CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
VAN
We fucked up.
Oh, we fucked up so badly and there is no way to explain our actions. The three of us fell for her and allowed our want for her to overshadow everything. We should have come clean but we didn’t. Kye and Hudson regret doing it but not me, I wouldn’t change a single fucking thing because she was– is ours.
“What the fuck are we going to do?” Kye asks. We tried to coax Peyton out of the bathroom for over an hour but she refused. This morning we went to check on her only to find her room empty, all of her things were gone. Hudson rushed outside to check if her car was gone and it was. He called his stepmother to ask if she had seen Peyton. Lenior told him that Peyton had decided to head to Brown early to get set up. She wasn’t happy that her daughter fled without saying goodbye, but the only hope we have is that Peyton promised to come back when the house was fixed.
I scrub a hand down my face. “Nothing.” Both of them swing their gazes to me.
“The fuck does that mean?” Hudson snaps.
“It means what the fuck did we expect? You really think everyone in this damn fucking town will be cool with her fucking all three of us?” I shout. Both of their faces fall.
“I love her, man,” Hudson admits, shocking me.
“Same,” Kye mutters. I eye both of my best friends and shake my head. “Oh, so you’re telling us you don’t feel anything for her?” The angry lilt to Kye’s tone has my shoulders falling.
“I took the collar off for her so what do you think, asshole?” I force out through clenched teeth.
“I feel… empty without her, man,” Hud says quietly.
I sigh and nod my agreement. “Yeah, man, I get it. Shit doesn’t feel right without her.” Both of them grunt their agreement. Tired of feeling lost and hating not knowing what she’s thinking, I pull my phone from my pocket. Both of the guys grin at me as if they know what I’m about to do.
Saint - You can run but you can’t hide from us, Bunny.
Goliath - What he said…
Mac - Come home.
Mac - Please.
My breath hitches when I see she has read our messages. I wait for the three little dots to appear and don’t realize I’m silently praying for her response until Hudson growls and storms out of the living room. It’s been over an hour and she still hasn’t replied. Defeat courses through me. I finally found the perfect girl who doesn’t curse me for my urges, who forced me out of the prison I had locked myself in and now she’s gone.
Three weeks later…
Today will be my last service. The town wasn’t exactly happy when I announced that I would be resigning, but I no longer feel the calling I once did. I do have a calling, but it isn’t to the man above. It's to a beautiful blonde in Rhode Island who has no idea we are all about to uproot our lives and chase her. Hudson, Kye and I all got together and managed to find a company to finish the remodeling on Ken and Lenior’s home at a decent price. The town even offered to throw another fundraiser to help them out. Ever since she left, the guys and I have been lost.
Three days after she left, I told the guys I was leaving to go after her. Their reply was one I didn’t expect. They both admitted to wanting to leave this place the second they realized she was gone, but they refused to leave without me. I had no idea they never left this town because of me, but they are my brothers and we stick together. I found solace in this place but now, it doesn’t feel like home without her.
Hudson told his dad and Lenior the truth about what’s happening between us and Peyton. Lenior lost her shit and refused to accept it. Ken just said he was disappointed. It wasn’t the reaction we were hoping for but it still won’t stop us from loving her. We all decided to ring her father before Lenior had the chance to spill the beans. It shocked the three of us to our core when he laughed and said he already knew. He proceeded to tell us that Peyton had admitted she had feelings for the three of us a few weeks back. He said he knew his daughter was too much for one man to handle. He was the one who gave us her address and told us to chase her because she is worth the risk. We couldn’t agree more.
Hudson and Kye joined me today, knowing that I’d need their help to clear my office out after the service. I know for a fact Lenior has already run her mouth to the town about my relationship with her daughter. All morning I’ve been getting glares and quite a few people are missing from Sunday service. I wrap up and shake the hands of a few locals, Ken being the last one to come up to me. With a tight smile on his face, I hold my hand out to him. He looks over my shoulder and I know Kye and Hud are standing behind me. He sighs and places his hand in mine.
“I think you have one last confession to hold, Father.” My brows draw together. “I think you may need… back up for this one.” He shoots us all a weird look, then follows the others out the doors and closes them behind him, but not before flicking his gaze toward the confessional as if urging the three of us. When the doors close, I decide to play along. I open the door to the confessional, and both of the guys poke their heads in. The space is too small to fit all of us. I draw the partition open and my eyes widen instantly. Both Kye and Hudson go stiff at the sight.
“Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned.” Her voice is like a balm to my dark soul.
I clear my throat and swallow audibly before I speak. “Would you like to confess your sins?” She slowly turns her head toward us, the sight of her beautiful face has my breath hitching. She looks between the three of us.
“I have had impure thoughts about my priest.” I suck in a sharp inhale. “I’ve done unspeakable things with my stepbrother.” Hudson groans and bites down on his fist to remain silent. “I enjoy watching my stepbrother and his best friend fuck, but I enjoy it more when they include me.” Kye fucking whimpers. “Forgive me, Father, for I want to continue sinning with them.” Kye darts next door and yanks her door open. She stares at him with a devilish smirk. “I haven’t finished confessing my sins,” she purrs.
Kye reaches out and cups her face between his hands. “Baby, God won’t absolve you of your sins after the four of us defiled this very confessional.” Laughter bursts out of her. Kye silences it when he smashes his lips against hers. Hudson and I both leap out of the confessional. Hud tugs back and helps Peyton out. She stares up at him with an unsure look in her eyes.
“You told my mom.” It’s not a question. Hud nods and grips her face between his hands.
“Yeah, baby, I want you and I don’t give a fuck what anyone has to say about it.” She pushes up onto her tiptoes and presses her lips against his. Hudson groans and jerks back. “You need to stop that or we will defile this church again.” The three of them laugh. Peyton takes a deep breath, then slowly turns to face me.
“I want the man beneath the collar, no reservations. I need all of you.” I smirk and move forward, then grip the back of her neck, forcing her into me as I bend down and skim my lips over hers.
“Bunny, you made me a Dirty Priest and now you have to deal with the aftermath of your creation. Now, get your ass into my office and bend over that desk. We have to punish you for leaving.”
She scoffs. “You lied to me!”
“You took our pussy away,” Hudson snarks.
“I can’t,” she mumbles.
“Why the hell not?” Kye snaps.
“I’m on my period,” she mutters.
Laughter comes from the other two as I smile down at her. “Oh, baby, allow me to feast on the blood of Christ one last time in this place and mark you with the holy cross.”