Page 49 of Priest

Kyte stood and danced to a Megan Thee Stallion song that someone had turned on. Not long after she’d started dancing by herself, Jagged had come and pulled Bell up from her seat and said he needed her to come show him something. I could tell by the wicked smirk on his face, the gleam in his eyes, and the way Bell had giggled what that something might be. They were a cute couple, and he adored her.

I glanced around and saw Priest in the corner talking to a few of his men. He wore a serious expression, but that was nothing out of the norm. More often than not, he had that brooding thing going on like he was pissed at the world, for only God knew what.

I stood up and was about to head in his direction when Cheekz popped up from behind him. She said something to him that caused him to nod and then turn in her direction. He held up one finger to her, said something to his men, and then turned and left with her.

I hated the jealousy that filled my heart because it wasn’t like he was my man. Hell, he had pointed that out himself last week when she and I had both been vying for his attention in our own way. Yet, I couldn’t ignore that she could so easily pull him away no matter what was going on. Nor could I ignore how sheswitched her hips just a little bit harder as he followed her up the stairs, knowing that he watched her ass.

“Chill the hell out, September. That’s not your man, and you’ll be gone soon,” I muttered.

It wasn’t lost on me that these exact feelings of envy that I was dealing with would be something I would have to deal with when I was with Daniel. I had gone to his home for a few parties on several occasions with my father. Although I was in attendance as his fiancée, I had seen him flirt with and even disappear on a few occasions with several different women. I thought again about Priest’s reference to how I would just be an addition to Daniel’s harem. The more I thought about it, the more I knew he wasn’t wrong. I had just conveniently decided to ignore the truth.

The more I thought about that, the more I knew I wanted something different for my life. I didn’t owe my father shit. For so long, I had lived with the mentality that I did, and I agreed with whatever he wanted, just to make him happy. But making my daddy happy meant giving up my identity and my belief in love to ensure that he could expand his empire. I had gone along with it, and I was only two months away from my wedding.

The tumultuous thought of a confrontation with my father filled me. But I knew what I had to do. I wouldn’t marry Daniel Usher, no matter how much money was at stake. I wanted a life of my own where I called the shots. I wanted a life where I could be free to find someone who loved me, protected me, and made my body come alive… the way Priest did. I could take care of myself financially, but I needed someone to love me and make me feel special and that life with them was worth living. I wouldn’t have that with Daniel, and I no longer wanted to settle.

I was overwhelmed with frustration. All my life, men dictated what should and would happen to me, and my feelings weren’t considered. Even in this situation with Priest, he dictated what Iwore, when I could come or go, and when I would leave to return home. I was sick of it all.

I had no idea what would make him kidnap me just to prove a point to my father. There were several ways that he could have done that without taking me. Something was fucked up in his head, and I wanted no part of it. Normal men didn’t kidnap women and keep them chained, only to release them when they wanted sex.

I was nothing more than a toy for Priest. That much was evident. He was so damn fine and good-looking he could have any woman that he wanted. That much was evident in how the club whores vied for his attention and how Cheekz was willing to fight for it. I needed to get away from here, but I needed a clear mind and heart to formulate another plan. I would have to do it while I wasn’t caught up in the lust and sexual chemistry that existed between us.

I grabbed my drink and headed for the clubhouse door. I saw Knuckles dancing with a couple of women, and I lifted my drink to him and smiled. He waved, smiled, and kept dancing. I walked outside into the dark night where there was laughter, loud talking, and the potent smell of reefer in the air. The music spilled outside, too, but it wasn’t quite as loud. People could honestly hear themselves speak without the need to shout.

Loneliness washed over me, and I wished that I was at home with my best friend, Phaedra. I glanced around and knew that I couldn’t escape. I would have to walk through the gates of the MC to get away, and they were manned by some of the prospects. I hated how Priest had ignored me since our arrival. He had sent me to get something to eat and drink and hadn’t attended to me since. That was always the case whenever we came here. It was like a different man than the one I encountered at the cabin.

I took a few steps away from the building and wandered off to the side. I stared up at the beautiful, inky black sky above withthe twinkling stars. It was more beautiful out here away from the city, without its light pollution.

“Hey, princess. Where you think you’re going?” I heard from behind me.

I turned to see a group of three men walking toward me. Two of them were smoking a joint, but the main man held a lighted cigarette between his lips.

“Nowhere,” I muttered.

“Damn right about that. Priest would have a fucking fit if you escaped on our watch,” the man replied. “Get yo’ little ass back here,” he demanded.

The man reached out and grabbed my arm, and I snatched it back.

“You don’t have to touch me to make sure that I don’t go anywhere. I said that I wasn’t leaving.”

“Baby, shiddd. Touching you ain’t all we wanna do,” the second man responded.

“Hell yeah. Walking around in them tight-ass jeans all the time. I wanna see what Priest hiding from the rest of us. What you covering up, girl?” the first man remarked.

“Y’all chill the fuck out. Don’t need no problems from Priest over the princess,” the third man commented.

“Shit, she’s gonna be gone soon. Don’t think I won’t come find your ass,” the first man replied.

He reached out again and gripped my hip. I jerked back and stumbled before I fell to the ground. The third man, who had acted as a somewhat savior, reached out his hand, but the other two shoved him aside and stood over me. Their faces blurred, and I was immediately thrust back six years ago to the age of sixteen.

“Please, just take whatever it is that you want, but don’t hurt us.”

“Bitch, we already got what we want. You ain’t gotta offer us shit. We’re taking it.”

“Noo!” I screamed as I tried to jerk away from the two men who held me back.

“Be your ass still before we put a bullet in your noggin.”

“Don’t hurt her!” my mother screamed. That outburst earned her a backhand from the leader of the three men. I watched in cruel disbelief as her lip split, and then her entire mouth swelled when he hit her again and again.

---