Page 38 of Please Save Me

Sebastian was at the top of the list of people I didn’t think should own a gun. But knowing he had it right now was comforting. He was crazy enough to kill, and that could come in handy.

Dale cleared his throat, and the church went quiet. Sebastian’s hand remained on his firearm.

“Devoted followers of Christ.” Dale’s baritone draw filled the sanctuary like ice water, causing my skin to prickle. “Today, I come to you as not only a man of God but a devoted father.”

“That’s your fucking dad?” Lucian’s hushed tone reminded me of more of a growl than a whisper.

My mouth was far too dry to speak, so I slowly nodded once.

“For years, I have let my son get away with being an absolutedisappointment.” Dale continued.

Instantly, Lucian tried to get up. It wasn’t often that I was rough with Luce, but I used every ounce of strength that I had to keep him anchored in place. I had no idea what was going on, but I had a feeling a hot-headed outburst would do more harm than good.

“But after years of not only letting me down but failing everyone in this congregation, I think it’s only fair we set things straight.”

The weight of Dale’s words threatened to suffocate me.

“Hey!” Lucian barked. “Shut the fuck–”

My hand clamped over his mouth to prevent him from digging this hole any deeper. Lucian looked up at me with contempt, but he was the least of my worries. I could deal with pissing Lucian off. But I couldn’t risk anything. Not with Dale doing… whatever this was.

Dale’s gaze bore into mine as if he were dissecting me, waiting for me to stop him or plead for his forgiveness. But I wasn’t going to do that, not this time.

Dale smirked as he turned away to face the congregation again.

“As of today, Father Cole will no longer be welcomed in the walls of Saint Sameal’s.”

Chapter 12

Cameron

“As of today, Father Cole will no longer be welcomed in the walls of Saint Sameal’s.”

Dale’s words echoed through my mind like gunfire. When they were first said, I thought it was just Dale trying to get a reaction. But, somehow, that wasn’t the case.

I’d chased Dale down after service and demanded an explanation. Instead, all he did was tell me just how I’d been fucking up for years. To Dale, I was fat, stupid, past my prime, and an all-around waste of his time. He told me he had misplaced his faith, and while it wasn’t my fault, at my core, I wasn’t the man he thought I’d be–The man he needed to help spread his message. And because of that, Dale was done with me.

After stealing twenty-three years of my life, Dale was done with me. That should have taken the weight of the world off my shoulders. Instead, my newfound freedom left me paranoid.

There’s no way in Hell that Dale was just letting me go. He once told me that not even death could free me from his grasp. He spent years slaughtering my partners for no reason other than me getting them pregnant. I didn’t buy it, not for one second.

I had backed myself into a corner. The only person I could actually talk to about any of this was Sebastian. He was the only one who knew my actual identity, and I wanted to keep it that way. But I had no idea what transpired between him and Dale.

Also, I had a feeling that I’d have more luck trying to get struck by lightning than getting Sebastian to talk. So, before heading home, I stopped by the liquor store to get something to calm my nerves. I ended up grabbing a bottle of whisky that reminded me of one that my pa always had in the liquor cabinet. I’d take drinks of it and refill it with flat cola so I didn’t get caught.

This time, I could drink the whole thing, and no one could stop me. It was my birthday, which meant it was my right to get so drunk I couldn’t remember today. When I pulled up to the house, everyone’s cars were in the driveway, and the world was eerily silent. The wind rustled through half-dead leaves, but that was it.

I checked my watch and saw that it was almost three p.m. Jas and Juni were probably finishing their naps, and the adults were enjoying their last moments of peace. That thought made me feel a little guilty for missing it. The kids were a lot of time, but I realized this season of life would end the second we welcomed Rosie.

My lips quivered into a smile, and I knew if the worst came and I had to leave… they’d be okay. But if Dale wasn’t planning something, and he was actually giving me my life back, this was a life I could happily live forever.

Cameron Cole was the thirteenth name I had taken, and it was by far my favorite, which was exactlywhyDale had to be planning something.

I squeezed my eyes shut as I breathed in through my nose and out through my mouth. I was working myself up over something that hadn’t even happened yet. There was no way to tell if Dale was being honest about letting me go, so I just had to wait it out. Unfortunately, I wasn’t a patient man.

Still, sitting in my truck and avoiding my family wouldn’t make time fly any faster. So, I grabbed my bag from the liquor store and headed inside.

At least once I was inside, I wouldn’t have to go back out—at least, that’s what I thought until I stepped into the foyer.

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