"Repent and you shall be forgiven," Sin answered automatically.
"I know a girl." He stopped, looking at each of them. "My girlfriend has a place in the lower west. It's under her sister's name. We keep it so we can… you know?"
Sin nodded. "How long?"
"A while," Davis said. "More than a year."
"What if she's caught and used as bait?" He refused to look at Davis's face.
The man countered that easily. "What if any of you are?"
"Not the same," Julie said. "We took the pain. We know the risks."
Davis nodded. "She did too."
"Legate?" Sin asked, shocked.
"Centurion," Davis said.
Those were the priests who handled the Legion's policing needs. Where Legates operated independently, Centurions worked in organized groups. Many Legates came from those ranks, while other Centurions were the people who hadn't quite passed the trials to earn their wings. It was said God had chosen them for another path.
Trent nodded slowly. "You aren't about to end it with her, are you?"
Davis shook his head. "No."
"I can't give you absolution," Sin said. "Not if you're unwilling to end this, but I can offer penance."
"I'll take it," Davis said with a weak smile.
Sin looked up and met his eyes. "Dedicate your life to helping those weaker than yourself."
The Legate simply nodded, his face serious. "Thank you, Brother."
"And the place sounds like it'll work. The big question is how long it's going to take to get Riss out." Sin groaned. "And when she escapes, there's no telling how long they'll hunt for her. Could be weeks, so consider this all part of your penance."
"Sin?" Zan asked. "You ever slip?"
"I try not to," he said.
"You don't have any vices that call to you?"
Sin chuckled. "Coke and cigarettes. I think I got most of the rest out of the way as a kid. Murder, sex, drugs—you know, most of it."
"And you just cleaned up?" Zan wasn't about to let this go.
"I had my reasons," Sin said, looking over to him. "Why?"
"You have any porn in here?" The kid smiled.
"No."
Zan nodded like that proved his point. "Nothing?"
"I cuss like a bitch. Good enough?"
"That's why we all look to him," Trent said. "Sin's as pure as humanity gets now."
"Pretty far from pure," Sin admitted.
