Wicked Ever After (Wicked & Devoted #2) - Shayla Black Page 0,102
reach the man she loved.
As she strove to keep her balance, Trevor unlocked the handcuffs. They fell away. Pierce was free.
He didn’t spare his friend even a glance. That black stare of his locked onto her, and he sprinted across the space separating them. Brea picked up her pace, too, willing her dizziness away. Her one and only thought was to reach him, touch him, be held by him.
Forever.
Tears streamed down her cheeks as she launched herself at him. Pierce caught her and held her tighter than he ever had.
Relief hit her like a two-by-four. Her legs gave out. Sobs took over.
“Shh.” He pushed her hair from her face and searched her as if he couldn’t look his fill. “You okay, baby?”
She nodded, but her tears kept falling.
Pierce was there to comfort her. “The first time you take a life is hard. I’m so sorry…”
Brea shook her head. She would recover from having to end Clara. She would never have survived if Pierce hadn’t. “I’m just grateful we’re both alive. I’m grateful you’re all right and still with me and—”
“Always, pretty girl. From now until you take your last breath, I will always be with you.”
Chapter Twelve
One-Mile rubbed his sweaty hands together, swallowed, then lifted his fist and did one of the most terrifying things in his life.
He knocked on Preacher Bell’s quaint blue front door.
If this didn’t go well, he was fucked.
Interminable moments passed before he heard footsteps across the hardwood floor, then the door swung open. The preacher stood expectantly with a blank expression. He was just shy of medium height and medium build with kind eyes and a guarded smile. One-Mile felt as if he eclipsed the man.
“Yes?”
This was it. Now or never. Make or break.
Time to find your manners, asshole. You remember those?
Blowing out a breath, he stuck out his hand. “Hi, sir. We haven’t met yet, which is a mistake I’m here to rectify. Pierce Walker.”
The instant he spoke his name, the preacher’s face closed up. The man eyed him from the collar of his leather jacket to the tattoos peeking above the buttons of his shirt and down to the hard tips of his combat boots.
Fuck. The suit that had gotten ruined last night would have gone over far better.
Reverend Bell gave his hand a cautious shake. “It’s good you came. This face-to-face is long overdue.”
“I know. I’m sorry. Since Brea is on her way home with her car—”
“I know where my daughter is. I didn’t last night, however,” the man reminded sharply, arms crossed over his casual gray V-neck sweater.
And he was squarely to blame for that.
Yeah, this wasn’t going to go well.
One-Mile nodded, doing his best not to let the preacher’s hostility unnerve him. After spending most of the night panicking about his daughter’s safety, he was entitled to be rattled. “Yes, sir. I’m sorry about that. But I’d like to talk through a few things before she arrives. Man to man.”
The reverend considered him, then finally stepped aside with a nod. “Come in. I won’t pretend to be excited that you’re a part of my daughter’s life. You stripped her innocence, used her, disgraced her, left her, put her in danger—”
“None of that was my intention, and I intend to take care of her from here.”
Brea’s father scowled and waved him onto the sofa in the homey living room. As One-Mile sat, the preacher lowered himself into an easy chair a few feet away, then cocked his head. “I’m willing to concede there are two sides to every story. I only know bits and pieces. If you think I’ve got it wrong, tell me yours.”
“Both Brea and I will basically tell you the same story. We met and—”
“I doubt it’s the same. She’s in love with you.”
Did her father think he wasn’t mad about Brea in return? “I’m in love with her more.”
That seemed to take Preacher Bell aback. “Then clearly, I don’t understand what’s happening. But I know what’s troubling me. In today’s day and age, things like tradition, marriage, and the family unit seem old-fashioned and unimportant to many—”
“Not to me. I want those things.” He just needed a chance to prove that he could make Brea happy.
“I’m glad to hear that. I grew up in a house filled with faith, love, and constancy. I tried to give Brea the same after her mother passed away. She deserves that in the future.”
“She does. You did an amazing job, sir. I love everything about her, especially her enormous heart. I’ve