Page 35 of Crossed

It seems like our initial chat didn’t sink into his pigheaded brain, which isn’t surprising. Words won’t hit their mark when you’re saying them to someone who thinks they know the world and all its secrets.

But my ire grows with every breath he takes. I stand up, taking the time to grab my peacoat and slip my arms slowly into the warmth before grasping my leather gloves and putting them on. I take three large steps then to his desk, pressing my knuckles against the edge and leaning in until he jerks back in a gorgeous show of submission.

“And what makes you think that you command thechurch?”

“I commandeverything,” he replies. “You should learn that quickly.”

“The festival will go on as planned.” I straighten before he can continue and button the front of my coat. I’m done with this conversation. “In fact, I think it may do the church some good to get involved. A show of good faith to the community.”

A smile breaks across my face when I see the anger growing on Parker’s already ruddy cheeks.

He opens his mouth to respond, but a knock sounds at his door, the handle turning before he can tell them to come back later.

I twist toward the noise, using my opportunity to slip away, and when I’ve made it to the door, it flies open, leaving me chest to face with the little sinner of my nightmares.

My stomach tightens, blood pounding in my ears, remembering how she stuttered on stage when she saw Parker in the crowd. How he was a man on a mission, like a hunter trying to capture prey.

The expression on Amaya’s face changes from shock to confusion so quickly that I’m sure the shift is from the fire flashing through my gaze.

Her eyes lock on mine, and time slows until there’s nothing except for us.

A throat clears somewhere in the distance, and it snaps her out of the trance, a beautiful smile stretching across her face. “Father Cade, what a surprise.” She glances past me to flick her eyes toward Parker.

My chest pulls at the split in her attention.

“I hope I’m not interrupting,” she says.

I don’t take my eyes off her, even now, even when I can hear Parker moving closer, his feet shuffling on the floor, can see in my peripheral vision the moment his dirty handdaresto touch her shoulder.

You shouldn’t care, I tell myself.She’ll be dead soon anyway.

“Don’t be ridiculous, sweet girl. You’re never an interruption.” He drags her in close, pressing his slimy lips to her temple, and my stomach twists.

She shifts uncomfortably, taking a small step away, and I let the air out of my lungs.

“You’ve met Father Cade already?” he asks her.

She shrugs. “Hasn’t everyone by now?”

“Amaya wassupposedto be at Mass yesterday morning.” I lift a brow as I stare down at her. A challenge sparks in her gaze and my cock twitches.

She tilts her head. “You must have confused me with somebody else.”

I smirk at her defiance and can’t resist taking a step closer. “Impossible.”

Parker clears his throat again, his eyes blazing. He turns toward her, reaching out his hand and tipping up her chin as though she’s his. “Get comfortable, sweetheart. Let me walk Father Cade out.”

She nods and moves farther into his space like she’s always belonged. The thought bothers me more than it should, and for a single solitary moment, I wonder if sheishis. But then another thought grips me.

I pay off my mother’s debts, and that makes me feel dirtier than sex work ever could.

“Amaya,” I bark. My voice is loud and gravelly, my eyes flickering between the two of them. “My door is always open if you need it.”

She nods, a small grin tilting the corner of her lips as she makes herself comfortable in Parker’s office.

I turn back to Parker. “I can see myself out.”

He nods, slamming the door in my face, clearly as desperate to get away from me as I am to leave. Or maybe he’s just desperate to get back to her. I relate to his plight.