Page 67 of Priest

“Yes.” I nod. “Casey came to Priest’s house and cleaned me up.”

Stella looks angry as she places her hands on my shoulders as I look up at her. “Do you know who did it? Did they…uh?”

I nod. “I know who did it; Rueben, the guy who comes to the Soup Kitchen sometimes. He asked you about me but I gave him a fake name; Sarah. And no, he didn’t get to do anything except hit me. I kneed him in the nuts and ran for it.”

“Holy shit,” they both whisper in unison.

“I’m so sorry,” Stella says, genuine concern in her eyes.

She and Summer share a look. “Priest won’t be happy,” Summer says, looking up across the bar. “He’ll be working out what to do right now.”

I know the bikers have their own justice system in their world, much as we have it in ours, but the idea that they’ll hunt him down isn’t the worst thing in the world. He deserves it.

“What will they do? Priest didn’t really answer me when I asked.”

“He’ll take care of it,” Stella replies. “He’ll make sure he never hurts anyone ever again. One thing about the men in this club — and don’t get me wrong, some of them can be complete assholes — they keep us safe. Now you’re with Priest, you fall under that same protection.”

It’s not the first time I’ve heard this; Casey said the same thing when she cleaned me up.

A thrill goes through me at her words: Now you’re with Priest…

“I’m not with Priest.” The words sound foreign. I don’t like them. “He found me. He gave me a place to stay for tonight, until… things calm down.”

Stella and Summer share a look and Summer bites down on her lip as she says, “I hate to break this to you, but Priest hasn’t brought a woman in the clubhouse for…” She starts to count on her fingers but gives up eventually. “A long time. And he came in with his arm around you and his chest puffed out. He’s sending a message.”

“Yeah.” A nervous laugh escapes me. “He told me he was doing that on purpose. So guys wouldn’t approach and things wouldn’t get awkward. He was just being nice.”

Stella blinks at me a couple of times, then she and Summer burst out laughing. “Uh huh. That’s a good one.”

“Hold up.” Summer holds up a hand. “You’re at Priest’s house?”

“He took pity on me.” I shrug.

They share another look. I wish they’d stop doing that; it’s making me nervous.

Stella gives me a soft smile. “Whatever you say, honey. Just know that he must think an awful lot about you to do that. He never lets anyone into his home. I’ve only been there a few times, and I’m his goddaughter.”

I toy with that for a few moments.

Okay. So, not entirely the worst news I could hear. And after what happened this morning in Priest’s bed… I wonder if he’s being entirely truthful with me when he said it couldn’t happen again and we couldn’t go any further.

I mean, he was into it. I’m not a dummy. He just feels guilty because I’m on the street with nowhere else to go. Hearing that this isn’t his usual repertoire, however, warms my heart.

“I was pretty shaken up, and Rueben knew where I was staying at the shelter,” I tell them. “He was worried Rueben would try again. He just wanted me to be safe.”

“Of course he did, he’s a good guy,” Stella says. “One of the best. I’m sorry that jerk did that to you, but he’ll be wishing he never laid a hand on you when the club’s done with him.”

“Touché,” Summer reiterates.

I keep my lips pressed together. I don’t need to know the details, but justice has to be served. God knows if this is something Rueben makes a habit of. I take a sip of my drink, my mouth dry. I feel a flourish go through me that isn’t normal. I know it’s not.

I can’t thrive on the idea of violence. It may be what I know, but that doesn’t make it okay. It doesn’t make any of it okay… Yet, I can’t stop the thudding of my heart.

I can’t stop my thoughts. I can’t help it… it’s what I know. Even if I know Priest would never be violent with me, he had a look in his eye that told me all I needed to know when dealing with asswipes like Rueben.

“So this club,” I begin, “they’re not like the Sons of Anarchy types on TV? Casey gave me the basic rundown…”

An amused look crosses Summer’s face and Stella plonks down noisily on the stool next to me.

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