Scorn stepped forward, sliced the zip ties, and he stumbled out of the chair, falling to his knees. “Wait for me outside.” I spoke.
The kid bolted through the rain, his boots slipping in the mud as he disappeared into the storm.
Jameson turned to me once he was gone. “You sure you’re not gettin’ soft, Chaplain?”
“Soft’s what keeps me human,” I said, pulling out my lighter and flicking it. “Besides, we need him to lead us to Croak. Fear’s a better leash than rope.”
Hoax chuckled. “Guess the good Lord taught you somethin’ after all.”
“Not Him,” I muttered. “Learned that one from the demons I play with.”
The rain started to let up as we stepped out into the thick humidity. I signaled to Josh to get close as the rest of the brothers got into their rides and revved up their engines.
“Yes, Sir.”
“The Scorpions are shit, kid. You ride with the Bastards now, and we’re about loyalty, got it.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Stop calling me Sir. I need you to go back to your clubhouse. You’re gonna be my eyes and ears inside, kid.”
“But…”
“There’s no buts. I need to know Croak’s next move. He wants to order children around, let’s see how he does with someone his own size.”
“Yes, S…”
I sensed his hesitation and smirked. “Hellsing. You can call me Hellsing.”
“Yes, Hellsing.”
“The next time you report to me you’ll have a small room at my place and I’ll give you another job.”
“Another one?” He asked wide-eyed and hopeful.
“You’re about to play bodyguard to the witch’s store you destroyed. I want you there bright an early to help her clean that place up.”
“Yes, Sir, Hellsing.”
“Just Hellsing, kid. Now get the hell out of here.
I was about to light a smoke when my phone buzzed in my cut pocket. I wiped a hand over my face, staring at the screen when Virgil’s name flashed. I’d been waiting for this call. Dreading it too.
I answered. “Virgil.”
His voice came low, rough, and sharp. “You knew.”
I closed my eyes. “Yeah.”
“You son of a bitch,” he growled. “Youknewhe was back, and you didn’t think to tell me? That’s my little girl, Hellsing. Mydaughter.”
I started to pace. “I didn’t wanna set him off, Virgil. He’s been pushin’ at the edges, whisperin’ in my head for weeks. If I’d told you, you’d have come ridin’ straight for him, and that’s exactly what he wants.”
“You don’t get to decide that.” Virgil bit out. “That demon took everything from me once. I’m not lettin’ him take her.”
“I’m not letting him, either,” I said, voice rough. “But if you come down here, he’ll use you. He’ll get between us, and one of us ain’t walkin’ away. You know how he works; he feeds on vengeance. You show up pissed off and ready to fight, and he’ll twist it into somethin’ you can’t control.”
“You think I’m scared of him?”
