Page 45 of Priestly Sins

“You can’t be serious.” Her exhaustion is gone and anger laces her tone.

“This is deliberate and intentional and I’m very serious.”

“Fuck that! I’d never leave her.”

“Exactly. Anyone watching—and make no mistake, they’re watching—will look for the two of you. Your names and descriptions will be expected together.”

“She’s my everything.”

“I know. And you would never leave her.”

“Exactly.”

“So, you agree that if you went alone, you’d blend in and be less recognizable?”

“It doesn’t matter. I won’t go along with this!”

“She’s a handful and she’s wonderful and she’s sunshine for me. No one, and I mean, no one will harm a hair on her head.”

“You’re asking me to sacrifice my daughter for my safety. No. Absolutely not!”

“I’m asking you to sacrifice yourcomfortfor her safety and for yours. You’re not thinking strategically.”

“I’m thinking like her momma!” Her voice is fiery.

“Can you guarantee her protection? Can you guarantee your own?”

She drops her head into her hands and shakes with angry tears. I walk around and squat next to her, rubbing her back.

“I can’t lose her,” she says, sniffling.

“What if she were to lose you?”

Her head springs up and the panic in her eyes is chilling. “She can’t.”

“You’re right. Let me make sure she’s safe, so you can make sure you are.”

“I can’t abandon her.”

“You aren’t. You’re entrusting her to me for a very brief time, knowing I would lay down my life for hers.”

She holds my stare for a long time, searching me. “Okay, but I’m not happy about it.”

“Duly noted.”

By midnight, she’s dead on her feet. I peek out the windows and notice the Escalade is still outside.

“I need to go.”

The fact that she doesn’t fight, but looks resigned instead, tells me this might be wearing on her but she won’t argue.

“I hope to get Enzo or his goon to follow. If I can, good. If I can’t, you need to call me. I’ll be back at four thirty. Get what rest you can. Need a wake-up call?”

“I run a bakery, Sean. I do crack of dawn more often than not.”

I hold her eyes and nod once. Walking to the door, I turn and ask, “You scared?”

“Terrified.”