Page 21 of Sins of Leo

“Exactly why do you need to find some old door?” she grumbled.

“We seek two artifacts that must not fall into the wrong hands.” Sage spoke in a normal voice and yet the words… still bonkers.

“What are they, ancient curses?” Ruth joked.

“Worse. These objects could spell the end of humanity.”

Ruth’s smile evaporated. She now understood how Alice felt when she fell into the rabbit’s hole, only she feared she’d never find her way out.

CHAPTER 6

Sage didwhat Sage did best—a mic-drop statement that finally had Leo’s shrink speechless.

In that silence, Leo prepared to depart. “Well, now that I’ve done my job and kept Dr. Warmstone safe, plus recovered the items Cetus was after…” Leo went to hand the journal and picture to Sage, only she shook her head.

“Oh, no, Leo. You are far from done yet. You will remain by Ruth’s side until the relic is found. Perhaps even longer.”

“What?” he yelped. That hadn’t been part of the plan. Not that he actually had a plan, other than fighting his inner demons.

“Who says I’m going to help?” his shrink added, determined to be contrary.

He couldn’t believe how long and strenuously she argued against the evidence before her eyes. Like, yeah, starbeaming and shit didn’t follow the laws of science, but once you’d experienced it, how could you deny it?

“You will aid, because only then will you both find the closure you’ve been seeking,” Sage stated with utmost confidence implying she’d seen something. What though? Leo knew better than to ask for details because the reply usually ended up being along the lines ‘Because I said so.’

“Closure from what? I’m fine,” huffed the red-cheeked Ruth.

“You can lie out loud, but not to yourself.” With that, the tiny Sage, who packed a punch without ever raising a fist, left.

Ruth turned her ire on Leo. “Why do I get the impression I don’t have a choice?”

“We don’t,” his sullen reply. “I’m not happy about it either.”

“I don’t care who she is. She doesn’t get to tell me what to do.”

“Then I hope you can live with yourself when bad shit starts to happen.”

She glared…

…at the king of glares, as he served a stinging one right back.

“This is bullshit!” Ruth exclaimed.

“Agreed.”

“Why does it have to be you?” she further grumbled. “Surely if this task is so important I’d be better off with someone who isn’t a drunk.”

Ooh, the doctor could sling her own shots. He didn’t wince, but he uttered a defensive, “I haven’t had a sip since yesterday morning.”

“One whole day. Let’s get out the party balloons. Or maybe not quite yet because I’ll wager you’re craving a sip.”

The truth hurt, and like any wounded animal, he fought back. “Fucking right, I do. It might help me deal with you,” he snarled.

“Well, you’d better not, because if I have to work with you to find this stupid door and stupid antique before I can get my life back, then you will be sober because I am not dealing with your drunken or hungover ass.”

“I’ll have you know I am perfectly functional the day after I binge.”

“I doubt you’re fully capable, not to mention, you smell.”

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