9. Isabella

I standin the shower and wash my hair for the first time in weeks. It feels amazing to have a shower all to myself without hearing someone in the stall next to me.

Priest's bathroom is neat and tidy. I never knew men could be this clean, there is literally nothing on the counter. Even his bed was made and there were no clothes strewn across the floor haphazardly.

This man truly is a saint, no matter what he says.

I use his shower gel and I know I shouldn't let my mind wander, but I do. I imagine him here in this shower with me. His hands on my body as he pushes me up against the tile, nuzzling his face into my neck as I wrap my arms around him. His body towers over mine as I feel his toned, muscled body with my hands as I breath hard and heavy. Before I know what I'm doing, I touch myself between my legs, rubbing my clit as I lean back against the shower wall.

I imagine it's Priest, moving to his knees as he hooks one leg up over his shoulder and pushes his face between my legs, devouring me. I rub my clit rapidly, squeezing one breast as I see his beautiful, green eyes staring up at me as he eats me out. His tongue doing all the work as I lose myself in the rhythm and come quickly. Somehow I manage to stay silent as I murmur his name softly on my lips, my breathing ragged.

Priest. Oh, God Priest. It doesn't stop there. I give myself a breather, sagging back against the wall as I see him flipping me around, pushing me into the tile as he takes me from behind. He grips my hips with his hands and slowly enters my tight pussy for the first time. We both groan.

I bite my lip as I finger myself, never daring to go very deep, but knowing I need to give myself this. I need to feel close to him. I know it's a sin. It's so very wrong, but I just need one more…. Just another… Priest moves his cock in and out of me, hitting me harder on each thrust as I cry out. My virgin pussy taking his big cock as I brace myself against the wall, hoping this sweet torture never ends. I want him. I need him.

"Little one," he murmurs. "You feel so good."

I want to please him, give him everything he needs, but he wants to please me. He wants to make me his in every way.

"You're so big," I whisper. "Take me, Priest, please."

"So tight," he murmurs. "So fuckin' tight."

I flick my clit again and go off like a firecracker, my orgasm taking me over and drawing out until I gasp. I imagine Priest shooting his load inside me, stilling as he spurts over and over, calling my name. It's the most pleasurable thing I've ever imagined.

I quickly pull myself together, shame washing over me at what I just did in his shower as I rinse out my conditioner and use his razor to shave my underarms and legs. I'll have to deal with my bikini area at a later date.

I turn the shower taps off and wrap myself in the huge, white fluffy towel Priest left out for me. Seriously, this is better than any hotel.

I feel better than I have in a long time. I dry myself and since I have no clean underwear, I pull on a pair of sweats that are a little too big but they'll do. I comb my hair with my fingers and I see a pink toothbrush in the packet on the side. He's left that there for me. I feel like crying all over again. This beautiful man has left me a toothbrush and let me have full access to his house and he wants nothing. I should be on guard, but I'm not. I'm tired of living my life like that and being on tenterhooks all the time. I can't do it. I want to let go and just be me, without a care in the world. It's an indulgent thought, and as I head out of the bathroom door and downstairs, I start to feel like I've got more of a spring in my step. Maybe it's the glorious shower I had, or the way I just pleased myself thinking of Priest, or maybe — just maybe — it's because for tonight I know I am safe.

I smell the most delicious smell when I get to the kitchen. Priest is taking our burgers out of a paper bag and putting them and a giant box of fries on the counter.

He looks up when I walk in, a soft smile on his lips.

"That shower was amazing," I say, hovering over the island, my hair dripping wet.

"Take a seat, you don't have to feel shy here, Bella. Just use this like you would your own home."

My lips part but I can't form words. My own home?

He runs a hand through his hair. "I didn't mean that to sound…"

"You don't have to dance around me," I tell him. "I did have a family home once, until recently, and it's not a crime to bring that up. I've only been… living like this… for about six weeks. You don't have to feel bad mentioning my family."

I know he doesn't want to pry, but I also know he's gotten details out of me that I've told no one else. If he knew my secret. We'd both be dead. I can't risk Priest being hurt should the truth come to light.

"Sometimes it can be triggering."

I love how sensitive he is to my feelings. I've never known kindness — aside from my nonna — or patience like he has. I've never known a man to be this way.

"It's not to me."

"As long as you"re sure? About stayin' here tonight?"

I nod with a little too much enthusiasm. "I'm sure. I don't want to be a burden."

He frowns. "You're not, and once Father Dan's back we can make some real plans, alright?"

I don't want to work anything out with Dan. I want Priest to work it out. I swallow my pride. "I need to get to Texas, remember?"

He studies me as he rubs his chin. "What's so urgent that you need to go to Texas as soon as tomorrow? You said you have no family you'd ever want to see again."

So he does remember.

How much should I tell him? What do I even know about the box?

I clear my throat. "My nonna left me something, and I need to get it back."

He continues to look at me in a way that makes me want to tell him everything. Not just about the locked box, but about everything that's happened to me.

"And it's important to me," I add, looking away. If I look at him for any longer, I'm going to spill the beans. I may trust Priest implicitly, but that doesn't mean I'm willing to divulge every single thing just because my gut tells me I should.

"Then I'll drive you, if you agree to come back with me."

My mouth hangs open as I try to gather myself.

Priest will take me?

My mind reels. I'll be able to go to the address and not have the fear of anyone robbing me or worse. He'll be there to drive me, and make sure I come back. Not that I should be coming back. Not to New Orleans. Not to where my family can still find me. It isn't smart. But now that I'm here, in Priest's home, I can't say that I really want to leave.

"I can't ask that of you."

"You didn't. I offered."

"And the deal is I'd have to come back?"

"Yes. Because I can help you here, I can't help much if you're in another state."

I should tell him I don't need his help, that would be the smart thing to do. I should use him for a ride, and then split. Then I owe nothing to nobody. But deep down that's not who I am. That's not how my nonna raised me. I'm not cold and calculating like the rest of my family, and I don't use people. Priest has been good to me, to do that to him would be horrible. Plus, he's the only man I've found any goodness in for a long time.

"Breathe, little one," he says when my eyes snap to meet his.

I didn't realize that I was holding my breath, but like most things with Priest he gets to the nitty gritty pretty quickly.

My heart races in my chest at the idea I'd come back here. I mean, I can't stay here forever. But then again, it isn't as if my family are out looking for me.

"Okay," I whisper. "I'll come back."

Something crosses his face and I've no idea what it is or what he's thinking. "Good. Casey will be here soon. Eat. You need to keep your strength up."

I get a thrill running through me when he tells me what to do. Especially when it's something for myself; it's like he really does care for my welfare.

I have lost a lot of weight this last month, though getting food at the shelter and at the Soup Kitchen has helped save me from starving. Not that the food at the shelter is anything to write home about, but it's better than going hungry.

"So how long have you known Father Dan?" I ask, wanting to change the subject off me.

Priest still stands on the other side of the island, both hands planted on the counter as I unwrap my burger. It smells amazing. I can't even remember the last time I ate something so indulgent.

"We went to middle school together," Priest replies. "He was a good Catholic boy and I was a tear away, but somehow we formed an unlikely bond. Dan's always been a good guy. He saw the good in me way back when, even before I was at rock bottom."

"Where was your dad when you were growing up?" I ask. "You mentioned you recently reconnected with him."

He waits until I take a bite, chewing silently, and then answers. "He never knew I existed, and my mom told me he was dead."

My eyes bug wide as I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand; very unladylike but the burger is delicious. "That's awful. Why would she do something like that?"

"To hurt him. To hurt me. Who knows. I gave up tryin' to figure out what she was thinkin' a long time ago."

He looks so sad whenever he talks about his mom. I feel my heart hurt for him, for my own loss, and everything in between.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. Some have it worse off than I did. I'm glad I was able to get my little sister out of there before the emotional scars became too much."

"She's very lucky," I say. "To have a brother like you."

His lips twitch. "I don't know about that, but she turned out alright."

"So did you."

He smirks. "That's debatable. She wasn't a good person, though she had her struggles that I didn't see at the time, being so young. As I've grown older I can see that she did her best."

I take another bite while he unwraps his burger and proceeds to eat. Like most men, he takes huge bites and wolfsthe thing down before I've even nibbled away at half of mine.

We eat in companionable silence until Priest announces that Casey's here. He leaves the kitchen and lets her in the front door. She's a pretty blonde with a kind smile. Casey must have come from work since she's in her work clothes. I suddenly wonder why all the ‘friends' Priest has besides Father Dan are female. I guess it"s not hard to see why.

Priest is so good looking it's ridiculous.

"Casey, this is my friend, Bella. Bella, this is Casey."

I return Casey's smile as she puts her medical bag down. "Hi, Bella." She holds out her hand and we shake. "Good to meet you."

"You too," I say. Maybe I should thank her for coming over?

Priest promised there wouldn't be a whole bunch of nosy questions and I hope that's the case. I don't want to tell anyone anything, except him.

"I'm gonna go have a shower." Priest thumbs behind him and I nod. Always a gentleman. He takes off and my mind tries not to imagine him in the same space I was just in. Getting myself off to the idea of us in there together. My cheeks flush.

"So, Bella, I can see you have some swelling and bruising to your face. Were there any other injuries I should know about?"

I shake my head. "I twisted my knee a little when I jerked away and kneed the dude who attacked me in the balls."

"That'll always drop ‘em."

"I did a little martial arts when I was a kid, not much, but I just acted on instinct."

"Have you had any chills, fever or nausea?" she asks and I shake my head. "So, Priest said you knew the guy."

I clam up immediately, locking my fingers as I try not to squirm. "I don't want to press any charges."

"I understand it can be confronting."

No. You don't understand. I'm supposed to be dead. That's the reason why…

"Anyway, if Priest knows, then he and the club will take care of it."

"The club?"

Our eyes meet. "Yeah, he's part of the NOLA Rebels motorcycle club," she says, like it's obvious. "Wait, he didn't tell you?"

My blood runs cold.

I shake my head. "N— no, he didn't say anything about that."

She frowns. "Okay. He was probably just trying not to scare you. It can be a little scary to hear that, but I promise you, there's nothing to be afraid of."

I start to panic.

NOLA Rebels MC? Does that mean that Priest is an outlaw?

Then I think about that night I ran away. Maybe I should've gone back to the bus station when I had the chance.

"So what does he do in the club?"

She starts to prod around my face with her soft hands. "He's the spiritual advisor for the members. In a nutshell he makes sure the needs and welfare of all the bikers are met, that they're on the right path, so to speak."

I start to feel clammy and a little sick in the stomach. I don't know any bikers, of course, but the things I have seen and heard… None of them are good.

"I just… I just never picked Priest for someone to do illegal stuff," I whisper. Which — with a family history like mine — is like a pot calling the kettle black.

She smiles gently. "Nope. They're not illegal. So there are one percent clubs; like the ones you see on TV who sell guns, drugs and even people, then there are legit clubs like the Rebels who have normal businesses and jobs and don't do anything illegal."

I frown. I've never heard of that before. Of course, I know they're around, I just had no clue Priest was part of it.

I swallow hard. "So, he has nothing to do with that club that was on the news just recently?" I have to ask because it's all that the news have been playing.

She assesses the cut and then starts to pull out cotton pads, antiseptic and ointment. "Thankfully, no. They were a rival MC and not good guys, in fact, they're all better off in the ground. Trust me when I say they got what was coming to them, as well as the mob who I'm sure you heard about, too."

"Yeah, I heard." My voice is small. "There was a shootout."

"Yup. And that one asshole, Carlo Caruso's brother, he was a fucking piece of shit. Apparently he did some bad stuff including child trafficking. Can you believe some people? Who does that? If you ask me, they deserve all they got."

Of course, all of that was all over the news for so long. Every TV station was playing it. I freaked out a lot. I mean, I'm not meant to be here, even if nobody is looking for me. Those men, all of those men are not good people.

"I agree with you, they did." I stare down at my hands and Casey tilts my chin back up.

"Are you okay?"

I nod. "Yeah, I just hate that kinda stuff, and hearing Priest is part of an MC which he didn't tell me is a little unnerving."

"Trust me when I say, the NOLA Rebels are legit. Cash is the club Prez and he's a great guy. Always doing the right thing and protecting this city as best he can. My sister Crystal is married to the VP, Ryder."

"What's a VP?"

"Vice-prez."

"Are you part of the club?" I ask.

She laughs. "Not really. I mean, I don't have an old man or anything. But I hang there a bit and help out when I'm needed as an EMT. Though, I have kinda always had a bit of a crush on one of the prospects."

"What's a prospect?"

She cleans my wound and I wince slightly. "It's a shit kicker basically. Does that hurt?"

I shake my head.

"So he's not a member of the club yet, but he will be if he completes a year or two doing shitty jobs to prove his worth."

"Kinda sounds like being a member of my family," I blurt out. I clear my throat. "What's his name?"

"His biker name is Pipes, because he has a throttle like you wouldn't believe. His real name is Joel."

"Why do they have weird names like that?" I wonder what Priest's real name is?

She shrugs. "It's a biker thing."

My mind swirls at this new information and what to do with it. I know I should probably make a run for it as soon as I can. I can't be involved in this shit with a motorcycle club — legit or not — and the mob. I close my eyes as so many faces flash through my head. No. I won't go back to that place. Not ever.

"Will I need stitches?"

"Nope, but you will need some antibiotics to clear up any infection, it's looking irritated and red. We don't want to risk bacteria, so it's to be on the safe side."

"Can I get that from you?"

"Technically, no, but there are means and ways. Priest told me you'd prefer to see me instead of a doctor, so I figured there was a reason, and I'm not here to pry, or to judge." I like her, I decide. In the real world, she's someone I'd be friends with. "But I am here to help. Whatever you say to me doesn't go any further."

"I appreciate that," I say. "But there is nothing to say. The guy hit me, I kicked him in the nuts and ran."

"Well, he'd better hope he left town." She chuckles to herself.

"I thought the club didn't get involved in illegal activity?"

Her eyes meet mine again. "They don't, but they protect their own and their club. If you're under Priest's protection, then you fall under that umbrella. The same way I do. I'm Crystal's sister and help the club out, I matter to them." She shakes her head. "And if you're a friend of Priest's, then I pity the asshole who did this to you."

I lower my voice. "What will they do?"

Her lips twitch. "Don't tell him I said this, okay? The club may be legit, however, that doesn't mean they're Boy Scouts, ya know? They do what they have to do to keep the people they care about safe. And sometimes… that's bad shit."

A thrill runs through me when I think about Priest defending my honor. Not that I want Rueben dead, but he does need to be taught a lesson.

I open my mouth to say something when I hear movement upstairs. Priest is coming back down. "Hey, don't tell Priest you told me… about the club, okay?"

"Fine by me." She gives me a wink. "I'll be in big trouble if he knows I'm the one who told you."

I'm miffed he didn't, but I don't tell her that.

I wonder what other secrets Priest has been hiding from me? One thing I can be sure of; mine I have to take to the grave. My real grave that is, not the one that lies within the gates of the New Orleans cemetery covered in flowers.

The grave where my family believes I am buried.

It's sad that the only sanctity I've ever known is all because I faked my own death.