Page 31 of These Sinful Kingdoms

When I knocked on the door, Kingston answered, a stern looks on his face as he scanned the street behind me. He just nodded, a man of few words, and stepped aside to let me in.

Aurora sat at a dining table, watching Fabian play some game on a blow-up mattress on the floor with a young man I had never seen before.

Luca held a hand up in greeting as he saw me and when Aurora met my eyes, I felt the same jolt of desire and longing I always did around her.

“Hi, Caleb. Thank you for coming.” She said as I made my way towards her, unsure what to do. Being in this setting had me feeling like a fish out of water. I was in casual clothes, just like any other man, and yet my title and position hung like a proverbial cross above my head.

“Father D’Angelo!” Fabian said as he saw me, a smile lighting up his face. I don’t know why the kid liked me so much, but I wasn’t going to complain.

“Hey, Fabian. How are you?” I asked, heading straight to Fabian instead. He was the reason she had asked me here and I knew if I got down on his level, he was more likely to talk.

The game would serve as a distraction and from the looks of the man playing with him, he was someone Fabian trusted and felt comfortable with.

“I guess I am alright. Did Mom tell you about Jasper?” He glanced at me, and I could have sworn everyone in the room stiffened, waiting for his response.

I glanced behind me to see Kingston and Luca were busying themselves in the kitchen, Aurora seemingly reading a book with a glass of wine, so it didn’t seem like she was watching but I knew they were all listening to every word.

“Yes. I thought I would stop by and see how you are.” Fabian nodded, mumbling something to the man next to him about his weapon of choice in the game, and was silent for a while.

“He said he wants to take me away and that because he is my dad, he can do that. I don’t want to go with him. He isn’t a nice man.” He said softly and the silence from the others behind us told me that they were going to rally.

I knew what Luca and Kingston were capable of, I had known Luca since he was a young kid himself. Jasper returning and threatening to take Fabian was going to cause issues.

“I am sure that has made you feel worried but rest assured Fabian. He may be your dad, but he cannot take you just because he wants to. He has to go through a lot of effort just to be able to see you and if he does it the wrong way, which is what he is doing right now, that will make it harder. You don’t have to go with him.” I said, hoping he would understand.

My heart broke for the boy, I knew what Alonso had done. How he used Fabian against Aurora as a bargaining chip. He had been through too much already and knowing him since he was a baby, I felt an odd sense of anger towards Jasper, wanting to protect Aurora and her family from the monsters that had ruled their lives.

“I guess so. I just didn’t feel safe in school. I have seen him around a few times this week, watching and waiting. He mentioned something about Uncle Nicolo helping him.” He glanced at Aurora, clearly, he hadn’t told her that bit of information yet.

I watched Luca’s jaw tick as he stared at us, Kingston’s eyes dark with rage but it was Aurora’s fear that pulled at me.

“Fabian. You know you are safe here. They might say they want to do these things, but they can’t.” I felt like I was lying to the boy. He more than anyone knew the men in this world took what they wanted.

“Maybe. Hey Kenji, do you want to finish off that code tonight? I think I have solved the problem we were having last night.” Fabian said, effectively shutting me off from the conversation.

Kenji smiled at me before he switched off the game.

“Sure thing, superstar. Show me what you have.” He followed Fabian to his room, talking to him about things that sounded way too advanced for my liking.

I guessed he was in his early twenties, and I was curious who the man was. Was he another lover of Aurora’s? The idea of that sent a surge of pure jealousy through me, fueled by the sight of Luca kissing Aurora and whispering to her that it would be alright.

“Kingston and I are making pasta. Would you like to stay for dinner, Caleb?” Luca asked, his arm still around Aurora.

“Sure. I would be honored.” I said, sitting at the table across from her.

“Do you drink wine?” He asked and I huffed out a laugh.

“Yes. I may be a priest, but I am permitted some indulgences.” He grinned, shrugging as he poured me a glass.

“Hey. I personally think priests should be allowed to indulge at all times, after all, how else are you supposed to know what sin feels like?” He said with a wink before looking at Aurora and then down at the book she was reading. It was then I noticed the title. Priest.

“What is your book about?” I asked, curious as to why she would be reading something religious. Kingston and Luca both chuckled in the kitchen as Aurora turned bright red, pushing the book aside and taking a long swallow of her wine.

“Oh, it’s a romance novel.” She said sheepishly and that got my attention. I made a note of the cover and author to check out later, wanting to know exactly what kind of romance novel she was reading that was called Priest.

“How are you feeling?” I asked her, giving her the change in subject she clearly wanted.

Sighing, she sat back in her chair and pinched the bridge of her nose.

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