Page 82 of Savage

Father Vitale’s words caught me off guard as I stared through the screen, and this time, instead of seeing his profile, I could’ve sworn he was staring right at me.

“Yes.”

“This is the same man you saved?”

I opened my mouth to deny it, but then reminded myself whom I was talking to. “Yes. I know things are too complicated to be with him, and yet I can’t seem to make myself stay away.”

Father Vitale nodded and looked away, once again giving me his stoic profile. “Sometimes God presents us with difficult choices. Ones that test us, tempt us, and make us examine our lives. What you have to ask yourself iswhyyou feel guilty about being with this man.”

“It’s not so much about being with him. But wanting to share parts of my life, the parts that aren’t just mine, with someone I shouldn’t.”

“Will sharing those parts hurt anyone? Will it hurt you? Or will livingwithouthim hurt more?”

As the question lingered in the air, I thought back to the gorgeous man I’d left in my bed, the one who’d come to this city to find justice for his friend, and I couldn’t imagine Cooper going out of his way to hurt anyone, let alone me.

The real question was, would my fellow kings believe that?

“Thank you, father,” I said. “This is all I can remember. I am sorry for these and all my sins.”

“I absolve you from your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. You are to say five Hail Marys as penance for your lies and give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. Go in peace, Lachlan.”

I nodded and said, “Amen,” before getting to my feet and leaving the booth.

A quick scan of the church placed Alessio in a pew on the opposite side of the aisle. I passed by my fellow brothers who were waiting for their turn with the priest and noticed the clenched fists resting on my best friend’s thighs.

As always, Alessio said nothing as I sat beside him, and I knew better than to even try to open up a conversation. Instead, we waited in silence, as one by one each of our brothers confessed their sins and emerged from the booth.

Once everyone was through and had joined us in the pew, Father Vitale exited and made his way over to us.

“You think God built him that tall so he could talk to him better?” Benoit asked, and Lucien snorted.

“That or he was just showing off.”

We all got to our feet as Father Vitale stopped by the group, and when his eyes fell to Alessio, everyone suddenly tensed.

“Alessio, will you be giving confession this evening?”

Alessio’s eyes cut to the priest’s, and the usual humor that sparked in their depths was more like a flat, emotionless void, as he said, “Not tonight,” just like every other night.

Father Vitale inclined his head, gracious as always despite Alessio’s surliness, then smiled at the rest of us. “Then I’ll say goodnight, and will look forward to seeing you next month.”

“Thank you, father,” King said. “We’ll see you then.”

As we turned and started up the aisle toward the secret passageway we’d entered through, I leaned in to my friend and said under my breath, “One of these days, you’re going to have to forgive him.”

I held open the door for Alessio, and as he passed through he looked me dead in the eye and said, “Yeah? Well, today is not that fucking day.”

27

COOPER

“YOU HAVE GOT to be kidding me,” I protested, staring at the blindfold in Lachlan’s hand. “I thought we were done with those.”

“You thought wrong.”

“But you gave me a tour. I already saw everything.”

Lachlan smirked. “Did you?”

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