"You're dealing with alotof temptation," Trent said casually.
Sin sighed. "The greatest sins come from the greatest temptations."
"Yeah, they do," Trent agreed. "Guys, I think it's time to go. Been a long night, and Sin's been through the wringer. Davis, get started on the safehouse for this girl."
"Can do," Davis agreed.
Julie stood, pausing to clasp Sin's shoulder. "God doesn't work in absolutes, Brother," she said before heading out.
The others said their goodbyes as well. Zan and Trent waited until the end. "Go on," Trent said.
Zan still didn't leave. Instead, he took a long breath, slowly releasing it. "You're her only friend," he said. "It's like a bright fucking light in her head, the thought that you'd want to help her." He shoved at his hair again. "She needs you, man. I think God's knocking at the door on this one." Zan shrugged, then turned to leave.
"Hey," Sin said, stopping him. He pulled a chain from his pocket and held it out. "You earned this tonight. I don't think you should rush into being a priest, but you're already one of the Fallen."
The kid smiled as he slipped it on, then left.
"And then there were six," Trent said, listening to the door close.
"Seven," Sin corrected. "Rissa's earned her God's eye, too. I just can't give it to her yet."
Chapter Twenty-Six
Even with the chairs empty, the two men sat casually on the floor, neither wanting to move. Trent held up his plastic bottle, and Sin tapped it with his own, then took a long drink. Then he sighed and leaned his head back against the wall.
"You know God doesn't ask us for more than we can handle, right?" Trent asked.
Sin looked over at his friend. "Ever hear why I shot my dad?"
"No."
"Remember the old cybernetics? Add too many or go too fast, and you'd flip?"
"Yeah," Trent said. "That was a long time ago."
Sin nodded. "Yeah. Like sixteen years, Brother. Dad flipped and raged out." Sin shrugged. "Went after Mom."
"Sorry," Trent said. "But you didn't refuse the prosthetics?"
"Didn't get asked," Sin said softly. "Besides, I swore I'd protect the weak at any cost. This is the price I'm paying." He held up his right hand. "Fucking carbon fiber and silicone, but it sure feels real on the inside."
"At any cost," Trent said. "So, who exactly counts as the weak? A girl who can't even choose her own meals? I'd think that counts."
"I can protect her just fine. It's my soul I'm worried about."
"Protect her from what, though?" Trent took a long drink. "Physical stuff, sure. What about the mental? The emotional?Scared you can't resist the temptation that comes with doing your duty?"
Sin nodded. "Allof them."
"I got ya. So, which precepts would you break?" When Sin glared at him, Trent chuckled. "Name them for me."
"First—"
"How?" Trent asked.
Sin tapped his head. "Enhancing the body God gave me without cause."
Trent shook his head. "To help another is cause."
