Crucifixed (Royal Bastards MC: NYC Book 2) B.B. Blaque (top romance novels .TXT) 📖

didn’t seem startled when I said it. Shocking. “Can I get you somethin’ to drink? We got coffee, soda, water, whatever . . . just no communion wine.”

“No . . . I mean, yes. Can I have a glass of Irish whiskey . . . neat? Thank you . . .”

She trailed off and didn’t say my name—it was a safe bet she wouldn’t. I hoped she didn’t go back to the Giovanni thing. I left him behind at the orphanage, along with Gingersnap and any stupid ideas I’d had about life as a priest. Like that ever woulda worked out in my favor.

“Gimme a second, sister, and I’ll have one of the waitresses bring some drinks. From the looks of ya, I think you’ll need it.”

Is that the nun from earlier?

She shook her head, lowered her eyes, and then looked back to me. “You might wanna get one for yourself. I think you’ll need it if what I heard is true.”

What the fuck did she hear?

I ducked out and waved over one of the girls to grab some drinks. I woulda been lyin’ to myself if I said I wasn’t nervous and chompin’ at the bit to find out what was goin’ on. When the chick came in with our drinks, I took the nun’s advice and slammed one.

“Well . . . get on with it, sister. This suspense shit is killin’ me.” I crushed out my smoke and lit another one right behind it. “Is it Fi?”

“Yes . . . I’m afraid it is.” She sipped her drink and fidgeted uncomfortably. “Sister Fiona confided something in me today . . . we’re close and she trusts me . . . and well, I know about . . . about . . . what you’ve done together . . . what you did this morning. It’s not my place to pass judgment, but I lit candles for you both.”

Oh, for fuck’s sake.

“Lemme guess, she’s pregnant and didn’t tell me . . . they wanna send her away? Is that it? Is that why she was tryin’ so hard to reach me?” She’d always been adamant about no condoms, but we’d used the rhythm method forever. It’d worked up to then and we figured it always would. I was good at pullin’ out long before I popped. We said if there’d ever been an oops kid, we’d keep it. They’d never look for her with the Bastards and, honestly, I’d thought of knockin’ her up on purpose just to have her with me. I could never bring myself to trap her like that, but damn, the selfish prick part of me woulda done it in a New York minute.

Maybe this is it.

It hasn’t even been a day. I’ll take her back.

“No . . . I’m afraid that would be too simplistic.” She took a good swallow of the drink and continued, “I know you truly love her . . . she loves you too even though . . . She’s in real trouble that goes well beyond anything you might imagine.”

“You’re damned right I love her! Madly and truly as hell! Now, tell me what the fuck is goin’ on. You pulled me out of an important meeting, so unless you wanna tell me what you were hellbent on tellin’ me, I’ve got things to do. I just came in from Los Angeles last night and I’m wiped out.”

She took a deep sigh and turned directly to me.

“Okay, I’ll get to it then. We heard rumors . . . we fully believe them to be true. Horrendous things about some of the priests and wealthy parishioners who are supposedly auctioning . . .” She looked like she was crumbling inside but pulled the stiff upper lip thing and kept goin’. “They’re selling nuns’ virginity. The purest of the pure are being sold to the highest bidders. We don’t know how deep it goes or how many are involved.”

Get the fuck outta here! It was like I’d been hit by a bus. I grabbed my drink and tipped it up until it was gone. She’s not a virgin, though. Not by a long shot.

The sister finished hers, shook, and made a face like it’d gone down hard.

“Sister Fiona has been with the church her whole life and a nun for quite some time. She’s not old, but she’s got longevity that makes them believe she’s one of the purest in our parish. Her relative youth also makes her appealing in a carnal way as I’m sure you know. We heard stories that they want to take her to them . . . As you can see, there’s a big problem given your relationship.”

I got up and started to pace. Jesus, Mother Mary, and Joseph. Evil motherfuckers! I didn’t know what to say or ask—my ability to say a fuckin’ thing was on a long pause. I only knew if she was in that kinda trouble, I’d protect her like I always had.

Hold your shit together and get some answers.

“Okay, sister . . . say this is true . . . why doesn’t she just come hide with me? She said nothin’ to me about it. We could keep her safe. She knows damned well I’d kill for her . . . no disrespect, just the truth.” I took a long drag on my smoke. I felt hollow, and anger like I’d never known was building inside me. “Why’d she send you?”

‘Cause you gave her walkin’ papers, dummy.

She ran both hands over her gown and tried to smooth it out. The fear in her eyes was clear even in the darkened club. I didn’t like what I was feelin’ off her vibe.

“I know you and your club have a rough reputation. We know who you are and what you are capable of. That being said,