Chapter 28
Nico
Zane woke me up then busted into our room before I could have some time alone with Alice—to see what she thought of last night and to hopefully get a few more kisses in.
I didn’t get the kisses, but that sweet blush and sweeter smile she gave me when I wished her good morning was actually all I needed.
Her saying she can confront the priest if I’m by her side was too. Definitely what I wanted to hear, probably more than I deserve.
I’d still prefer to just off him and be done with it, but she made some good points. Not the crap about our immortal souls, since that ship probably sailed for all of us a long time ago. Besides, I don’t believe in any of that. But the murder bringing heat down on us, that was pure sense.
Though as we sit in the back pew of the cool church, waiting for the last of the older women who came here to pray on this Saturday morning to leave, I’m back to my plan A and fuck the consequences.
This church is supposed to be a place of peace, serenity, and comfort.
Not fear and suffering. Not pain and sorrow.
And that priest is supposed to be the source of all the good things.
He’s not here, but I hope he shows up soon. One of the ladies told me he always comes by around noon on Saturdays, and that she’d love to see him today, but has an urgent errand to run.
Alice is completely silent beside me, sitting rigidly upright, her hands balled together in her lap.
All color is gone from her face and even her gorgeous silver-grey eyes.
They’re just dull and dark now. She’s in her biker getup, her long, luxurious hair braided up tightly—armor against what’s coming, I’m sure.
But she doesn’t need it, because I’m here.
The last of the praying ladies gets up, takes one last look at the altar, makes the sign of the cross over her chest, and wobbles down the center aisle to the exit.
As soon as she’s gone, I get up and bolt the door behind her. It’s fifteen minutes to twelve.
I’m on my way back to sit by Alice’s side when the priest appears from the shadows along the side of the altar. Like he’d been lurking there all this time.
The scent of incense in the air intensifies as he greets me with a wide smile. I always hated the scent of incense in churches. Made my eyes water and my throat burn. It’s the same now.
I glance at Alice, but she’s just staring straight ahead at the priest as he approaches us.
“I thought I wouldn’t see you until tomorrow at Mass,” the priest says. “But I had expected a fuller church this Saturday morning.”
He glances at Alice too, but I don’t think he realizes we’re here together.
“We usually have worshipers here at all times of the day,” he continues. “That’s why I keep the doors unlocked. Because everyone is welcome.”
I walk over to Alice and lay my hand on her shoulder. She’s still completely rigid and she even feels like stone. Not cold, never cold. But hard, immovable.
“We’re not here to worship,” I tell the priest.
He follows my arm all the way to Alice’s face. The recognition of who she is unfolds across his face in slow motion.
She rises as he recognizes her and I let my hand slide off her shoulder. I’m here if she needs me, but I think she needs to have this confrontation by herself. For herself.
“You,” the priest says.
“Yes, me,” Alice says and she’s every bit the strong, formidable goddess that captured me and will never let me go.
“You’re not his wife,” the priest says. “You’re not a married couple looking to move to this town…”
There’s accusation in his voice, but I think even he realizes how stupid he sounds.
“It is not right to lie in the house of God,” he adds in a firmer, sterner voice. I could punch him for that alone. Presumptuous fucking psycho.
“No, it is not,” Alice says in a very cold voice. “A lot of things are not permitted in God’s house. And you broke many of those rules.”
She comes out from the pew to face the priest and I take a few steps back to let her handle it.
She’s got this. She will be all right.
And if not, I’ll kill him right here and now, and fuck the consequences.