Page 90 of Priest

He continues to stroke my cheek. “You won’t have to worry about him.”

“Why?”

“A war is brewing. I don’t have to tell you that. Your uncle thinks he can control the French Quarter just like they used to thirty years ago, but things have changed.”

“I know how to stop them.”

His eyebrows pinch together once more. “You don’t need to do anything.”

My heart swells at his words. “I do, Priest. More people could die.”

“You’re not putting yourself into any situation where you’re in danger, Bella. That isn’t a warning, it’s a promise.”

I press my hand on his chest, over his cross tattoo and press it against his heart. “I should have told you the truth sooner.”

“Yes, you should have.”

“Does it change how you feel about me?”

“No but you runnin’ around when you’re supposed to be dead isn’t exactly going to keep you safe, is it?”

I drop my eyes. “Will you turn me in?”

I feel his hand at my chin as he tilts it up so our eyes meet. “Don’t hide from me. I don’t like it when you do that. For the record, no, I’d never turn you in”

My voice is barely a whisper when I say, “It’s a bad habit, one I haven’t been able to shake.”

“Well, things are different now. I’m never going to hurt you or put you in harm’s way. I promise.” His lips find mine. “Even if I am mad at you when you didn’t exactly tell me the truth.”

I take a long breath. “What was I supposed to say, Priest? Oh, and by the way I’m part of the Italian mafia and your club may have had a hand in killing my father? Not exactly the perfect icebreaker, is it?”

My stomach is still rolling over his earlier comments about my father and what he did. I always knew he was a violent, horrible man, but I never thought he was capable of sinister crimes against children. I want to puke. I want to do better, be a better person than he ever was.

“It doesn’t matter. You know the heart of me, even after this short time. You know that no matter what you say to me I’ll always be there for you. No matter what.”

His words pierce my heart. My soul. This man can’t be real. He just can’t.

Tears start to well in my eyes and then they overflow and I can’t stop them. I hide against Priest’s shoulder as he wraps his arms around me. He kisses the top of my head.

“Don’t cry,” he tells me. “You don’t need to shed any more tears.”

“What about what my father did? What my uncle is still doing?”

He holds me tighter. “Do you have any knowledge of anything your father or uncle were up to before you left?”

I shake my head. “They kept me completely out of it.”

“What about Leo? Did he say anything?”

I think back. “He liked to brag a lot. He thinks he’s tougher than he actually is, and he’d do anything to impress my uncle.” I swallow hard, wiping my tears with the palm of my hand. “He will be a part of this war if it means cementing his place within the mob.” Even as I speak the words, I shudder.

“It’s okay. I promise you never have to go back there.”

“I’m as good as dead if I do,” I whisper. “My uncle would never forgive me for this.”

“You never have to worry about that. Not ever. You’re under my protection, and the NOLA Rebels. We protect our own.”

“Those men don’t even know me,” I stammer.

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