Mandy slid the shot she had poured for Snod toward Rees, who drank it back like it was water. It was
getting late, and the crowd had begun to thin out. Mandy started to clean up the bar, restocking the
little trays of fruit slices and olives.
Glancing at Snod, she said, “Tonight was a good night, Rees. Snod’s little rescue really brought in the
tips.”
“Oh, yeah?” Rees snorted, leaning across the bar with a grunt. “Maybe Kevin won’t press charges.”
Snod tensed. He couldn’t afford for police to be involved especially without his new identity in
place. How could he have been so foolish. He fidgeted, sitting down abruptly at the bar.
Noting the change in Snod’s mood immediately, Rees jerked his head at Mandy and asked
nonchalantly, “Hey, darling. Last call has hit. How about you go count the potatoes?”
Mandy looked confused, replying slowly, “Rees? We don’t have any potatoes. I haven’t seen a fresh
vegetable in here—”
“Just go find something to fucking count.” Rees pointed toward the kitchen, giving her an expectant
stare.
“Got it,” she said obediently. “Counting the potatoes.” She headed into the kitchen to leave them alone
at the bar.
“I’ll take care of Kevin,” Rees said quietly.
Snod perked up expectantly.
“No, I’m not going to kill him, you nut-job,” Rees groaned. “I’ll make sure it goes away is what I’m
saying. You need to learn to control yourself. Isn’t some of that shit in the Order all about self-
control?”
“It’s about resisting the call of sin,” Snod argued, his brow furrowing up. “Controlling your impulses
through prayer, fasting, and—”
“Damn, your lips are still wet from sucking on that cult’s tit, aren’t they?” Rees laughed, shaking his
head and slapping the bar. He smirked slyly, saying mysteriously, “Allow me to let you in on a little
secret... nobody resists sin. We all do it. Maybe a little, maybe a lot, but nobody’s clean.”
Scowling, Snod dryly retorted, “I know that. That is why we must purge ourselves and pray for
forgiveness. We must be the light in the darkness.”
“Look, sweet thing,” Rees said flatly. “I’ve been around for a very long time. The whole world is
fucking darkness. People are assholes. Like Kevin, he’s an asshole. I’m an asshole. It’s all nasty with
