Page 53 of The Love of Priest

"There's so much shit the world can offer you, G. You just have to put yourself out there. Life don't stop giving until you in the grave." Priest was living up to his name as he preached to Britain. She liked to sell herself short a lot, only because she feared the possibility of falling on her ass. She was safe in every decision she made.

Britain let out a sigh. "I don't know, Priest."

Priest intertwined his fingers with hers. They were hand in hand as she gazed down at him. Everything with Britain just felt so organic and right. Priest felt compelled to give her whatever she wanted, even though she didn’t ask for anything.

"Tell me somewhere you've always wanted to go." Priest smiled up at her lightly.

Britain couldn't contain the smile that broke out on her face. "I've had some inspiration, but definitely Italy," She let out a light laugh.

Priest nodded, satisfied with her choice. It was evident that her inspiration came from him enlightening her about his vacation to Italy that turned into a six-month long stay. Those six months were when Priest felt the most carefree. He was content with the fact that no one knew who he was, and all intentions were pure. "Great choice.” He nodded.

"Priest, what is this all about? Really?" Britain skeptically asked.

"I'll send you to Italy for as long as you want. Bring a friend." He shrugged as if his offer was something so minuscule.

Britain raised a questioning brow. "Bring a friend? Why can't you come with me?" She pouted her plump lips.

Priest let out a drained sigh. "I'm tied up in all this court shit." He ran a hand down his face. "They labeled me as a flight risk, so I gotta stay in The States."

"Well, Italy can wait then." Britain shrugged, not dwelling on the thought.

Priest shook his head. A part of him wasn't sure how he should tell Britain that there may be no chance for him to visit Italy with her in the future. He was confident in himself and his legal team, but life had a funny way of working. Shit could be in his favor one minute, and the next, his entire world could be crashing down. It was his reality. Priest had faced it already, but he wasn't sure if Britain could. They both were already attached.

"C'mon. You and Kaymen's girl, Jadey, take the trip, my treat," Priest continued to offer. "I'll have you guys on a jet as soon as we get back to Harlem."

Britain squinted her already slanted cat-like eyes. She was mentally questioning herself before she began questioning him. "You don't want me to be in New York during your trial. Is that it?" She planted both of her hands on her hips.

Another sigh slipped from between Priest's lips as he sat up on his elbows. "Britain?—"

"First, you make it clear that you don't want me present, which I completely understand, but now you're trying to fly me off to Italy," Britain highlighted to him. "Priest, what are you hiding?" Her eyes seared into his. Priest wasn't a liar, and he wasn't about to become one today.

"I'm not hiding anything. Shit is just complicated." Priest shrugged, hoping Britain would bring an end to this discussion.

Britain rose from his lap and took a seat beside him. "Priest, did you do it?"

"Do what, Britain?"

"What they are accusing you of," she clarified. "Priest, let me know what I'm getting myself into." Her eyes seemed to be imploring some sort of honesty from him.

Priest sat up, facing Britain. "What I do or what people think I did has nothing to do with you. I wouldn't put someone I care about in the line of scrutiny or danger," Priest assured Britain. "You're gonna hear a lot of different shit about me; however, if it didn't come from me, it's not true."

Britain pursed her lips before offering him a nod of her head. Priest was an honest guy. If she wanted to know something, all she really had to do was ask.

"You're not getting rid of me during your trial," Britain gave him a fair warning with a side eye.

Priest chuckled with a nod of his head. "Heard’ju."

"Promise me you'll go to Italy with me once the time is right." Britain outstretched her pinky, hoping Priest would interlock it with his.

She grew confused once Priest let out a sigh, a heavy one at that. "What's wrong?" she asked, reaching over to caress his face like she always did.

"I don't make broken promises. I only promise shit I can commit to," Priest explained with a shrug, hoping he didn't have to go into great detail about why he couldn't fulfill his half of the promise.

"I've seen you commit to a lot of things. I'm sure you can commit to joining me in Italy," Britain asserted with a wave of her hand.

"It's not that I don’t want to commit to it," Priest clarified for her. "It's my presence I can't commit to. Truth is, my life is a gamble. I don't know if things will play out in my favor or not," he admitted.

Britain knew he was alluding to the fact that he could possibly be convicted. It was everywhere in the press and media that the prosecutor was pushing for a life sentence for Priest. Britain thought it was inhumane that they were striving to put this man behind bars for the rest of his life. However, the allegations that were being held against Priest were just as inhumane.

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