Lindsey’s Wolves(66)
*
Lindsey marched over and flung the door open once more, pushing Alex out of the way. She wasn’t sure who she was angrier with right now, the unrelenting jerks on the inside of the house, or the … well, unrelenting jerks outside.
The priest-looking fellow whipped back around. “Lindsey. Please, a moment.” Pastor Stone motioned toward the street.
“Right here is fine.” She crossed her arms as Ryan saddled up beside her and grasped the back of her neck with one hand.
“We-we’d really prefer to speak to you in private.”
“And I’d prefer to stay here on the front step.” She tapped one foot and glared at the trio. Gripping her hands tucked under her arms, she managed to avoid shaking in front of them. The last thing she wanted was for them to see her fear.
Stone glanced at Ryan over her shoulder and then back at Lindsey. “Lindsey, my lost, lost lamb of God, I’ve known you your entire life. Surely you don’t believe I would harm you? Some privacy would be prudent.”
Exasperated beyond reason, Lindsey shook Ryan’s hand from her shoulder and took several steps forward. The good Pastor and his flanks backed up to accommodate her.
Even without the ability to communicate with Ryan telepathically, she could feel the hostility at her back. His eyes burned into her. He wouldn’t hesitate to pounce given the opportunity.
“What? What’s so damn important, you can’t speak to me in front of my friends? I left your congregation four years ago. I’m done. You’re not going to convince me to return. I’ve moved on.”
“My lamb, it’s customary, at a certain point in our lives, for our members to … grasp their religious convictions fully and with intent.”
“What the hell are you talking about? I’m not grasping anything,” she hissed. She didn’t know why she was bothering to practically whisper just because this asshole chose to.
“Your twenty-second birthday is next week. Traditionally—”
“What business is that of yours? What does my birthday have to do with anything?”
He cleared his throat, looking only marginally appalled by her forceful words.
“Your grandmother, God rest her soul, had made arrangements for your place among our flock…”
“My grandmother? My dead grandmother? She’s gone. Who cares what she arranged. Look,” she lifted both hands, “I don’t care what Grandma Walters may or may not have desired concerning my soul, I’m done with you people. You hear me? Done. D. O. N. E. Done. Stop coming here. Stop terrorizing my roommate. Enough is enough. Got it?” She shook with anger.
One step back and Ryan clasped her arm, dragging her backward. “You heard the lady. Don’t return.”
“Take some time to mull it over, my lamb. God needs you on his side. Pray about it, I implore you.” He held up a worn Bible and bowed his head in silent prayer as Ryan yanked her into the apartment.
“God almighty,” he said as soon as he shut the door. “What the hell was he spouting about? He’s insane.”
Ryan pulled Lindsey into his embrace and Alex sandwiched her from behind.
A sob escaped her, and then another, until she was full-out crying. Sniffling. Eyes watering. Crying. Like she was a toddler.
Both men soothed her with gentle caresses.
“Are they gone?” Jess’s voice forced Lindsey to glance up as her friend handed her a tissue.
“I hope so,” she sputtered.
Jess glanced out the window. “Nope. Not gone. They’re standing in the same spot, arms lifted in the air, fucking praying… Oh, wait, now the tall guy is kneeling on the ground pleading with his fire-and-brimstone God to save us all from our sins.” She let go of the curtain. “At least that’s what I assume.”
She headed for the kitchen before turning back with raised eyebrows. “So, who feels safe? Wanna spend the night, boys?”
Her chuckle trailed out of the room.
Lindsey pulled from the grasp of her men and looked at them both. “Please?”
“What? Stay here?” Ryan scrunched up his face. “We’d all be more comfortable and have more space if we went to my parents. At least we’d have several rooms. No offense, but your apartment is claustrophobic.”
“Come on. Just tonight. Jessica doesn’t want to go to your parent’s, and we can’t leave her here. She’d never be able to sleep.”
Both Ryan and Alex groaned.
She knew she had them. “I’ll owe you one.”
“You’ll owe us way more than ‘one,’ cariña. How big is your bed? Is it even a queen?”
“Yes, and you can’t possibly sleep there.” She lowered her voice. “Jess would have a cow.”