Page 41 of Beast: Part Two

He looks at Emory before turning back to me. “I want to be brave like Hulk.”

“Being able to fight doesn’t make you brave.”

“I know,” he says pushing out his little chest. “But I want to learn so that I can be brave and I won’t have to hide when something bad happens to mommy.”

My heart goes out to him. I know the feeling of being unable to save or help someone you love. It’s how I felt when I walked in on my mother lying on my kitchen floor. Watching her body slowly shrink due to the cancer ravaging her was one of the most helpless moments I’ve ever felt. So, I can imagine how terrified Gabe felt in that moment with Summer. Although, me nor his father would have allowed him to do anything in that situation, I understand his need to learn.

“Alright,” I say standing up straight. “If you want to learn how to fight, I will teach you.”

He cheers. While Emory does the sign for excitement.

“But you have to take it seriously. Both of you,” I turn to include Emory even though I know she doesn’t need any lessons. However, it will help Gabe catch on faster if he has Emory here to learn with him.

“You will meet me here every single day at this time. No excuses, okay?”

They both agree.

“Hand me that knife,” I say taking the Bowie from him. “We don’t learn to fight with weapons yet.” I hand the blade to Emory.

She picks up a yellow stuffed rabbit off the ground, twists its head off, and then places her blade down into the body of the rabbit.

“Can we start today?” Gabe asks, getting my attention back.

I shrug. “We sure can.”

“Yes!” he cheers.

“If we do this, we have to keep it between us. I’ll tell your mother and father eventually.”

I doubt Beast will mind me teaching his son how to protect himself, but I can imagine Summer wouldn’t quite understand.

“Okay, papa Priest. Can I get a nickname too?”

Placing a hand on his shoulder I shake my head. “Nicknames are earned,” I told him. “But I promise, when you’ve earned it, I’ll give you one.”

With his chin up and his chest out, Gabe nods making me feel prouder than I’ve felt in a long time. I loved my boys, and they have made me proud more times than I can count. However, it was something about seeing the children of my boys do great things that made me feel ten feet taller.

“Alright, the first lesson you need to learn is whenever you walk into a room, you need to check for all the exits.”

After nearly twenty-plus years, I finally had my new class of Deacons.

chapter Eleven

Records’ Keeper

Beast

Iwatch her from my spot in the kitchen. She’s laughing at something Hawk’s wife says. She seems to find her funny. I notice that Brooklyn makes Summer laugh often.

I watch the way Summer moves while cradling her arm. She’s being very cautious of moving it wrong. She reaches for a cookie Twin’s wife tries to hand her. Her brow pinches slightly as she leans back in the barstool.

Climbing up from my seat, the room suddenly goes silent. It does that whenever I enter or move too quickly. I don’t let it get to me.

“They fear you,”the demon taunts.“Show them why they should fear you. Start with that bitch of a baby mother of yours.”I stop walking as I shut my eyes to quiet the voice in my head.

The demon laughs.“Let me out, Gabriel. Let me free.”

“No,” I growl.

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