Total pages in book: 52
Estimated words: 49989 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49989 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 167(@300wpm)
“But she wasn’t,” Priest said. “There is no logic to what you did.”
“People have found out who she is, and look what has happened,” Target said. “Her life is in danger, and there is nothing I can do to stop it. All I wanted to do was take care of her. Like I promised her mother.”
Priest knew that Cleo’s life was never going to be the same again. Not just because of Target, but also himself. Even though he was a member of the Killer of Kings, that didn’t mean he didn’t also have a reputation that meant people would happily kill her.
“Why are you telling me this?” Priest asked.
“I saw the way you took care of her. You’ll protect her, but I need to talk with my daughter. Help her to understand.”
“You’re asking me for permission?”
“I’m showing you respect, but don’t push my buttons, son.”
“I’m not your son.”
Target smiled.
Priest hated him. That was never going to change.
What he could do was put up with his bullshit for Cleo’s sake. That was the only thing he could truly do. “Wait here. I will go and get Cleo,” Priest said.
He had to break the news to her that her life was bound to his. That there was no way she was going to make it out alive, and he hated that. Hated that he couldn’t offer her a safer life. Boss probably could. That man had a way of making people disappear, and not just to kill them either.
Cleo was sitting on the sofa, Harb on one side of her, Bain on the other. Three men guarded the room.
Priest cleared his throat, and Cleo looked up and saw him. A huge smile covered her face, and she got to her feet and rushed toward him.
“You’re okay?”
“Yeah, I’m okay.”
Cleo nodded and quickly tucked her hair behind her ears. Her smile was wide, but he saw the tears in her eyes. “Something’s wrong.”
“Can we talk?” Priest asked.
“Yes, of course we can talk.” She smiled.
Neither man looked up as Priest guided her out of the room. He found a small alcove and tucked her up inside it, protecting her.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Cleo asked. She set her forearms on his chest, clutching at his shirt. He loved the feel of her hands on him.
“I’ve just spoken with your father,” he said. “He wants to see you.”
“Oh.”
“This is up to you, Cleo. If you don’t want to see him, then you don’t have to. If you do, I’ll be close by. You don’t need to worry.”
She pressed her lips into a thin line. “Do you … do you want me to see him?”
“What do you mean? This is your decision.”
“Actually, I was kind of hoping that you’d tell me what you’d like me to do. Not that I’m afraid or anything.” Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. “I mean, he hurt you. He took your revenge from you. I care about you, Priest, and I don’t want to—”
He couldn’t let her continue so he, covered her lips with his own, silencing her. When she finally had an opportunity to meet her father, she was more worried about what he’d think than meeting the man she’d been curious about her whole life.
How could he not love this woman?
She was so fucking selfless, and he was the biggest fucking asshole around. He didn’t deserve her, and he realized that now.
****
Cleo wanted to meet her father, but she also didn’t want to do anything that would upset Priest. She loved that man with all her heart. She’d lived without her dad all her life. She was more than happy to continue doing so.
When Priest took her toward one of the empty rooms, she saw the man who had been standing in that room not too long ago, before bullets rained down on them.
Priest cleared his throat and said he’d be outside. She didn’t want him to go far.
“Hello, Cleo,” the man said.
Her father.
A stranger.
She finally got to hear his voice.
“So, it is true? You’re my dad?” she asked.
“Yeah, I’m your father.”
“Wow, you know, you prepare yourself for this moment. I mean, I was in the foster homes for a long time, and some of the kids would imagine the moment their parents came back for them. I didn’t know if you were alive or dead, but here you are, alive, and we could have been together. But you kill people for a living, and I guess that really kind of sucks to be you.” She was rambling, but she couldn’t stop. “And now, I don’t even know where I fit in. I’m an orphan with a dad. Do I even have a mom?” she asked.
“No, I’m afraid not. Your mother passed not long after you were born.”
Tears filled her eyes. “Oh, right. Yes, okay. That is…” She was heartbroken, but she couldn’t bring herself to say the words. All of this was truly heartbreaking.