Velvet Fire - Ashby Crime Family Romance

Father Eric was a good man and the world was so filled with bad men that we needed all the good ones we could get.

“Who would do this? He was so…good. I’ve known him almost my whole life.” She sobbed.

I listened to Bonnie talk as I drove the familiar path to the big brick church with the red doors and golden handles, thinking of another story I’d seen about murdered priests in the area. I wondered if they were related. Was there a serial killer targeting priests or was it more sinister? Was there something about Father Eric I didn’t know?

“People can be shitty, Bon. Maybe this was random.”

“Maybe, but, God, Maze, his throat…so much blood.”

The hurt in Bonnie’s voice was evident and twisted my own in knots. I liked Father Eric, appreciated him, but he’d been a part of Bonnie’s life since he came to Glitz when she was five years old. I stepped on the gas and shook my head, heart breaking for my best friend.

“Try not to think about it, Bonnie. Back off asshole!” I shook my head and tapped the brake. “Sorry Bon, some guy in a red SUV is riding my ass and not in a good way.”

“Maisie,” she said, a teary laugh escaping despite her best efforts.

“Sorry, Bon. Seriously dude,” I shouted out the window. “Back the fuck off!” Just when I tapped the gas, the fucker hit my bumper.

“This asshole just hit me Bonnie, I’m pulling over but I promise to be there as soon as I can. Stay put, yeah? Cops are there, right?”

I could tell she was barely holding it together when she said, “Yeah. Where else am I gonna go? I wanted to talk to Father Eric today because my parents will be gone for so long.”

Dammit, she was all alone and I’d forgotten.

“I’ll stay on the line, obviously Glitz isn’t as safe as I thought.”

A quick look in the side mirror as I came to a stop revealed a big ass dude with a buzz cut meant to hide his balding head coming my way.

“Great, some bald-headed fuck with a scowl on his face just hit me and is looking at me like I’m the problem. Hang tight, Bon.”

I rolled down the window and stepped out of the car.

The man wore sunglasses so the only thing I could make out besides his pale skin and bald head was the frown on his face. He stopped a couple feet from me and said nothing.

“Just give me your insurance and we can let them sort it out.”

What the fuck was up with this creep?

“No insurance,” he growled and folded his arms in what was meant to be menacing, but the dude looked like a stiff wind could blow him over, at least compared to the men they grew in Texas. Hell even compared to Virgil and his brothers.

“Then there’s nothing for us to talk about.”

I leaned around him and got a quick look at his plate. “587 dash PTC. Perfect.”

I gave the guy one last look, noticing the way he carried himself, like former military. Or more likely, wannabe military.

“Just one more thing,” he said, his voice deep and angry, which definitely caught my attention.

“What?” I turned around, ready to tell this asshole I wasn’t interested in whatever he was selling, just in time to see a big fist covered in tattoos flying at my fucking face.

After that it was fucking lights out for me.

Chapter Twenty-One

Virgil

“Where in the hell is Katherine?” Ma stood with an Irish whiskey in one hand and a joint in the other, dressed in purple Chanel like it was some special day instead of just another Sunday dinner with the family.

“I specifically said that I wanted all of my children here tonight. All of them.”

I didn’t know who the glare in her eyes was reserved for, one of us boys or my lone, absent sister.

“You say that every Sunday, Ma.”

Cal flashed a boyish smile and wrapped his arms around Sadie, who smiled prettily, so happy to be surrounded by family.

“And I meant it too. Every Sunday.”

She smacked a kiss to Cal’s cheek and then proceeded to wipe the lipstick smudge away with her thumb. “Anyone heard from Kat?”

“Kat is right here,” my crazy-ass sister said in a sing-song voice as she breezed into the sitting room where we’d all gathered for drinks. Even Ma’s valet, Thomas, was there.

“Sorry I’m late even though it looks like dinner hasn’t started yet, but I had a few fires to put out at the hotel.”

Jasper’s brows immediately pulled into a frown. “Anything I need to know about?”

Kat headed straight for the bar, pouring an oversized glass of red wine and killing half of it in one big gulp. After the second sip her shoulders lowered from her ears and by the third, they were set in something close to relaxation.