Page 75 of Priest

A chill runs through me and I see the loading dock. Guns firing. People running. My heartbeat quickens.

“What did they do to make them bad?”

“I can’t tell you.”

“You’re not tellin’ me, Bella. You’re tellin’ God, remember.”

I hear the seat creak as she shifts and I wince. I don’t like the idea of her being in any kind of pain. Physical or emotional.

“They killed someone.” I barely hear her words. “Lots of someones.”

Fuck.

Who the hell are these people?

My mind shifts to the night of the killing spree when we took down the mob. She couldn’t be related to them… though, she is Italian. Also, they wouldn’t take her there… not to a gun fight.

“Were you there? Is that why you ran away?”

“Y—yes. I was scared.”

The plot fucking thickens.

“Is this why your family think you’re dead, too?”

“There was… a lot of… bodies…”

Hell no.

She couldn’t be related to the Caruso’s, but even as I think it, my mind spins with possibilities as I try to piece it together.

I was there that night. Cash killed the Underboss. The club annihilated half the mob.

“That must’ve been a traumatic experience for you.”

“I haven’t been able to tell anyone in fear they’d go to the police.”

“And you trust me not to?”

“Of course. I trust you with my life.”

Her statement goes straight to my heart. I feel the thrum in my chest and the pounding of blood in my ears. “Bella…”

“I’ve also been having bad thoughts.”

I clear my throat. “Of an ungodly nature?”

“Yes… first about Rueben and wanting him to suffer.”

“That’s understandable after what he put you through.”

“I didn’t feel bad about wanting him dead,” she whispers. “Does that make me a bad person, just like my family?”

I rub my chin. “It’s not wrong to want justice, but to move forward we have to have forgiveness in our hearts. Even for those that mean to hurt us.” I hope I sound believable, even if I truly hope Rueben suffers.

“Do you forgive me, Father, for thinking those things?”

“Of course. The lord loves all of his…”

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