Page 133 of Priest and his Anarchist

“Who are you?” I ask, noticing the scar across his neck at someone’s failed assassination attempt. When the collar of his shirt shifts down, showcasing the vine of black roses, I know. “Archer Thorn. Heard a lot about you.”

Smoke leaves his mouth. “We don’t have to do this since we’re going to be seeing so much more of each other in the future.” Not sure what the fuck he means by that, but okay. “Give the girl to me.”

“Not happening.”

“Priest,” Dad cuts in behind me, and I turn to see both him and my mom.

She nods, and I swing back to Archer. “You trust him?”

Dad’s arm brushes mine. “Yes. One day, you’ll know why, and it’ll be your turn to do the very same, and he you.” He turnsto me. “I don’t agree with this, but if it’s what you want to do, we’ll try it.”

I find Archer again. “Will you hurt her?”

“Why do you care?”

“Will you hurt her?”

He holds my stare. “No. She will be safe in Thornhill. I will train her, frighten her, do whatever it is that you would like me to do. But what is the purpose of this?”

I am not sure anymore.

“A game. Where she’s the prey, and every time she’s caught—” My fingers find the silk in my pocket. “You tie this around her neck.”

“That’s all?”

“Do you have triggers?” I ask, purposely looking to his throat.

His lips curve. “No. I ran out of bullets killing them all.”

I laugh, but my lips don’t move. “She does.”

Present

With the Gentlemen brewing, collecting what they need for the war I have no doubt they’re going to try to hit us with, I can’t think of a better time.

“What happened to Danny Dale?” Archer asks, looking to his right-hand man, Belial.

“She killed him.”

Belial laughs, the tattoo on his face warping around his wide smile. He’d be pretty without all those tattoos.

Archer doesn’t find it half as funny. “And Jeremiah?” The mention of Danny’s best friend has me pausing.

“And him.”

Belial’s laughter gets louder. Fucking hyena.

Archer’s eyes glisten as if the words excite him. He steps closer, standing around my height and size, we could pass as brothers. “And Moses?”

I bare my teeth. “You already know what I’m going to say.”

“Darling killed them all?” Archer asks, his face pulling into one of confusion.

“No,” I answer, eyes narrowing on Belial as something or someone catches his attention behind me. “She only took out Moses, and it was a murder of convenience since I’m pretty sure he and his boys were there to kill me after finding out Luna took out his dad and his best friend.”

The silence that separates us is loud. I can hear the breathing down my back from River and the rest of them, as if they were listening too carefully.

Archer doesn’t smile when he whispers his next words. “Which one did you say wasn’t crazy enough for you?”

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