I kissed Phoenix on the forehead and stepped away, pulling out my phone from my pants pocket. Taking a deep breath, I hit Ric’s name on my phone and held it to my ear. It took a few rings before he answered.
“You wanted to talk to me so soon?” Ric never teased, but there was a lilt to his voice that gave me the impression he was amused.
I clutched the phone tighter in my hand and glanced at Phoenix, receiving an encouraging smile in response. “I need your help.”
“Say that again.” The smugness in his tone had me stiffening, but I kept calm.
“I need your help. Please, Ric.”
Ric’s laughter was the only answer I needed.
* * *
It washard to stare Ric straight in the eye, but I refused to look away from his sanctimonious grin. Even if he’d been right about me needing him eventually, I wasn’t going to be embarrassed by it. I’d helped the family more times than I could count, and without my church he would be knee-deep in cash he couldn’t easily get into his bank accounts to invest in the market.
“You made a mess.” He laughed and stared down at Perry’s quickly cooling body with interest. Behind him stood Toma, face twisted in disgust, and a few more of my cousins and their men. My brothers weren’t with them, and I was grateful for that small mercy. Even though they were part of the family business, I didn’t want them to see what I’d done after promising never to hurt again. I’d failed my oath, and the scary part was, I wasn’t sorry. Maybe Toma had been right all along and I was never meant to be a man of God.
“He’s my boy’s ex. He abused Phoenix and came here to bully him into going back. I defended what was mine.” I stood tall and unashamed, and Ric’s brows rose toward his hairline.
“What happened to kissing God’s ass?” Toma asked from behind Ric, sneering at me. “What? You found a nice place to plant your dick and now you’re forgetting your bullshit beliefs?”
I stepped forward, but Phoenix grabbed my elbow, holding me tight. I glanced at him and moved backward so I was against his side.
Ric held up his hand to Toma, who grunted. “Enough of this bickering, we’re family.” He stared behind me, and I checked over my shoulder to see Malachi standing there, hands clasped. Malachi smiled, and Ric’s eyes twinkled. It was... strange. There couldn’t be anything sexual happening there; Ric was straight. He’d never even glanced at another man and had more girlfriends than I could count.
“Are you going to help me?” I asked.
Ric focused on me and his grin turned cocky. “Depends,FatherGian. Are you going to stay in this church forever and be dependable?”
My shoulders slumped slightly. I should’ve expected the ultimatum. Everything he did for us wasn’t because we were his family, but rather because we served a purpose. “Yes, Ric. I will stay in this church as a priest for you andyourbusiness.”
He clapped his hands together. “Glad to hear it, little cousin.” He shifted forward to slap his palms on my shoulders, and I thought for a moment he was going to drag me into a hug. To my relief, he didn’t. We hadn’t been close since before the accident, because the moment he took over from his father as the head of the business, he’d changed. He’d hardened. While I understood why it happened, my cousin was no longer there for me when I needed him. I’d become a pawn to him, like the rest of our family. “Toma, as soon as it’s dark, you and the men take care of this body. I want it to disappear.”
“Disappear completely or disappear until we need to remind someone who they belong to?” Toma asked, staring at me intently.
“Completely.” Ric laughed. “And the car, too.”
Toma scrunched up his nose but didn’t argue.
“And what about him?” Ric asked, gesturing to Phoenix. “I was very specific about keeping him away from our business.”
“I won’t tell anyone,” Phoenix said. “I wouldn’t hurt Daddy like that. I love him and we’re in this together.” He slid his fingers into mine and held my hand tightly. “He killed to protect me, and I’d do the same for him if I had to.”
Ric narrowed his eyes on Phoenix before he smiled. “Good, because if you utter a word to anyone about us, you will join your ex.”
I gritted my teeth and held Phoenix’s hand tighter. “He won’t.”
Toma stalked nearer, and I pushed Phoenix behind me and let go of him as Toma got in my face. “Isn’t it funny, Gian, how you’re sogoodfor your God until it isn’t convenient?”
“Get out of my face,” I muttered quietly, jaw tight.
“No, I don’t think I will.” He poked my chest hard, and I took a step back, but he followed me. “You’re a coward, a fucking piece of shit. And him?” He glared at Phoenix. “He’s not even pretty, Gian. You could’ve done better than his ass.”
I’d heard enough. Something inside me snapped, the same part of me that had killed Perry, and I grabbed his shirt in my fists, shoving him. He managed to stay on his feet, and when I threw a punch he dodged it. His knuckles slammed into my jaw, and I heard a scream I thought belonged to Phoenix, and then I went down on the floor hard. Toma jumped on top of me and threw a jab toward my face, but I moved my head in time for his knuckles to slam against the wood beneath me. He howled, and I used the opportunity to flip us.
This time when I went to strike Toma, my fist met his cheek and blood flew from his mouth, splattering across me and the floor. But that only fueled my need to hurt him for insulting Phoenix.
“Daddy!”
