39. Evan

39

EVAN

" H ellena. You are a vision."

"Senator. Dashing, as always."

"A little less light on my feet these days." He smiles, charming and handsome for a man his age. You would never guess he was beaten and chased out of town just a few months back.

Another one of Marco's targets when he took out Tell's dad, Mayor Vanderbelt.

Even stranger to think that those two men are gone. Deceased.

"I'll put that to the test next time there's an excuse to dance." She offers him her hand, falling into stride alongside him. He's not wrong. Hellena looks unreal in the dark purple gown she chose for the meetings today at the governor's mansion.

"For you, I will put my best foot forward." Garcia bows slightly.

"Not just on the dance floor, I hope."

"No more standing by. No more causal favors. Right, Evan?" He looks back at me, following closely behind them.

"The Senator has assured me that he is giving us his full support," I announce to no one in particular. "I didn't even have to break any fingers or offer him something untoward."

"Nonsense. After everything we've been through, that Sanctum has been through…" He frowns, suddenly looking several years older. "This is my home, first and foremost. My people."

"Who have different needs than the rest of the state," I remind him. "Even if we intend to do things a bit differently ourselves."

"If I ever doubted it before, I certainly understand now. And realize how much I benefited from some of it before. I can't thank you both enough for opening my eyes to the truth of the matter."

"You've got plenty of terms left to make amends." I cock my head, smirking.

"Glad to know I have your vote."

Ever the politician. But not bad, compared to most. I would almost go as far as to say I like the guy. Even if he does constantly try to hit on my girl. Mostly trying to get her to dance with him again.

Can't blame him.

"And the full support of the city," Hellena adds, letting go of his crooked arm and turning him to look at her.

"And the Seven?" he quips, raising an eyebrow.

"Senator Garcia, you've been listening to tabloid rumors. Whatever would give you the idea that the Seven still exist ? Rachelle Tyson saw to their demise, at great cost to all of us."

"My apologies. Old habits. I suppose there are no mysteries left in Sanctum to uncover."

"That has yet to be seen. But it's understandable that you would be skeptical. The Sinful are an integral part of all of our history. Especially mine."

"But no longer?"

"I never said that ." Hellena presses her lips together, her eyes wide and innocent. Bold. Leave it to my love to lock horns with a member of the U.S. Senate.

"What does the future hold for Sanctum Harbor and the order?" he muses, continuing on his walk.

"A bright, amicable alliance with our neighbors. A quiet, prosperous existence for our citizens. And continued support of those who assist us to that end."

She's come so far since that first day I met her in my office.

But she's still the same brazen person I fell in love with. Only stronger. Smarter. Bolder.

"You'd hold your own in the halls of Congress, talking like that. Sure I can't convince you to…"

"Mrs. Garcia would take issue with that, I think." Hellena winks. "All I want is to guarantee our continued autonomy. To provide a safe haven for…"

"Criminals? Outlaws?"

"Individuals. Outsiders," Hellena corrects, eyeing me and the two men standing at the stone railing of the gardens, overlooking a gorgeous lawn. Both of them look back at us, smiling knowingly, leaving the politics to the two best suited to it.

They have their own strengths.

A balance to mine. A compliment to Hell's.

"Fine line. What's to keep the old ways from resurfacing ?"

"Us." She smirks, nodding to Tell, Gavin. And off a way from where we're chatting, Ora, Alaya. Sing.

"Hmm. Can't help but notice…" Garcia assesses our gang, rubbing his hands together as he heads back toward the main house. "Seven of you. Hmm."

"A coincidence, I'm sure."

"Undoubtedly. But coincidence or not, there's a question that I can't help but ask. Will you remain the seven sins, or become the seven virtues?" He grins. With a casual shrug, he leaves us to wander.

"Just when I thought things couldn't get any cheesier, ol' Senator Clooney goes and starts throwing around B-movie plots." Tell says, half laughing.

"You're basically the protagonist in one," Gavin rumbles, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah, that's rich coming from you, Connery."

"Lishten here, jyooniah!" Gavin growls in a horrible imitation. "At least I don't play master of disguise on the regular."

"Hard to disguise that mug."

"Hard to improve, you mean?"

"Impossible to hide those biceps, more like," Hellena quips, squeezing Gav's arms through his suit sleeve. He looks outstanding, if I'm being honest.

"I'd hit that." I snicker, ignoring Gavin's flaring nostrils, the light blush at his cheeks.

Hell's got a look to match, only I think she's imagining way more embarrassing things for Gavin and me. Let her dream.

"Where do you find suits that fit?" Tell teases, leading the way toward the car. "Terminator Taylors, at youah service!"

Kill me now. At least Tell's impressions are usually spot on.

"Evan put me in touch with a guy." Gavin shrugs nonchalantly, freezing as a popping, ripping sound comes from his back. "Fuck."

Hell bursts out laughing, covering her face.

"Was it the jacket or the ass?" Tell snorts, side-eyeing me over his shoulder.

"I'm not complaining, Gav, but you should have worn an undershirt. And underwear." I smirk, leaning into Tell's haranguing.

"Damn thing was too tight!" Gavin snarls, reaching back to pin the sides together and running awkwardly for the cars.

"And apparently made of tissue paper…" I mutter, tonguing the inside of my cheek.

"You didn't!" Hellena gapes, swatting my arm.

"I still owed him a few comebacks for all the times he whooped my ass."

"This is the best day of my life."

"I don't know, Tell, something about your cologne seems off. Maybe we should call you ‘Smell' instead."

"You asshole!" He sniffs his suit, making a face. "I thought it was the guy sitting in front of us who kept busting ass!"

"You should check your pockets from time to time, spy boy."

Tell joins Gavin in the car, glaring over his shoulder at me.

"What's gotten into you?" Hell twines her fingers through mine, looking at me with wonder in her eyes. "It's almost like you developed a sense of humor."

"Let's just say I developed an appreciation for having friends. For having a family."

"And a little laughter helps too, huh?" A shadow passes over her eyes.

"It does," I admit, leaning into her.

"You don't have to tell me everything, you know that. But when you're ready, I'm here for you. We all are."

The nightmares still plague me. The horrible things Rachelle made me do. There's blood on my hands that will never wash off. But maybe with time, it will fade.

"That's what I'm counting on."

We reach the parking lot and the slick, black-suited, black-shirted man waiting by the jet-black Mercedes. As always, he's stock-still, leaning casually against the side of the car.

"Sing! You do realize that you don't have to wait at the car for me. Or follow me at a distance. Or sweep the room before I enter." Hellena pats him on the cheek as he holds the door open.

"It's my job to protect you."

"No, your job is to be in charge of Sanctum's security and policing."

"I hate that word."

"Lack of a better term?"

"Fair. But that includes our governess's safety."

"Extra hate that title."

"Lack of a better word?"

"Ugh." Hellena slips into the car. "Good goddess! It fucking reeks in here. Tyler Vanderbelt, open the fucking window!"

A genuine, full chuckle shakes my chest. And out of the corner of my eye, I swear I see Sing shake, just for a second.

When I flick my gaze to him, he's looking right at me, bland as ever.

"She's right, you know? You don't have to be our bodyguard. Or driver."

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but Miss Clive and Miss Foxglove would skin me alive if anything happened to any of you, especially her."

My mouth drops open.

I didn't know he knew that many words.

"You definitely don't want to piss off Alaya and Ora. It's bad enough the way they treat you like a piece of meat."

Sing's eye twitches.

"What was it she called you the other day? Her fuck-ninja?"

His eyes widen slightly as I duck into the car, immediately regretting the decision.

I should have set off the stink bomb in Tell's bedroom instead.

But as we drive down through the hills, all four of us with our heads out the window, I see the town spread out below us, windows sparkling in the late afternoon sun, matching the twinkling surf out in the bay.

And I realize we made it.

Through hell.

To the other side.

The future stretches out before us with a new vision. A new sense of purpose.

A new Seven.

We still deal in favors. In secrets. In trust. In principles. And when we have to, in blood.

But now, we also deal in hope .