28 Seconds: A House of Valentine Novella by Elizabeth Blair

Author:Elizabeth Blair [Blair, Elizabeth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: VPK Publishing
Published: 2016-06-25T18:30:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Although I tried exceptionally hard to get out of the meeting at the church, neither Franco or Cole would hear of it. Instead, after taking ten minutes for them to down sandwiches, they were ushering me down the street the few blocks to the church. Franco was grousing about security, demanding cars be readied for the funeral mass, and Cole was nodding in silent accommodation. Apparently the various families already had representatives at the church and the men would be meeting to discuss seating, safety, and who was actually deemed worthy of admission to my mother’s funeral. They acted like it was a freaking carnival show or wedding and my irritation continued to grow with each step closer.

As soon as we entered the building, we were surrounded by a cluster of Valentine men. Franco squeezed my hand and offered a reassuring smile. “The men aren't much for personal space. They’ll have to learn that about you.”

His words caused the circle to loosen but I still could’ve reached out and touched each of them. I swallowed a shuddering breath, trying to find Cole in the madness but everyone looked the same from my rather short viewpoint.

“Want an arm, spitfire?”

Tony’s quiet voice beside me made me smile and I nodded, tucking my arm into his.

“He had to do a sweep of the hall,” Al explained from my other side. “It’s already been done but Franco wanted Cole specifically to do another.”

I opened by mouth to question his choice of words just as I was yanked into a massive embrace. I was choking before Tony had me free. He gave me an apologetic shrug. “I would’ve slugged him for you but I think there’s a special place in hell for people that do that. Ariana, meet Father Michael.”

He was ancient but spry, maybe? I wasn’t even quite sure how to describe the man before me. He seemed perfectly at ease among the Valentine men and he kept reaching out to touch my head like I was some gift.

“So much like Teresa,” he whispered.

It took everything I had not to snap at him.

“I married them, did you know? And baptized you and Cole. Most of the men here actually.”

“Baptizing the devil’s army,” I groused, low under my breath and Tony fell into a coughing fit as he tried to cover his laughter.

“Sorry, Father. The incense, just-” Tony had to step away fast to get himself under control.

“Will you be taking confession, Ariana? It’s been so long since we talked.”

“Confessionals are closed,” my father spat.

“It’s tradition, Franco,” Father Michael reprimanded. “And your men, I’m sure, could use a little time in the confessional.”

I can’t imagine there were many people my father tolerated insolence from but apparently Father Michael was one of them. They were arguing in polite terms, when a familiar shadow finally appeared beside me.

Cole’s warm touch was on my lower back, his voice low at my ear. “Do you have things to confess, Ariana?”

“To a priest on the Valentine payroll? I think not.

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