Page 61 of The Dirty Saint

“I’ve never felt this way for anyone, Ezra. At least, not since I swore off relationships. I don’t know what I’m doing. I only know how to hurt people. But I don’t want to keep hurting you.”

Then don’t.

“Then don’t,” I say. “Look, there are plenty of people who have taken things from me without my permission, but tonight, I gave you what so many others wish they could have been given.”

I grip his hand.

“I don’t regret a single moment of what we just did. In fact, if I had to do it again, I would. Becausethis, this made me happy. And I can’t remember the last time I felt that way.”

A tear slides down my cheek, and Joey uses his finger to swipe it away.

“Ezra.”

I look at him. “I can’t have you thinking that I am unable to make decisions for myself. I am a grown woman. I know what I want. And tonight, I wanted you.”

14

Chapter Fourteen

After

EZRA

“Ezra—”

“Stop talking,” I say as I pull out a chair across from my rapist’s father. “Otherwise, I’ll come over there, and I’ll break all of your fingers.”

Michael’s facial expression remains stone-cold.

So does mine.

“I know you sent Killian to my house.”

“I have zero clue what you’re talking about,” he says, looking me in the eye. “But I’m glad to hear that Mr. Morago is doing well.”

Before he can react, I grab the side of his head and bang it against the wall. As he goes to scream, I clamp my hand over his mouth to stop him.

“What did I say about talking,” I demand.

“I—”

“Oap. You did it again.” I slam his head against the wall a second time. He growls at me. “Maybe now you’ll start to think twice about disobeying my orders.”

Tears gather in the corner of Michael’s eyes, but he keeps them in.

“You see,Michael, I don’t appreciate people from my past breaking into my home to get to my son. It makes my mama-bear claws come out. I’m sure, as a parent, you can relate to those feelings.”

A wave of sorrow hits the bastard, nearly knocking him off balance.

“I—”

“I wasn’t done speaking. Anyhow, the next time you decide to send some psychopath after me and my child, I will come here, and I won’t hesitate to destroy you. I will make your life sofuckingpainful that you will bebeggingme to end it, but instead, I’ll torture you some more just to get a kick out of it. Because, Michael, theminuteyou involved my child is theexactminute I turned into a raging monster who can’t feel anything but deep,deephatred. Call it my alter ego, if you will.”

I sit back down in the chair and cross my arms over my chest. My heart is hollering inside me, but I pay it no attention.

“You continue to fuck with my life, and I will end yours before you can blink your fucking eyes. And that is a promise.”

“I just wanted to get a chance to know my only grandchild,” he whispers.

---