close.”
