Page 106 of Intolerable Bishop

“Mhmm, say it a few more times, my friend. Maybe you’ll convince yerself, but not me. I know what she’s like. It starts with just a glance yer way or a smile that you know is only for you and no one else exists. Then she touches ya. It could be a hug or a kiss, but the feeling lingers, and her taste sticks with you, making ya crave more, never able to get enough. But the real kicker is…she sees into your soul. The warts and all, and she doesn’t care. Ya are the way ya are, and she loves ya anyway.” I sighed and bit my lip. I’d give up anything in my life except for three things…Lip, my brothers not by blood, and Snowflake. The world could take the rest, and I’d shrug.

“What in the ever-loving fuck? Did you just come on my seat? If you did, you owe me a detailing.”

“Please…well, maybe a little,” I teased, smiling at him because I knew it would annoy the shit out of him.

“She’s not a witch. Nor is she some mystical unicorn or siren or sacred virgin sent from the heavens. She’s a girl. Fucking hot…sure, but still just a girl with tits and a hole to be used. Get a grip, or your lovesick brain is going to get you killed.”

“You don’t get it, but you will.” I looked out the window.

“What exactly don’t I get?” We turned into the airfield, and Nash drove around the back of the hanger as I thought about how to answer his question. Parking, he turned in his seat to look at me. “Are you going to answer?”

I ran my hand through my hair. “If I make it back alive, it’s because of Snowflake.”

“Pfft. Bullshit.” Nash snapped his fingers at me. “You need to snap out of it. You have a mission to do, and that is the only thing you should focus on.” I grabbed Nash’s arm before he could get out. “What?”

“I need ya to promise me something, and this is no joke. I’m being serious.”

“Okay, what is it?”

“If I don’t make it back for any reason. Please take care of her.” Nash swallowed and rolled his eyes, and I gripped his arm a little harder. “I mean it. There is no one I trust more to keep her alive. Please, do this for me.”

He let out a long sigh, his finger tapping on the steering wheel. “Fine. Yes, I’ll do it. I’ll make sure Princess is safe, but don’t expect me to fucking fall in love or some crap.”

“Thanks.”

Pushing open the door, I got out and grabbed my bag. I looked at the jet sitting in the hanger, the pilot already doing his safety inspection. This was it. Kill my childhood friend and her family or be killed myself. Great choice.

Fucking great choice.

AUGUST 14 – SUNDAY 1:00 PM

Theo

Cutting the motorcycle engine, I got off and removed my gloves and helmet. I’d sat up and watched Ren pace all night long. She refused to rest, and nothing that Blake or I said or did was getting her to stop. It was bad enough that she was worried about losing yet another person she loved, but now she was freaked out about what Blake and I would have to do on the same day. She didn’t exactly have a great track record with people dying around her, so it was easy to see why she was all up in her head.

Unfortunately, I had left this morning to head into the office to work with my dad for a couple of hours. Nash had arrived as I was pulling out. Training was either going to go really well or really bad. You never knew with those two.

Ren stepped outside with Blake, and I smiled when I got closer. “Hi, how are you feeling now?” I put my hands on her shoulders. Her eyes were red from lack of sleep, and she was still fidgety, but she seemed a little calmer.

“I’m okay, I guess. Nash worked me hard this morning, and I was tired enough that I caught a couple hours of sleep. The worry hasn’t gone away, but I’m finally able to sit still, so yay for me.”

“I want you to come for a ride with me.” She looked at the bike and then at me. “Trust me, it’s the perfect thing to clear your head and stop worrying for a little while.” The moment she started to nibble her bottom lip, I knew I had her. “There’s a place I want to show you, and it will be just you, me, and the open road. You know you want to say yes,” I said and smirked at her.

“Alright, I’ll go. Just let me get changed.”

As soon as she was inside, I nodded for Blake to follow me down to the bike, not wanting Ren to overhear me.

“What’s up,” Blake asked, eyeing me suspiciously.

“I want to do something, and I’m hoping you’ll back me on it.” Crossing my arms, I glanced at the cabin. “She needs to get out of here for a little while and get her mind off Myles. It’s drudging up the shit with her aunt, or who she thinks is her aunt, and of course, her mom.”

Blake leaned against his car. “Yeah, she was holding it together by a thread all night. I’m fine with you guys going for a ride. Why wouldn’t I be?”

“I want to take her away for a few days,” I said, expecting an explosion with a hell no, but instead, he nodded.

“Where do you want to go?”

“Seattle. There’s lots to see, and I found a gallery there that has her mom’s paintings.”