Chapter Ten

Priest

I didn't know how I felt about being back in the city where it all started. Everything looked different, yet the same. Everywhere I looked, people hurried about their day, giving no thought to anything around them. Living in their own bubble, they never considered that danger lurked around every corner.

No one was truly safe.

I knew that the most.

In a split second, life could change, and there was nothing anyone could do about it. Leaning my head back against the headrest, I tried to tune out the background noise all around me.

Closing my eyes, I found myself back at the beginning.

"Dalton, let's go, man. The Colonel is going to have our asses if we're late for PT again."

"I'm coming!" I shouted at my best friend Jake Quincey, grabbing my backpack and keys as I ran out of my dorm. It was my senior year. My last semester. The finish line was within reach. I just needed to keep my head in the game and soon I'd be free of all this crap.

Shutting my dorm room door, I raced down the hall, heading for the back stairs. While I knew my buddy was heading for the front door, I found a quicker way to the ROTC building that shaved off twenty-two seconds, and I knew I was going to need every advantage to make it on time.

I couldn't allow anything to come between me and graduating. I had everything planned out. I was going to do my military requirement of eight years, then hand in my resignation. After that, I was going to put my business degree to good use. I already had a line on a few prospects that looked promising, but I wasn't holding my breath. I knew more than anyone that shit could happen. And while I wasn't happy about passing up a few of those offers, I believed in keeping my word. Military first, since they helped pay for my college, then I'd be a free man.

Storming out of the back door of my dorm building, I raced down the sidewalk, across the grassy knoll and smack dab into a ball of fluff. The second I heard a female gasp, I instinctively grabbed ahold of her, turning my body at the last minute, before my back hit the pavement, groaning as I took the brunt of the impact.

Gasping for air, I laid there, colorful silky scarves and feathers floating around me and the most beautiful pair of green eyes twinkling down at me.

"Are you okay?" Her soft melodic voice penetrated my ears, causing my heart to skip a beat, but when she touched my face, I wasn't sure if it was kismet or if I'd been struck by lightning, but in that millisecond, everything faded, nothing else mattered... only her.

"Blink if you can hear me?" her sweet voice whispered, tickling every nerve around me. She had the sweetest voice.

Smiling, I looked at her and asked, "What's your name?"

"Phoebe. Phoebe Malpas. I'm so sorry."

"Phoebe, do you believe in fate?"

She gasped, her beautiful face smiling while she softly nodded her head, sending her long wavy brown hair around her face.

"You believe?"

"I do now," I muttered as I reached up, took her face in my hands, and did something completely out of character for me.

I kissed her.

A gentle shake woke me as I found myself back at the beginning and I stared into her beautiful green eyes.

"Shaw, we're here," she breathed gently.

Nodding, I blinked a few times, before stepping out of the car and looking at my surroundings.

"Welcome to the Malpas estate. It's not much, but it's home." Ares chuckled.

"Not much? The place is huge," I gawked, stating the obvious. I looked at the three-story mansion that sat across the street from Central Park. I knew Phoebe's family came from money, but I never thought much about it. Never cared.

This was something I never expected.

"Phoebe!" A loud shrill grabbed my attention while a woman I was very familiar with ran out the front door, followed closely by a man who glared at me.

This was not happening.

I couldn't do what I needed to do with them here as well.

No fucking way!

"Mom!"

Crap.

Taking a deep breath, I tried to calm the raging storm in my head as he approached me.

Standing straight, I extended my hand.

"Mr. Malpas."

Phoebe's father looked at my hand, before slapping it away. He engulfed me in a back breaking bear hug. Who fucking knew that Woody Malpas still had that kind of strength? I sure as hell didn't.

"How are you, Priest?"

"Been better, sir."

"None of that crap. Call me Woody. We're family. Now, Phoebe emailed and told us everything. I saw to her requirements personally. Everything you need is here."

Snapping my head to Phoebe's, I didn't have to say the words for her to know what I was asking. Because if she told her parents that we were married, this was going to be a brief visit, because I was going to call and take Matthew Law up on his invitation to stay at the Harbor on 5 th .

However, when Phoebe slightly shook her head—no, I knew what Woody said was regarding the club and his son, Scribe.

Instead, I looked at my wife, confused. "What is he talking about?"

"I just took care of a few things to ensure your stay was more comfortable."

"This isn't a vacation, Phoebe."

"I know that."

Mr. Malpas grabbed my attention before I could say anything more. "Come with me, Priest. Let me show you."

Grabbing my duffle, I hefted it over my shoulder and left Phoebe with her mother and cousin.

I didn't need to see that my words hurt her.

I could feel her pain slamming into my back when I walked away.

It seemed that was all I was good at.

Hurting the one woman who meant everything to me.

"Phoebe was very specific. Everything you need is out back. Ares already had most of it, so we just needed to pick up a few things. As you can see, the building is away from the main house, so you won't be disturbed. There is a heated pool, that's yours anytime you need. Phoebe said that sometimes you like to swim. Here we are." Woody smiled, opening the French doors of the small house-like structure at the back of the property.

Walking inside, I stopped dead in my tracks.

She'd thought of everything.

"Ares already had the weight bench and all the weights. She said it was no biggie having them moved out here, since she never uses them. There is a rowing machine, a treadmill, an elliptical, and a punching bag over in the corner. The place has surround sound, so all you need to do is hook up your phone to the system. The walls are soundproof, so don't worry about blasting your music. Also, through the door on your right is the studio and on your left is the bedroom. There is a small kitchenette that's been fully stocked."

"Thank you, Woody."

"No problem, man. I didn't know you danced?"

"My mother was an instructor before she passed," I muttered as I took in everything. I really didn't like talking about my mother. In fact, I tried to avoid talking about her as much as possible.

"Well," Woody said, slapping me on my back. "I'll leave you to it. If you need anything, we will be at the house."

Turning, I said nothing when the man walked away to find Phoebe standing there staring at me.

"Are you mad?"

"You did all this?"

She nodded. "You needed a place to decompress. I know that's why you work out so much. Exercise helps you clear your head."

"And the dance studio?"

She blushed, then whispered, "That's to remind you that you are very much loved."

"I don't know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything, Shaw. I only want to help you. Now, go shower, because Robin will be here in an hour."

And just like her father, she turned and walked away, leaving me speechless as her words finally registered.

"Phoebe, wait!" I shouted, running after her. "I thought I was meeting Robin at the precinct?"

"Nope. She's coming here."