Page 18 of Priest
“Nope, I had a thing for Dean. What happened was tragic. Too many artists fall prey to fame, glitz, and glamour. It’s sad and horrible that the media was making Lucien out to be the bad guy. I’m glad that got straightened out.” It totally did piss me off that their then manager was throwing Lucien under the bus to absolve himself of any wrongdoing. The manager was a forty-plus-year-old man and was supposed to be looking out for the group’s best interests, but instead was plying them with drugs and alcohol.
“Demon is going to love you. His wife, Sofia, is a lawyer, and she’s wonderful. They have a little boy too. They named him Dean,” Camille says, a softness in her eyes. “Demon will never forget the day his best friend died, but Sofia makes his life better, and Dean is a blessing.”
“And his latest stuff is awesome,” I state, looking to Priest, “Don’t you think?”
“Demon’s the shit, babe,” he responds, then leans in to kiss my lips. “Just like you are.”
* * *
Priest
The apartment is like a revolving door, and I’m getting irritated. One brother leaves, and another shows up. Quinn is all smiles and welcoming, but she must be getting tired. Yesterday was intense, and I was hoping for a quiet day where we could hang on the couch, watch movies, and make out.
I feel like a randy teenager. It sounds stupid when I say it in my head considering we’ve done a fuck of a lot more than kiss, but I want to treat Quinn right. I shudder at the thought of what I could have found at the hospital. Seeing her half reclining on the sofa, laughing at Gabby’s advice on fashion, makes me think that Lady Luck was smiling upon me. Gabby is Orion and Vi’s little girl. She’s a little doll with a big personality, like her mother. Vi was the first woman to get involved with a Satan’s Pride member. She met Orion and fell for him the first time she served him coffee.
Unfortunately, Orion’s past experience almost broke them apart. Once they got past that part, they were golden, and little Gabby came along. I guess the apple didn’t fall far from the tree in this case. Vi is Ava’s best friend, and the two of them are closer than any sisters, but where Ava is more pensive, Vi is impetuous. Ava owns a dance studio and is into the arts, and Vi is a fashionista with an online jewelry business that is now being carried in four states.
Yet Quinn is taking it all in stride. We’ve had War and Maddie drop in with Demon and Sofia and their brood with gift baskets, magazines, and chocolate. Saint stopped by with his wife, Izzy, who brought flowers. Saint took a look at Quinn’s wrist and head and declared that she’s well on the mend.
Then Risk and Hanna came over with their kid, Romeo. Hanna brought fresh homemade strawberry custard tarts from her bakery and coffee for us. Although Quinn liked them all, she seemed to have connected with Hanna the most. Hanna has a quiet strength, very unobtrusive, and has a smile on her face every time I see her. She and Quinn were huddled in a deep chat while Romeo was wrestling me to the ground. Romeo’s getting stronger, and with Risk around to guide him right, that kid’s won the parent lottery.
We hardly said goodbye when Roscoe and Willow appear, along with Wildcard and Charlotte. When Quinn begins to stand, I call out, “No way, babe. You need to rest. You stay right there. We’ll come to you.”
“I’m fine,” Quinn replies, but I can hear the tiredness in her voice. I want to kick everyone out and tell them to come back tomorrow, but I have a feeling that Quinn wouldn’t be pleased. I give a silent look to my Pride brothers, and they understand me immediately. Roscoe gives me a chin jerk and Wildcard gives a quick nod.
“We’re not here for long,” Wildcard declares, and Charlotte links her arm in his.
She falls in line with Wildcard’s statement and keeps their visit a short one. “We just wanted to drop by and meet you.” She steps forward and holds out her hand. “I’m Charlotte. Charli to my friends, so please call me Charli,” she says brightly.
“I’m Willow.” Willow wiggles her fingers. “This is Roscoe. I’m sure you’ve heard all about these two.” She points her thumbs toward the men. “We’re their cuter half.” She laughs, while Roscoe slings an arm around her shoulders.
“You’re better than cute, firebrand,” Roscoe says, softening his tone.
“Please stay,” Quinn says. “I promise I won’t move from this spot.” She looks straight at me and does a little pout.
“Babe.”
“We came to offer an invitation. Saturday afternoon, barbecue at the club, then we party when the kids are home in bed,” Wildcard says.
“That sounds like fun,” Quinn answers, then looks at me. “Are we going?”
“Sure thing,” I reply.
When she gives me her brilliant smile, I would give her the world. She drops her head on the arm of the sofa, cushioned by a royal-blue throw pillow. I toss a glare in Wildcard’s direction. The ass snickers before hustling his girl to the door.
“We’re out of here,” Wildcard says, raising his hands in mock surrender. Roscoe lets out a chuckle, and by the time they turn to offer their goodbyes, Quinn is fast asleep.
I could kick myself for letting it get so out of hand today. When her cell phone begins to ring, I rush to grab it to stop it from waking her up. The screen shows Bethany’s name, so I decide to answer.
“Hey,” I say. I’m surprised when a male voice comes through the line.
“Who’s this?” a curt voice asks.
“Name’s Priest,” I respond.
“Christ! Thank God it’s you. This is Frankie. I was at the club that night.”
“Yeah. You and your band are solid, man.”
