While she completed her download, he wondered if she'd found a correlation in the questions and locations related to the black-market data she thought she was carrying. If she could give him a lead, maybe he could stop the hijackings from the other side by preventing the material from being taken. He also wondered if it really did tie back to the Legion.
For a moment, he considered asking her to answer the Praetor's question. He should've brought it up days ago, but he kept putting it off, terrified she'd say Benedict was up to something—because he'd believe her. Sin knew there was something underhanded going on in his church. He had a feeling the Censor was doing his best to shift the Legion toward a corporate benefactor rather than helping all of their followers. That was what he'd initially thought his contract with OutLink was about. Unfortunately, he wasn't sure how Benedict, the man who'd been a father figure to him since his own had died, fit in—and he was terrified to find out.
Only Sin and four other priests suspected this was more than an ideological problem. It seemed to be a financial one, and it could destroy the trust the people of New Cincinnati gave the church! The five of them kept their fears closely guarded. Even worse, they had no idea how to stop it and bring the Legion back to being a place of worship and community for everyone. He'd become a priest to help others, not to hurt them, but the Legion was no longer interested in charity.
The Fallen, as the five of them had taken to calling themselves, had stolen their name from their local bar. It made for a good excuse if anyone heard them use the name. They all lived in the same massive apartment complex, and they'd previously worked on the same or similar duties. It wasn't shocking to anyone that they occasionally ran into each other, and they used it to their advantage. His fingers felt for the thin steel chain at his throat.
Rissa emerged from the transfer room, walking on her own this time. Sinclair still tucked her hand on his arm, pleased to see her eyes sparkling brightly, then he escorted her from the building. Stepping into the fresh air, she lifted her head as if tasting the breeze.
"Did you need another smoke?" she asked hopefully.
"Usually," he laughed. "You sure you don't mind?"
"No, Sin. Sometimes it even clings in my hair and reminds me of you later. I only wish I had a taste to go with the scent."
"Ingénue?" he asked, all too aware her words made his heart beat faster.
She shrugged. "I want to understand everything about you, like why you enjoy smoking, because you're the only person who is mine. I don't share you with the other Ingénue like I do everything else."
He reached up to touch the veil across her cheek. "No, Rissa, you don't have to share me with anyone but God."
Those silver eyes bounced between his as if waiting for the joke. "Makes me feel pretty important to be second."
"Riss…" he groaned.
"I was being truthful, Sin. I can't compete with your God. I wouldn't want to. He's important to you, just like being able to think is important to me. I understand."
"And I'm starting to think I'm not worthy of being your friend," he admitted. "You're actually a really good person."
Chapter Sixteen
Rissa was doing ok after that transfer. She'd done it slower so her mind wouldn't be harmed, but they still had hours left before she had to return to OutLink's Enclave. And while she knew she should tell him she was fine, she also didn't want to ruin the moment, so she decided to try something else.
"Were you going to have that smoke?"
His lips split into a grin. "I think you're getting addicted to my bad habits. But yeah, I'd like one." His eyes scanned the area around them. "I also need to ask you a question."
"Ok."
"Not for me," he admitted, tipping his head toward a staircase which led underground. "The subway should be pretty empty at this time of day."
She reached up for his arm, using that as her answer. Sin escorted her to the stairs, then took his time going down them so she didn't have to rush to keep up. It almost felt like something had shifted between them. Like they'dfinallyfigured each other out today.
When they reached the bottom, the platform was completely empty. Sin grunted in his form of approval, then pulled out his pack of cigarettes. He flicked the lighter, holding it to the tip, and she watched his hands under the gloves. Only three fingers had obvious tendons, so two of them must be artificial. He didn't like to talk about it, though.
It was almost enough to distract her from the crackling of the paper as his cigarette caught, then he exhaled. Unable to stop herself, Rissa inhaled, loving the scent. The burning tobacco, even if it was synthetically grown, still smelled so much more natural than anything in the Enclave.
"What station is this?" she asked, looking around.
"Montgomery and 72nd," he said. "Why?"
She fussed with her mouth, then realized he was watching her closely, most likely trying to figure out what she was doing. "The only security camera here is on the tunnel entrance. It means we're not being watched."
Taking a long suck at the cigarette, he moved his back to the wall, well out of sight of the camera. "So, Benedict said he has a question, but it comes in two parts."
"That seems wise," she admitted. "What is the first part?"
He looked down to watch his foot as he scuffed it against the concrete. "He wants to know what you think the purpose of life is."
