Uncontrollable Temptations (The Tempted Series Book 3) (28 page)

It felt good to share our story with the priest so I continued
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“He wasn’t some Heaven sent man, perfectly suited to whisk me off my feet. He was broken, damaged and just as lost as me. He’s hard and closed off to the rest of the world—but for me, his walls crumbled. Each brick surrounding my heart, he pushed out of place and for every one of those bricks that he removed he let one of his own disappear. I don’t know when it happened or how but I fell for him. The cliché became forgotten or maybe it never existed for me because I don’t remember ever thinking I could fix him or change him. I wanted him as he was and I think that’s because he made me feel like I could be myself and he still wanted me. That’s big because at the time I didn’t know who I was so he couldn’t have either. He stood beside me and let me discover the woman I was after the fire. He accepted my insecurities, my hurt and my demons. What kind of woman would I be if I didn’t do the same for him?”

I paused, looking at the priest with wide eyes. “It was easy to fall in love with him and maybe he was Heaven sent after all.”

“How so?”

“He never told me he was Danny’s brother. They were estranged for some time but after Danny died he knew I was a part of his life, I was the survivor and he sought me out,” I said, taking a moment. “He let me go at my pace, revealing my story to him chapter by chapter when he knew it all.” I frowned, remembering standing in front of the mirror as he unwrapped me, stripping me of my insecurities and making me feel desired. That wasn’t a lie.

Every look, every touch, every promise to give it all if I let him, those weren’t lies. He may have never told me who he was, but there were moments where it was just us—just Jack and Reina—and those moments weren’t lies.

“I came here thinking I made a wrong turn somewhere along the way. Did I go left when I should’ve gone right?”

“Sounds like you were meant to turn left because Jack was waiting for you at that left turn,” the priest offered. “His omission of truth doesn’t erase everything else he’s brought into your life. We often believe an uncontrollable force changes the course of our life, and maybe that force nudges you but it’s us who make the final decision. Seems like you have a choice to make. No one or no higher power can make that choice for you.” He glanced at the altar and smiled slightly as he made the sign of the cross, his eyes fixed on the crucifix. “God forgives us of our sins, we should be able to forgive those we love too, don’t you think?”

He slowly turned his attention back to me and for a split second I wondered why I wasted so much money on therapy when the answers came freely to me.

“We all deserve a second chance and from what you’ve told me, Jack gave you a second chance. He restored hope in you when you had none left. He may not have been completely honest with you but he chose to tell you the truth and that should hold some merit,” he added.

I was angry, and I’d probably never understand why Jack chose not to tell me who he was but it didn’t tarnish the way I felt about him. I didn’t want to lose him and not because I feared being alone again but because I loved him with all I had. I wanted to give myself to him, to give him my heart. I wanted to be the women who loved him despite his flaws and when he succumbed to the things he couldn’t control, when his mind went against him, I wanted to bring him back. I wanted Jack Parrish—right then and there, with God as my witness—I chose Jack.

“Thank you,” I whispered to the priest.

“For what?”

“For listening,” I said softly.

“That’s what I’m here for,” he replied.

I smiled at him and when he asked me to pray with him I bowed my head and moved my lips, reciting the words I remembered and pretending like I knew the ones I didn’t. I asked him his name and bid Father Gallo farewell. I stepped outside the church and dug into my purse for my phone, dialing Jack’s number as I walked toward my apartment building that was only two blocks away.

“Please pick up,” I said aloud, frowning when I got his voicemail. “Jack, it’s me. I’m sorry I took off like I did. I’m sorry I didn’t give you a chance to explain and to be honest I’m not even sure I care to know the explanation. I choose you. I choose us. I’m on my way home but I want to see you. Call me when you get this message,” I went to end the call but lifted the phone back to my ear. “I love you,” I added before disconnecting the call.

I went to shove the phone back into my purse when I was pulled against a hard body, a hand covering my mouth and a man speaking against my ear.

“You scream, or make any sudden moves I will slice your throat,” he warned. ‘Nod your head if you understand,” he hissed.

I quickly nodded my head, my phone dropping to the concrete as he dragged me away, the blade of his knife dangerously close to my neck, forcing me to do as I was told. I closed my eyes and wondered if maybe I should’ve gone right instead of left.

“Well, fuck, that blows,” Riggs said, patting Blackie on the back. “Literally, like your car just blew the fuck up.”

“Yeah, I caught that, thanks for pointing it out though,” Blackie retorted, staring daggers at me. “Get him the fuck away from me.”

I shot Riggs a warning look before turning around and meeting Bianci’s gaze. “Is this what I owe your visit to?” I tipped my chin outside, referencing the fucking explosion in my parking lot.

I watched Anthony bite the inside of his cheek as he stared back at me for a minute before turning around toward his mother-in-law.

Grace Pastore lifted her head and stepped around Anthony to meet my gaze.

“The last time I visited with Victor he told me if there was any sort of danger, or I felt threatened that I should come here and see you. Now, I don’t know what kind of deal you and my husband have but when I told him what I overheard today he told me to get my ass here as fast as possible,” she said with a flustered sigh. “I went to the café this morning like Victor instructed me to, he wanted me to bring Jimmy our financials, papers and what have you regarding our home. Jimmy didn’t know I was there waiting for him, and I overheard him talking to one of his guys. He was going on and on about making you and your club pay for double crossing him. He said you would be his puppet, and he’d teach Vic a lesson once and for all, showing him who, and I quote ‘is the fucking boss,’” she said, before nodding toward the front door of the clubhouse. “Seems like the puppet master is ready to make moves.”

I turned to Anthony. “Any idea how he’d know what we had planned for him?”

“No fucking idea,” he said, shaking his head. “We can’t get in touch with Vic either. She’s sent emails but no response. Might be in the hole.”

“Fine time for him to get locked in solitary,” I mumbled, turning to Grace. “Thanks for coming and clueing me in,” I commented.

“It’s Jack, right?” She questioned.

I nodded, reaching behind my head and cupping my neck.

“My husband will never see outside those prison gates. I know he will eventually die a prisoner but I’m asking you to let God take him and not have it be at the hand of Jimmy. If there is a way you can help him then please, do so,” she pleaded, her eyes watering with unshed tears. “I know you helped my daughter Nikki and Michael get to safety the night of the shooting. I also know you’ve been keeping a watchful eye out on my son-in-law and I want to thank you for that, for keeping what’s left of my family safe.”

“You’re welcome,” I replied evenly, before exhaling. “Is there anything else you heard? Try to think. The last time you spoke to Victor did he mention Jimmy in any other way?”

“You mean before he told me to go to the café?” I nodded signaling her to continue. “He just said to bring him the financials,” she added.

I turned back to Bianci. “And he hasn’t knocked on your door?”

He shook his head, crossing his arms against his chest. “I don’t think he knows shit, I think he surmises something and maybe he knew Grace was listening and wanted to see if she’d run here. That’s why I took her, in case she was being followed,” he explained.

“He blew up my fucking car, the bastard knows something is up,” Blackie hissed. “And it’s not the drugs because that shit was pure,” he added disgustedly.

The door opened to the compound and Pipe and Wolf strode in.

“The fire is being contained. I called it into our friends over at the N.Y.P.D. and Jones is sending a blue and white over so it looks legit on paper,” Pipe announced, providing a cover for our asses. The last thing we needed was the fucking bomb squad sniffing around our shit.

“Your truck is toast, man,” Wolf added, eyes on Blackie. “And you almost were too, so who’s going to clue the rest of us in on what the fuck is going on here?” He looked back at me expectantly.

Pipe glared at Bianci. “This got some shit to do with Pastore?”

I ran my fingers through my hair roughly, realizing that Blackie was right when he first said this shit would land at the Satan’s Knights doorstep despite my efforts to handle it on my own. I had kept my brothers out of my plans, thinking I could fix this mess without them but Blackie nearly got blown away and now my club was looking at me as if I betrayed them.

I turned to Pipe and Wolf, about to explain everything when I realized where Blackie had been before the truck blew up. I spun around, narrowing my eyes as I stepped toward Blackie.

“When you left my house this morning where did you go?” I grilled him.

“I dropped your woman off at the church around the block from her house like a good little gopher,” he growled, defensively.

“His woman?” Pipe asked, incredulously. “What the fuck is going on?”

“And after that?” I persisted, ignoring Pipe.

Blackie remained quiet as he glared at me, matching my cold stare with his own.

“Where did you go?” I demanded, my voice an octave louder.

“Nowhere,” he said, as I searched his eyes. There was something off with him and I couldn’t pinpoint what it was. As sad as it was, I could read Blackie drunk off his ass, but add heroine to the cocktail of misery and I was fucking lost. I didn’t know if it was the repercussions of the drugs he shot up or his truck being blown to bits but something was fucking with him. He turned his head, a defense mechanism because he knew I was trying to read him. “I came here afterwards.” He shoved his hands in his pockets and turned back to me. “What the fuck does that matter anyway?”

“Because you had Reina in the fucking car with you and just like you could’ve been killed, she could’ve been too,” I shouted. “Now one more time, did you go anywhere after you dropped her off?”

“You really want to go there? Because she took my fucking car and went to your house last night so who’s to say your girl didn’t plant the motherfucking bomb or set it up so whoever planted it had a chance to?” Blackie hollered, but even as he said the words it was obvious to me that he was deflecting. He said it himself, he had misjudged Reina, there was no way he believed she was involved in this. But one couldn’t deny the coincidence and if I wasn’t in deep with Reina, I’d be the first one jumping on the bandwagon thinking she had something to do with it.

“Whoa, hold up,” Bianci intervened. “What if that was the plan?” He questioned, narrowing his eyes as he worked the scenario in his head before he diverted his gaze back to mine. “Reina took Blackie’s car, went to your house?” I nodded in agreement. “Jimmy have any idea Reina exists in your life?”

I looked back at Blackie. “What happened when he came here yesterday?”

“I made her drop to her fucking knees and pretend to give me head,” he said, shrugging his shoulders as if it was no big fucking deal.

Focus, Bulldog.

Keep your fucking head.

“Mother of God,” Grace exclaimed, closing her eyes in disgust.

Blackie rolled his eyes and pierced me with a look. “Made it so Jimmy thought she was just a piece of pussy nobody cared about then I dismissed her.”

“What if he wants you to think she’s the one setting you up?” Bianci asked.

“We could sit here and play the guessing game all day long but until that motherfucker makes another move all we’re doing is running in circles,” Blackie ground out.

A gunshot fired, Grace shrieked, and the boys shouted, causing me to reach for my gun and quickly spin around where I met Wolf’s glare. Smoke puffed from the barrel of the gun he pointed toward the ceiling. “About out of patience, Prez, so you might want to start fucking talking to the rest of us,” he said, eerily calm.

“I’ll give you your answers,” I bit out. “But right now I’m putting this club on lockdown,” I declared, as I looked around the room at my club that was divided thanks to me and my agenda. “Go get your families, anyone you give a damn about and bring them here,” I declared, turning to Bianci. “That includes you, go get your wife and son.” I pointed to Grace and continued, “And get her other daughter too,” I ordered, as my eyes traveled around the room. “I repeat—anyone you give a damn about.”

I grabbed my helmet off the bar and started for the door. “Church in an hour,” I said over my shoulder.