Beast, Part Two (The Church #5)

Royal Crown

chapter Seven

Beast

T he last three nights, Summer has allowed me to sleep in her room. And although she hasn’t cried since that first night, I can still feel her sadness. It feels as if my skin is being peeled back inch by inch. But it is what I deserve.

Gabe’s giggles have me tuning back in. He and Emory are in the backyard chasing bubbles from Emory’s new bubble machine along with a small dog and four German Shepherds.

Although we are all locked in this house, it has been harder for the kids. Especially Gabe. He doesn’t understand why we can’t leave. So, everyone has tried to accommodate him and Emory. We’ve purchased balls, board games, movies, toys, anything we can think of to keep them happy. Even Summer, who still needs her rest, spent all day yesterday watching Disney movies with them.

“Are you guys ready for some lunch?” I ask.

They both stop in the middle of the yard and run up to me.

“Hulk, can we have chicken nuggets?”

“We have to see what Emory’s mom is cooking.”

Emory starts moving her hands. “My mom is making cookies just for you.” she signs to Gabe.

I relay her message to him.

“Yay, come on doggies,” he cheers and rushes into the house. Emory and all five dogs follow close behind him.

I step into the home and make my way into the kitchen. All the women are here. I haven’t really spoken to any of them. Other than Albany, I don’t actually know them. I know who belongs to who, but I haven’t talked to them.

Albany’s twin with the red hair seems the most skittish around me. I know she is Hawk’s wife. The woman with the soft curves belongs to Seth and Lucien. Only thing I know about her, is that my son adores her and she’s Emory’s mom. The girl with the blue dyed tips in her hair is Many’s girlfriend. She talks a lot and blurts out random facts. When we were first introduced, she told me every famous person she knew with the first name Gabriel. The older woman is Ms. Reese, who I found out is Albany and Hawk’s wife’s mother that was supposed to be dead.

The most important woman in the room draws my gaze. Summer is sitting at the island. Her long braids with the curly pieces hang down her back. She’s in another oversized shirt that clearly doesn’t belong to her. For the first time, it stands out to me that the shirt isn’t hers.

“Whose shirt are you wearing?” The kitchen gets quiet when I ask my question. All eyes turn to me except hers. She continues to look down at her phone.

“I asked you a question.”

She still does not look up at me.

“Mommy, Hulk is talking to you,” Gabe says standing beside his mother.

She turns to him with a beautiful smile. “I hear him, baby. But Hulk has no right to worry about me or what I’m wearing.” She looks up at me and glares. “I am no longer his concern.”

“Look how she treats you. She’s flaunting another man’s clothes in your face. She doesn’t respect you. Cut her throat out,” the demon whispers. “Cut all their throats out. They’re laughing at you.”

“Gabriel, what are you doing?” Summer’s voice brings me out of my haze.

Somehow, I’m no longer standing at the doorway like I was. I’m right beside her now, crowding her space. When did I move? Glancing around the room, all the women seem to be watching me cautiously. When I look to Albany, her eyes are narrowed at me as if she’s expecting me to do something.

I take a step back, placing space between myself and Summer. I need to get out of the kitchen.

The demon in my head laughs. I escape around the corner, placing my back against the wall. I shut my eyes and fight to quiet the voice.

“Okay, I don’t care what any of you say, that man scares the s.h.i.t out of me,” Hawk’s wife says.

“He’s not bad,” Summer quickly comes to my defense. “He’s actually a good guy. He just isn’t himself right now.”

“Yeah,” Albany adds. “He’s not himself.”

Pushing away from the wall, I head for the front door, needing to get far away from this house and Summer.

“Beast?” Priest stops me before I can leave.

I turn to face him. He eyes me wearily.

“You okay?” he asks.

I nod.

“Well, come on. Phoenix is back, we need to talk.”

I follow Priest into his downstairs office. Already inside are Lucien, Hawk, and Zel, sitting on the leather sofa in the corner of the room. Many is sitting on the windowsill with his back against the glass. An older black man I’ve never met is sitting on the edge of Priest’s desk. Maksim is sitting in one of two chairs in front of Priest’s desk. Priest takes his seat in his office chair. I close the door behind me and lean my back against the wall beside it.

“Okay,” Priest starts. “We’re all here. What did you find out?” he directs his question to the older man.

“Looks like this has been in the making for a while. That order was in the works nine months ago.”

“What would’ve triggered them to put out an excommunication order on us nine months ago?” Zel asks leaning up from his seat.

“Hawk,” Lucien answers. “Nine months ago, Hawk went rogue. Pope was on our ass to bring him in.”

“It would explain that feeling I kept getting around Luca. I always felt as if he had something up his sleeve those last few times we met. It would also explain why he threatened to retire me. Luca did this,” Priest says.

Maksim shakes his head. “Your Pope might have sent out the decree, but I’m telling you he didn’t have the power to make that call alone.”

“So, we’re back to Corbyn putting this in action?” I ask.

Maksim leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Possibly, but no one person owns the Church. As much power as Corbyn has, not even he could make that call alone. He would need approval from the family heads.”

“You’re telling me the entire has it out for us?” Lucien asks.

“I doubt it,” the older guy I’m assuming is Phoenix says. “I run in the same circles as these people. Most of them have their heads so far up their own asses they couldn’t care less what’s going on around them.”

“He’s right,” Maksim adds. “To get a bill like an excommunication passed, you need two things. First, you need a handful of the family heads to sign the bill. Once you have your signatures, the bill goes before the committee, which consist of the family heads, to agree on it.

“However, if there is no opposition, the bill may only need two or three signatures to get passed. And Beast can confirm, though the RC used the Church for their crimes, they didn’t really care about you guys. Killing off six of you wouldn’t lose them any sleep.”

“Okay,” Lucien shrugs. “Now we just have to haunt down everyone on that committee and kill them.”

“Whoa,” Phoenix says holding up his hands in surrender. “I don’t doubt you guys are capable, but that’s not wise.”

“What would you have us do then?” Hawk questions rubbing a hand through his hair. “We can’t just sit here like this doing nothing.”

Priest holds his hands up. “He’s not saying that, Hawk. He’s saying we need another approach.”

“Absolutely,” Phoenix cosigns. “You don’t need to go after all the heads, you just need to talk to the ones that signed that bill. If you can convince them to withdraw their signatures, the excommunication order will get tossed out.”

For the first time, we seem to have a plan. For the last two weeks it feels like we’ve been twiddling our thumbs around this house. No matter how big this home is, it will never be big enough. I need to get out of these four walls.

“Yes, you need to feed me before I feast inside this home,” the demon voice in my head grumbles.

“Do you really think we can talk them into withdrawing their signatures?” Zel asks.

“In my dealings with the RC, I’ve learned there’s one thing they value more than anything else.”

“What’s that?” Many asks.

“Secrets and favors. These people have more money than they know what to do with. But what they don’t have around them is loyalty. And the talents you boys offer is something they will want greatly.”

“He’s right,” Priest says. “It’s how I got on Robert’s good side. I did him favors and was always loyal to him and he made sure nothing happened to me in the Church.”

“Alright, then how do we find out who signed that bill?” I ask, stepping away from the wall.

I was optimistic about this new plan. It gave me something tangible I could do.

“Your Pope would have a copy of the bill,” Maksim says.

Zel sighs and Hawk sinks back on the couch.

“Well, we’re back to square one,” Many says in his nasally voice.

“We killed the last Pope six weeks ago,” Priest explains to Maksim.

“Wouldn’t the new one know,” Maksim suggests.

“He would, but they haven’t appointed a new one yet. Some type of delay,” Phoenix says rubbing his chin. “But what about Fox’s records keeper? Don’t they still have those?”

“What’s a records keeper?” Lucien asks.

“Every time a new Pope is chosen, he picks a record keeper. No one knows who he is. It’s the person that would keep all the Pope’s dealings and secrets. This person is appointed so that nothing important ever dies with a Pope,” Priest explains.

“How do we find the records keeper?” Zel asks.

“Luca would have a copy of the contract the record keeper signed. It would be kept outside of the Church since it’s supposed to be top secret.”

“He’s been dead six weeks. I’m sure they cleaned out his apartment,” Lucien states.

Priest shakes his head. “No, they haven’t.”

“How do you know?” I ask.

Priest rolls his eyes as he stands to his feet. “Because I’m that asshole’s next of kin. Hawk, Maksim, Beast, and Many, you’re with me. Zel and Lucien, I need you guys to watch the satellite. You see any heat coming our way you let us know.”

“We got you,” Lucien said.

“I’m heading back out,” Phoenix says getting to his feet. “I’m more helpful to you out in the streets. I’ll keep my ear to the ground for any more information.”

Priest and Phoenix shake hands.

“Thanks for all the help.

Phoenix grins. “We’re family now. That’s what we do. Speaking of,” he winks at Priest. “Let me go speak to my daughters.”

Phoenix nods to all of us before exiting the room.

“Alright, the goal is to go out and get back in as quick as possible. Let’s go.”

We head out of Priest’s office. Hopefully, this outing turns out better than their last one.