Page 157 of Beast: Part Two

He grins. “I become partners with one of the most powerful men in the world. You see, unlike Corbyn, I have always admired the Church. But I won’t lie as if it doesn’t have its flaws. For instance, the no outside connections thing is stupid.”

“I agree,” I admit.

“Good, then we’re on the same accord. You will run the Church. I will make sure you have total and full control over the organization. I will even supply you with the means to find legitimate cash flow. But I want it gutted. Take it down to its studs and rebuild it. I believe you are the only man that can do that.”

“I’m hearing you. And I’m for a change in the Church. But I’m no dummy. No one does anything like that without wanting something in return.”

Dominique shrugs. “I want what anyone in my world would want. Complete access.” He held up a hand to stop me. “Don’t worry, no women and children bullshit.” He spins the ring on his finger subconsciously. It looks like one of those old class rings. In the center of the red stone is a capital R with a thorny crown.

“In my circle, I meet some of the most dangerous people in the world. People that would watch the world burn just for money and respect. I am offering a partnership. I give you the true scums of the earth and you run the Church.”

There is no mystery that the Royal Crown has access to people that I’ll never have. And I know what money and power can cause people to do. However, what he’s asking won’t be easy.

“How would this work? Trying to take down the Church is like trying to take down the Royal Crown.”

“You can do it, but Nathaniel Otella has to die.”

“What?”

“In order for this to work, you have to become someone else. That means leaving everything behind, if only for a short while. We will give you a name and put you in front of the Royal Crown. But no one can know. Not even those you trust.”

“How long?” I ask. How long am I supposed to leave behind everyone I love?

Dominique shrugs. “I don’t know. Could be months, could be up to a year or more. It depends on you and how persuasive you are.”

I’m silent as I think this over. Now is not the time to disappear. My boys need me. My son needs me, and leaving Fem would damn near kill me.

“I’m going to give you time to think it over,” Dominique says, getting to his feet. “But know this. You need to make a choice, Nathaniel. A hard one. How important is running the Church to you?”

When I left that office, I was pretty sure I was going to turn the role down. But I thought of changes I could make not only for my boys, but my grandkids, and future kids that would come into the organization. The morning I got up to hold that meeting before we went after Corbyn, I had already made my decision.

“What the fuck, Priest?” Zel shouts.

“You were dead,” Gabriel says. “We buried you.”

“We fucking mourned you,” Lucien adds.

The room is in an uproar, and although I know my sons are hurting and deserve my attention, my sight stays on Fem. The tears streaming down her face with the anger in her eyes tell me I have a lot of explaining to do.

“How about,” Summer says, interrupting everyone. “Trina, you take all the kids outside and let the guests know there will be a slight delay.”

Trina rounds up the kids. She takes little Nathaniel from Hawk. Gabe takes Charlie’s hand and leads him out of the room. Emory carries her brother out. Only one left is little Zel still strapped to Ari’s chest. I wait until the kids are all gone before I speak.

“Where do I start?”

“Why?” Fem asked. “Why would you do that to us?”

Sighing, I quickly fill them in on mine and Dominique’s conversation.

“So you had to fake your death? You couldn’t just disappear?” Zel fumes. “We were lost without you.” He pounds his fist in his open palm.

“I didn’t fake my death,” I explain. “Not fully. In that operating room, I died. Twice actually. But doc is a very talented man, and Dominique’s a very powerful one. By the time we went to that fundraiser to attack Corbyn, I had already notified Dominique of my decision. He made the call to Doc the moment I was shot. He knew it was the best time to make me disappear. When I woke up, you had already buried the silicon body replica.”

“It looked just like you,” Fem argues.

“It should’ve. Dominique got some of the best in the industry to create it. It had to look as if I was truly dead.”

“If that’s the case, what have you been doing all this time?” Hawk asks.

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