Page 11 of His Sacrifice

And then finally, happiness?

Though that wasn’t entirely right either.

I would have been happy as a clam that Creed had asked me out if it hadn’t been for the fact that I had only said yes because I needed to get information to Candace, and Creed had given me an opening to do so.

Yeah, I couldn’t really be mad at Creed for not telling me he was part of the Banachis earlier.

It seemed I had a secret of my own.

Kettle meets pot.

Chapter Five

Creed

That hadn’t gone exactly as I had planned, but at least Jada had agreed to go out with me. I would have to do some heavy groveling for her to get over the fact that I hadn’t told her I was part of the Banachis.

And I still wasn’t sure if I was going to tell her about the whole using her to get to Candace or just let things play out naturally.

I pressed the phone to my ear. “Yeah?” I called.

“You sound annoyed.”

I rolled my eyes and headed toward my car, which was parked two blocks away. “I was in the middle of something, Greer. What do you want?”

“The books. Apollo said they came from you. What are you up to?” she asked.

I rolled my eyes. “I bought them and thought you might like them.” It had been an afterthought.

“Because I’ve got all the time in the world to read?” she laughed. “What are you cooking up that involves books?” she asked again.

“I was just at the bookstore where Tatum works and thought you might enjoy them. I’m not buttering you up for anything, Greer. I’m already your kids’ favorite uncle, and though you won’t admit it, I am your favorite Banachi.”

Her soft laughter rang through the phone. “No, my favorite Banachi is Bristol.”

I scoffed and crossed the street. “She’s not even related to Banachi.” Bristol was a damn amazing chef, but she wasn’t anything more than that.

“Doesn’t matter. Without the Banachi, I never would have met her, so she is my favorite Banachi. Though you are second, I suppose. Apollo should be, but by god, the man drives me crazy sometimes.”

“I guess being second to Bristol isn’t a bad thing.”

“If you can make a scone better than she can, then you’ll be my favorite. Until then, Bristol is top-tier.”

“What if I brought you a better scone?” I asked. “I heard the scones at the café next to Tatum’s work have good scones.”

“I have an even better idea. I’ll just swing by Tatum’s work, grab a scone, and maybe figure out why you’re suddenly buying books you have no interest in reading.”

“I doubt Apollo would like you traipsing all over the city in pursuit of a scone,” I laughed.

“As if Apollo really has control over the things I do, Creed. You boys are delusional sometimes. I’m just good at making Apollo think I’m doing what he asks, while I actually do what I want.” A low voice called something on the other end. “Speak of the devil. I’ll just talk to him about your sudden interest in books.”

“There isn’t anything to tell,” I argued, but Greer had already ended the call.

I shoved my phone in my pocket and beeped open the locks on my car. I slid in behind the driver’s seat and pressed the ignition button. The car rumbled to life, and I quickly fastened my seat belt.

I hadn’t planned on asking Jada to go out tonight, but I had seen the shock mixed with anger in her eyes when she realized I was one of the Banachis.

I should have told her who I was yesterday, but I hadn’t wanted to change or ruin our first meeting.

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