The Sinner (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #18)

by J.R. Ward

The name listed was Sylvester Neste. And the street was like “Maple Court,” or something equally all-American.

Name on Syn's drivers licsense

“We are all sinners—and yet our creator still loves us.

You’re worthy of love. You deserve to be respected and cherished, and to get that, you don’t need to be anything different than you are. You have been created for a reason. You’re here for a reason. You have a purpose, and you have to believe that you’ll find someone who will help you in that purpose. And until that happens? All you really need to know is that you don’t have to be validated by anybody but yourself. You are enough.”

“How will I know,” she whispered in a small voice. “You mean who the right man is?” When she nodded, he smiled. “It’ll be because when you look at him and can’t look away? He’ll be doing the exact same thing at the exact same time. It’s in the eyes, Mel. They’re the windows of the soul, right?”

“I don’t want to kill anything anymore,” he said in a voice that cracked. “Ever.”

Syn, as to why he took himself off rotation

Devina narrowed her eyes. It was a male. Dressed in… were those hot pink zebra tights? And what was that shirt? Was that… Barney? “Jesus Christ,” she spat. All at once, from behind those broad shoulders, a set of gossamer wings extended outward as blond and black hair spooled loose from some kind of tie. No, it wasn’t J. C. Lassiter, the Fallen Angel. As Devina narrowed her eyes and her temper rose, he smiled at her. And lifted one of his hands. With an elaborate show, he blew her a kiss, turned that palm around… and extended his middle finger at her. And thus the next generation of conflict was born.

The new era of conflict begins. Devina vs Lassiter