Page 89 of Priest

“But Rueben foiled my plans,” I whisper. “You know that.”

“Did you stay because you want to see what plays out with your family, now that there’s a war brewing?”

My heart races. “A war brewing?”

“You know the MC was there, Bella. That night.”

I turn in his arms. “I didn’t….” His stern face zips my lips together swiftly. “Okay, I knew there was bad blood between clubs and the Irish, but I never knew your club was involved, Priest. I swear…”

“Your father was killed that night, in front of your eyes. The night you ran.”

I blink. No tears form because I have no tears to shed for that bastard. “Your point?”

He slides one hand up my neck to cup my face. “Did you do this to get closer to me?”

I frown. “I didn’t know you were involved, Priest. I didn’t even know you were part of the MC until Casey told me. That’s the truth. I found you by complete accident going to the Soup Kitchen.”

“And when you found out I was part of NOLA Rebels, that didn’t deter you? Even though you had a good idea that I was involved somehow.”

I shake my head. “No. My father was an evil bastard and I feel absolutely no pain at all over his death. In fact, I feel relieved… Does that make me some kind of asshole? Some kind of uncaring, horrible person that the man who made my life a living hell for so many years got what he deserved?” I sit up, pulling the duvet with me so it sits under my armpits. “You know what else? I don’t feel one ounce of guilt that he’s gone. He took me to a gunfight, Priest. What does that say about my father in all of this?”

He watches me, unblinking. I’ve never seen him this intense. When he finally speaks, his tone is quiet in a way I haven’t heard before. “I would never blame you for ever being glad you’re rid of that asshole, not after what he did.”

“He was a bad man.”

“There are things that you may not know.”

I frown. “Things?”

He shakes his head. “Of why your father was killed at point blank.”

“I thought it was a drug deal gone wrong?”

He shakes his head. “The club doesn’t deal drugs. We’re legit. We teamed up with the Irish to put the mob back in their place and send them all back to fuckin’ Houston, Texas, where they belong. Killing your father wasn’t planned, but when my Prez found out he’d done what he did to two of my club brothers…”

My face pales. “What did he do?”

His eyebrows knit together. “Bella. He was your father… Surely… Did he never… touch you… inappropriately?”

I blink, trying to make sense of his words. “He used violence yes. He slapped me a few times… verbally abused me, but he never did anything more than that… He never…” I’m ashen as his insinuation. “Oh, God. What did he do?”

“It doesn’t matter now. But he hurt children in the worst possible way. He’s dead, that’s all that matters. And you’re a mafia princess who’s supposed to be dead.” He runs a hand over his face. “Jesus, Bella. I wish you’d come clean sooner.”

He hurt children in the worst possible way?

Panic rises within me and I feel jittery. I want to scream but also cry. I want to be open with Priest but I’ve never been able to trust any of the men in my life. Not one. “I didn’t want to burden you with any of this.”

“Burden me?”

“I didn’t want to give you any reason to leave. The people in my life are always leaving.”

He strokes a thumb over my cheek bone. “I’m not goin’ anywhere, but there can’t be any more lies between us.”

“In my defense, I have a hard time trusting anyone.”

“I can certainly see why.”

“And now I fear Leo’s training to take my father’s place as the new underboss. You’ve no idea what he’s capable of.”

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