6. TESTING MY PATIENCE.

BLAZE.

Micah’s fingers touched the phone screen. His eyes showed he didn't believe me.

“I have to see for myself.”

“I just told you that you can't.”

“Why not?” He closed his eyes for a moment then breathed out. “Blaze. It's mandatory at least for me to check on him.”

Did this man understand English or was he dumb? He couldn't see him and that was final.

But his eyes. Lord, those hazel were testing my loyalty. They swept over me like I was the son of the devil. He had never judged me but they weren't exactly holy today. He didn't believe a word I said.

Micah looked from me to his phone screen and began dialing.

This man was sure as hell stupid.

“Drop the phone, Micah”

He didn’t.

“Micah!”

He breathed out, finally showing his exhaustion. “You wouldn’t let me call anyone. You wouldn’t explain. I almost—”

That was it. I had enough of him responding to my orders. I crossed the room in three strides and pinned him against the wall before he could finish. My forearm pressed across his chest, not choking, just holding. I was panting, blood and sweat and the smell of the whiskey I had hours ago rolling off me. His back hit the plaster with a soft thud. Up close, he smelled like incense and fear-sweat and something stupidly clean.

Our faces were inches apart. I could see the exact moment his breathing changed—shallow, quick. His throat worked as he swallowed, Adam’s apple bobbing like a nervous girl’s in one of those old movies. Eyes wide. Not just scared. Something else flickering underneath it that I didn’t have time to name.

“You want explanations?” I growled, voice low. “Here’s the only one you’re getting tonight. They wanted YOU! They took Farris because your fucking public schedule made you an easy target and they figured a priest would come running. You won’t clear it. You won’t leave. Even when you’re damn related to me.”

“Wait. They are after you.”

I let it all out. At least the part where I contained my emotions. “So new rules.”

I leaned in closer. Close enough that if either of us moved half an inch, our mouths would brush. My blood was dripping onto his shoe. “You’re moving in with me. Tonight. You don’t post shit. You don’t walk alone. You don’t breathe without me knowing. And you stay the hell out of my business.”

Micah’s eyes flicked to my mouth, then back up. His voice came out hoarse but steady. “I can’t do that, Blaze.”

“Yes, you can.”

“No, I can't.” He placed a hand on my chest—right over the blood, and gently pushed. Not hard. Just enough. “I appreciate what you did for Farris. I really do. But I won’t hide behind you. I am a priest.”

Oh, God.

He kept blabbering. “It's my duty to serve and I can't just up and leave like you want me to. A priest is supposed to be humble and leave humbly and living with you isn't going to cut it. Okay. I can't and I won’t live in whatever world you’ve built here.”

“Not even if it means you're going to die?” I asked.

There. I saw it. The fear. It disappeared and then acceptance. “If that is what it takes.”

“Do you even listen to yourself, Micah? I'm trying my best to protect you even if I shouldn't. I'm going out of my way. And you're throwing it off!”

His brows furrowed. “I didn't ask for it.” His whispers went even lower. “What exactly are you? What did you do all these years? Did you…Are you…?”

He couldn't finish the words.

“Whatever you think, it's much worse. But I won't ask you again, Micah. You either leave this town or live with me. And the latter doesn't come with your religious duties.”

He took one soft look at me then shook his head. “You can leave.”

“Excuse me?” My grip loosened.

He slipped sideways, out from under my arm, and headed for the bedroom like he was going to pack a bag to go anywhere else but with me.

I let him. For now.

I knew I’d pushed too hard. The rift between us had just cracked wider, and part of me—the part that still remembered the quiet kid who used to pray at dinner that drove me nuts like I was fighting the demons. But the rest of me, the part that kept Haloshul’s blood off the cathedral steps, knew it was necessary.

I stepped outside and found Rico leaning against the black SUV.

“New detail,” I told him. “The priest.”

Rico narrowed his eyes. “Boss, do you want the one you left just now or…?”

I shot back a glare that had him swallowing. “Yes, him. You keep a close eye on him from today. Make sure he doesn't see you. I want to know what he does and who he talks to. Don't make a mistake. Got it?”

Rico nodded once. “Yes, boss.”

I pressed a hand to my bleeding side and looked back at the lit window. Micah was inside, probably praying as usual.

I would wait to see how long he could refuse me. I looked away and stared back at my reflection from the rearview mirror as the car's engine started.

We drove a distance when I commanded the driver. “Stop.”

He obeyed and my men looked confused. “Let's wait a little longer.” My gaze wandered to his house.

Flashes of his lips, his pants when I held him came to my mind and I couldn't help it.

Minutes turned into hours and then the sun started to rise. By now my men were tired, they had slept while I kept watch.

The driver snored and his head tilted making his body jerk so fast he was awake. He cleaned his drool with his arm sleeve.

“Drive,” I said calmly and the diver turned the key in the engine. The car moved, the house figure disappearing from my view.