Page 354 of Vicious Saint
“No. There has to be another way.”
“There was another way, but you chose the wrong man.”
“Please. Don’t do this. Just give me a little more time.”
“The time for the negotiations and the begging is done. I’ve been patient enough for you. Moving forward, we do things my way. The right way.”
Warnings? Negotiations? Wrong man?
What the actual fuck?
And why is this guy referring to my mom as his flower?
And where thefuckis Vic?
“We truly apologize for the inconvenience.”
Ah, well. Speak of the righteous…and the righteous shall speak.
In repentance of course.
“Inconvenience?” The man laughs a cold, hard laugh. “Tell me, Mr. Lavell. Would your bible call a holy war an inconvenience?”
Holy war, holy shit.
Holy fucking hostility thickening by the second.
I look up at my buddy Joseph, happiest now more than ever knowing he’s the guy in charge of protecting.
“Should I go in there?” I mutter to the humongous piece of carved out stone. “Maybe try to de-escalate the situation?”
I swear he rolls his eyes a little.
“Poor choice of wording, I agree. But you, out of all people, should understand the importance of Hendrix maintaining mental and emotional stability.”
I don’t know why what Vic just said sends a shiver down my spine, but it does and I can’t shake it.
“This never would be an issue if I did what I should have done eighteen years ago. But no, I respect your wife’s wishes and keep-ehmy distance.”
It’s like an invisible punch knocks the wind straight out of me, and I have to grip onto Joseph to stop from toppling over.
Eighteen years.
I mean…could just be a timely coincidence.
Right?
Oh, Joey, please let me be right.
Please don’t let this man be who I think he is.
“And I always appreciated it…” Mom clarifies. “But I still don’t want Hendrix to be a part of your family.”
Another punch, and this time, not even Joseph can stop me from hitting the floor.
No.
No.
