Page 41 of Nun’s Prayer

Chapter Nine.

Nun

Later that afternoon, we moved Miles to the private clinic we preferred. Belladonna had taken the memories from him, and Miles would know he’d been attacked, but he’d not suffer for it. Stitch had texted and announced it would take several sessions to heal him.

Belladonna had shoved the whole scene into my mind, and she was right. Something about the culprit felt familiar. It turned out her entire background was fake. It was good enough to pass an initial inspection, but it came apart when we dug deeper. I was sitting in my office sending Cyber the new applications we’d had in to check them out when it hit me.

“Fuck!” I exclaimed.

I picked my cell up and punched in Belladonna’s number. “Outlaw,” I said as soon as she answered. Belladonna didn’t say a word, and I knew she was running it through her mind.

“Yup. That neck click she does, Mile’s client was her.”

“Damnit. Fancy a trip to Manchester? She’s not getting away with this,” I demanded.

“You need to check with Sapphire before taking the fight to them.”

“Why? We’re already at war. Those bitches are laughing right now, thinking they got one over on us.”

“I’ll ask Sapphire to call church. I know you’re angry, but you can’t head off on your own. You want at least Dagger or Blade with you,” Belladonna argued.

“Fine,” I spat, unamused. I’d wait, but Outlaw would get hers. She’d attacked someone who worked for me; that was unforgivable.

Priest

“Is this seat free?” a woman asked.

I glanced up, nodded, and returned to my drink. A contract had arrived, and while I remained searching for Brielle, I was considering it. Fortunately, it wasn’t an immediate kill. I had time. The payment was my usual fee plus half again on top. Ivan Petrov had been a very naughty boy.

“You look busy,” the woman said, and I nodded. Christ. Leave me alone.

I jabbed at the picture and frowned. Yeah, Petrov looked like an animal; he’d an arrogance about him that put my teeth on edge. I sent the contract to my contact, wanting more information. Was he Bratva? It didn’t matter how many guards he surrounded himself with; I’d get through them.

I glanced at the figure again. So damn tempting. It would set Brielle up with a nice nest egg.

“Would you like a drink?”

I sighed and met the woman’s gaze. Sure, she was pretty, but she wasn’t Nun. “Look, not being rude, I’m working.”

“It’s just one,” she pushed.

“I’m also taken.”

Her eyes flicked to my wedding-band finger, and I waited. “No ring.”

“Just because I don’t wear a ring doesn’t mean I’m not in a serious relationship. Thanks for the offer, but I’m not interested,” I replied. Okay, perhaps I was assuming a bit too much concerning Nun, but there was always hope.

Her demeanour turned cold. She smiled, but I’d seen the flash of anger and hate. Was it because I’d turned her down, and that was something she wasn’t used to? She slipped off her stool and grinned at me. She shoved her tits into my arm and leaned over me.

“Tell Margaret, Outlaw says hi.” She walked away before I could gather my thoughts. Who the hell was… fuck! I chased after her, but she’d already gone.

A Harley revved, and I turned, and Outlaw flicked me a wave before riding off. I yanked out my cell and realised I didn’t have Nun’s number.

Cursing, I headed for my own bike. I wanted to know who Outlaw was and why she’d targeted me.

Nun

My phone pinged, and I glanced down and nearly dropped it. A picture appeared of a naked woman. She had lash marks all over her body and several open wounds.