Teo turned me around, his hands on my shoulders, and smiled. “Listen, A. You know your friend down there is just gonna agitate ’til he gets his own way. And I was there with you at the apartment. I saw how worried you were, and you’re right tobeworried. I am, too. And besides…” He gave a frown. “If they’re coming after you at your own place, seems to meyou’rethe intended target, right? Definitely not Mr. D.”
I gave a faint croak. That point had not occurred to me until Teo said it. But he was right. Finch had never been to my apartment. In fact, I didn’t think Finch even knew where I lived. So there was no reason for would-be assassins to be anywhere near my place, let alone break into it.
Someone was clearly afterme.
“So let me come along with you tonight,” Teo urged me. “You won’t even know I’m there. I’ll sit outside, wait in the car. It would make my life a hell of a lot easier with Mr. D,” he added with a wink. On my shoulders, his fingers moved, almost a caress. Then he struck the killing blow. “And it would make me happy if you’d let me.”
“Yes, alright.”
Teo smiled again, really smiled this time, and it felt like a reward.
* * *
Teo wasas good as his word that night, although he insisted on letting me out of the car and keeping me close again as we crossed the road to Father Raphael’s house. But once the door opened to me, Teo melted away with a promise to be waiting.
He was as subtle as he could be, but Father Raphael still sent a frown after Teo as he walked back to his car. “I believe that young man is a member of the Morelli Family. Is that right?”
“He is, Father, but—”
“Ihadhoped you would be thinking more seriously about what we’ve discussed previously, Aidan,” Father Raphael sighed. He walked me into to his home study, where we had been conducting our discussions.
“I have,” I promised. “But…” I trailed off as I took a seat opposite him at the desk.
“But?”
I’d tried before, but I felt compelled to try again. “Father, I just don’t see why I should turn my back on these people. I couldhelpthem. And they are—despite appearances—decent people at their hearts. I truly believe that.”
Father Raphael gave me a patient smile. “I don’t doubt that the Lord works through all manner of men and women. That is not my issue—although I also believe on a personal level that your liking for them has blinded you to their darker deeds.”
He was probably right there, I had to admit. I did like them very much. All of them.
“But,” Father Raphael went on, “as a priest, you represent the Church. And the Church must not be brought into disrepute.”
“I understand, Father,” I muttered.
He reached across to pat my hand. “Understand, Aidan, that I believe you have the potential to be an incredible influence. A force for good. Your work with gay youth—”
“LGBTQIA-plus,” I substituted quickly. Father Raphael was trying, but he wasn’t always up with the latest lingo.
“—yes. Them. Your work with them has been simply outstanding. We want more of that, and less of the, well, organized crime association. Don’t we?”
“Yes, Father,” I said. I could have trotted out theJesus hung with sinnersline, but I’d tried it before. I’d pointed out that the seminarian handbook said it was important for priests to relate well with others, to minister to people of all different backgrounds. It hadn’t made any difference, and Father Raphael had made his views on the Morelli Family very clear. As long as they were intentionally living in their sinful states, it was not seemly for me to continue my friendship with them.
The problem was, I just couldn’t bring myself to cut Finch off. He truly was my friend, even though he’d attempted earlier that day to make me a sort of house prisoner. I knew he meant well. And as for Teo…well, I liked to think we were becoming friends as well.
“Now, tell me,” Father Raphael went on. “What was the ruckus at Our Lady last night? I hear that you asked security around to have a look around the place?”
“Oh—I—” My mind, which had been on Teo, went unhelpfully back to the sight of his butt as he mounted the stairs. “It was nothing, really.”
But Father Raphael was still staring at me expectantly. What exactly could I tell him? That some vagrant had threatened me, cut me with a knife? That God had sent a hardened criminal to protect me? That I still wasn’t sure why I’d been targeted in the first place?
“Well?” Father Raphael asked impatiently.
“Just a homeless man who wandered in, but he left without incident. And also, the security cameras were accidentally turned off last night. I wanted to make sure the grounds were secure.”
He nodded. “Very wise. Crime in this city seems to be increasing. Mob wars, that Central Park Slayer business—even Father Benedict. It was his association with criminal elements that tainted his soul. Something for you to keep in mind, Aidan.” He gave me a significant look over the top of his glasses. “Now, there’s something else I wanted to let you know. I really do think you’ve been an excellent example in the community, despite your—well, proclivities.”
“My proclivities?” I gave him a blank look.
