Page 65 of Necessary Evil

“I can handle it,” he said. “As long as you’re in my corner.”

“I am,” she said. “Always.” Although you could make it easier for me to believe in you.

Bobby fell asleep on the way back to the motel, and even with her two Diet Cokes, Lucy felt herself blinking hard in an effort to stay awake.

“Here we go,” she said. “Door-to-door service.” She lightly shook him awake.

Bobby jumped and flailed, narrowly missing smacking her in the head.

“Easy,” she said. “You’re safe. It’s me.”

“What the fuck?” he snarled, and looked around wildly, his fists clenched. His harsh breaths were the only noise in the car. “Oh,” he sighed. “Sorry. I was having a nightmare.”

“Are you sure I can’t drop you off at Jenny’s?”

He shook his head. “I want to give her some space. The questioning was pretty upsetting to her.”

“I don’t know why they had to be that way,” Lucy said. “She’s known those guys for years and they know her.”

“It’s different when you’re on the other side of the desk.”

“I guess you’re right. Good night.”

“Night, sis.”

He got out of the car and was immediately grabbed by a man from the shadows.

“You leave him alone!” Lucy sprang out of the car, fumbling for the Mace in her purse. Damn it, I should go for my pistol license. A second man grabbed her. She stamped down on his foot and struggled. The other man slammed Bobby into the wall, and she got a good look at him.

Sentinel.

“Lucy, stop it,” Evan growled in her ear.

She slumped in relief. “You assholes scared the shit out of me. Sentinel, let my brother go.”

Sentinel whirled. “What?”

Bobby shoved him and threw a punch.

“Bobby, don’t!” Lucy tried to go to him, but Evan’s arm held her firmly against him. Normally she’d love for him to hold her so tightly. But right now she just wanted to keep Bobby from committing suicide by Sentinel.

Sentinel took the punch on his arm and delivered two of his own in rapid fashion to Bobby’s stomach. Bobby dropped to the ground and retched.

“Stop!” She twisted and writhed, trying to get out of Evan’s grasp. “This isn’t the Pyro that was stalking me. This is my brother.”

“Get off him,” Evil said and Sentinel stepped back.

“You’re Sentinel?” Bobby gasped from the ground.

“You have a problem with that?” Sentinel said.

“Jenny says hi.”

Sentinel reared back to kick him when he was down.

“No!” Lucy screamed.

“What the hell is going on here?” The door to the room next door was flung open and a big burly man stepped out. “Let her go, you dirtbag.” He advanced on Evan.