Page 53 of Slay the Gay Away, Daddy

“Apparently there’s a hit on someone in our church,” I interject. “Someone’s supposed to die soon.”

“Someone just did,” he reminds me.

“What?” Meadows asks, his voice a bit more serious now. “Who died?”

“Oh, no you don’t,” I bark at him. “You outed my boyfriend in front of the entire church. You don’t get to play the doting boss now. You’re lucky I didn’t kidnap Pet just to get back at you.”

“No one touches Pet. Ever. Say it.”

I roll my eyes. “Why did you do it? What did Miles ever do to—”

“Dare,” Miles interrupts. “Baby, now isn’t the time for a villainous monologue. We’ve already got a villain we need to dispose of, this blood feud with Meadows is going to have to wait.” He clears his throat, his jaw tensing. “To be clear, though, Brother Meadows; you and I are going to tango.”

“Oh, Jesus,” I groan. “Daddy, he’s a killer. It’s probably not the best idea to threaten to beat him up.”

“I’m a surgeon and businessman,” Meadows corrects. “I don’t do the killing. I mean, I have, but that was just for fun.” Meadows pauses for a beat. “I don’t tango. I fucking foxtrot.” In the background, Pet moans against his ball gag. “That’s it, baby. Stroke it for me. Stroke it hard.”

“Oh, for the love of the Lord,” I sigh, flinging my hands in the air. “Meadows, my father is dead. I need your help cleaning it up.”

“Hold on. Just—just give me a second to—Fuck, yeah!” As he ejaculates—I’m assuming—his breathing quickens, and Pet moans even louder this time as Meadows repeatedly tells him what a good boy he is. Once it’s done, Meadows sighs contentedly. “So, your father is dead?”

“I just said he was, didn’t I?”

He snickers. “God, I love that sassy mouth of yours. Alright. I’m pissed at your boyfriend right now, and we’ll be discussing it later, but it seems luck is in your favor. Two of my best agents just got into town. I’ll send them over to help you with the body.”

“Bodies,” Mal says.

“Who the fuck is that?” Meadows barks. I probably should have told him she was on the line. I know he doesn’t like surprises.

“I’m Mallory fucking Brooks. Who the fuck are you?”

Jesus. Okay, well, apparently we’ve got Bonnie Badass on our side today.

“What do you meanbodies?” Miles asks.

“I pushed him,” my mom says, surprising us all. “That man. He was trying to hurt Darren.” Her voice is a whisper, and it seems to be filled with shame. She peeks up through her lashes, and she’s giving me a look I’ve never seen before. It’s apologetic and slightly sweet. If she would have given me any similar looks growing up, maybe it might make me feel for her. Right now, all I feel is twenty-plus years of pent-up anger. “I pushed him down the stairs.”

“His skull is cracked wide open,” Mal says. “The entire foyer is coated in blood. I think he hit the back of his head on the wall when he landed.”

“Too bad, so sad,” someone says in the background, and as soon as I hear it, a smile spreads across my face.

“Listen,” Meadows begins, but the sound of someone choking in the background distracts him. “Ah, hell. Pet, I already told you, if you want to eat my load after you jack me off, you need to tell me, and I’ll take out your gag. For fuck’s sake, you choke on my cum every single time. Bad boy.”

A few moments later, for the first time, I hear Pet’s voice. “I’m sorry, sir,” he says, his voice breaking from disuse. “I just wanted a taste.” He sniffles. “Please don’t be mad, Daddy.”

“Ah, fuck. Baby, don’t cry. You know what the fuck that does to me.” He sighs. “Matthews, I’m sending over two of our best to help. Then you and I are having a long, hard conversation when you get here.” Before I can respond, the call ends, and my insides spin with worry. Is he going to kill me? Is he firing me? He better fuck not. I’ll key his goddamn car if he tries. Well, not if he kills me. But I’ll haunt the motherfucker endlessly.

Everyone is looking at me like I’ve got all the answers, but I’m still reeling from having my father attempt to kill me, so I crawl into Daddy’s lap and hold him close.

“I don’t like this,” Mom says, and when I look up, she’s pointing at the pair of us. “I always knew Darren felt like he has . . .” She swallows. “Feelings for you, but I didn’t think you did too.”

“I didn’t,” Miles quickly says. “Not until he came home.” He cups my cheek, not taking his eyes off me. “I won’t apologize for falling in love with him, though. Not to you. Not even to God.” His forehead touches mine, and Jesus, it feels like he’s carved out our own little piece of heaven, right here on my bedroom floor, beside my dead dad’s body. “But I guess you’ve always been mine, haven’t you?” I don’t miss the way his cheeks darken. I know he still struggles with the fact I’ve known him all my life, but I don’t care. It’s not as if he’s groomed me for God’s sake. That’s been my job since coming home. Guiding him toward our shared goal, even if he didn’t remember that goal once his sleeping pills wore off.

“From the first time I saw you,” I admit.

Mom just sighs and holds her hands over her head in prayer, letting go and lifting it up to the Lord.

Ten minutes later, the front door opens and a triggered twink shrieks, “Oh, sweet, merciful Rinna, there are bits of brain everywhere!”

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