Page 98 of Priest

“I couldn’t help it.”

He snuggles into the back of my neck. “I like it when you laugh.”

“I’ll try to do more of that, just for you.”

“Good.” His soft breath on my neck makes me feel so comfortable and warm. With the blanket pulled up over us I know we’re going to fall asleep like this, and I can’t get enough of it.

“I don’t want anything to happen to you,” I whisper.

His thumb moves over my knuckles, his voice weary. “It won’t. I’ll be okay.”

“But you’re goin there? To my uncle’s place?”

“The less you know about the details, the better, but yes, I’ll be there. I have to go where my club needs me.”

“What if something happens to you?”

“It won’t.” He sounds so sure that I want to believe him. Even if I know that’s not how these things work. There are always casualties. “In the morning, I need to know everything you know about your uncle’s place, got me?”

“I didn’t go there often,” I say. “But I’ll tell you what I do know, and where guards are located.”

“Good girl.”

I take a long inhale of breath, feeling his breathing lull. I’ve never felt so wanted and needed in my life. “I love you.” My words are barely a whisper. I close my eyes, ready for unconsciousness to take me.

“I love you, too,” Priest mutters, his arms around me protectively. “I’ll never let you go.”

In the morning, Priest brings my uncle’s house up on his laptop and on an aerial view, I show him all of the checkpoints that I know of, and let him know that he also has a secret underground tunnel. Somewhere he'll retreat to, like a panic room if they set the alarms off or get seen before they can attack. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that not only bloodshed, but an entire all-out war, is going to erupt, and panic sets in far worse than it did last night.

In the light of day this is really starting to feel real. Finally, the Caruso family are going to get what’s coming to them, and after all the destruction and pain they have caused over the years, they deserve every ounce of punishment inflicted on them.

If only my father and uncle could see me now.

“They have a warehouse,” I tell Priest. I give him the address. “I don’t want to think about what they do there, but I assume none of its very good.”

He cups my chin. “Good girl. I didn’t know about that.”

I feel good I can at least give him little bits of information. Even if they are small, it could help. “When will you be back?”

He presses a kiss to my lips. “I’m not gone yet.”

I roll my eyes. “No, but you will be.”

“It could be a day or so. Whenever Cash gives the order. We have to wait for the right time.”

I don’t like that idea one bit. “I wish this didn’t have to happen.”

He brushes the hair back off my face, tucking it behind my ears. “I know that, little one. But sometimes this is part of being with the MC. We have to clear out the trash from time to time. After we’re done, we’ll go to Texas.”

I smile at his words. “I get it. I just worry about you.”

“You don’t have to worry. I’ve survived prison. I’ve also survived a rough childhood and being shot, as well as stabbed, and I’m still standing.” He places my hand over his heart as I try not to well up. “This heart beats for you, sweet Bella. Never forget that.”

He’s so warm. Even through his t-shirt, I can feel the heat radiating off him.

“Please tell me you’ll be safe, that you won’t take any unnecessary risks.”

“I promise.” His answer is a little too quick, and I know that the best I can wish for is that he makes it home safely. He and his club brothers. “So, I think we’re ready to go, yeah?”

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