Page 174 of The Love of Priest

“You better. You know you’re kinda hardheaded.” She jokingly side-eyed him.

With a laugh, Priest waved her off. "I always listen. I gotta head out, though. I just wanted to tap in with you. Call me if you need anything, please." He rose from his seat, being sure to kiss her cheek prior to leaving.

"See you at Jamari's service," she said as she waved goodbye to him.Priest nodded his head, glad to hear that she would be showing support for Tasha. "Be sure to grab you a newspaper on your way out of here, too," she advised him with a telling eye.

Priest okayed her before making his way out. He grabbed a bag of Britain's favorite chips and Jazzy's favorite candy, along with a newspaper. Priest paid for the items before leaving, despite Carlito assuring him that there was no need. Getting into his car, Priest pressed the button, the engine purring to life. While the car was still in park, he sat the snacks down on the passenger seat before grabbing the newspaper to see why Mrs. Cox advised him to pick one up.

He let out a sigh of annoyance at the sight of his name once again tagged on the front-page headline.

PRIEST JUSTICE INVOLVED IN 12-YR OLD BOY’S HOMICIDE

"You gotta be fucking kidding me, yo," Priest scoffed while shaking his head. He had no idea how the media was making this connection and making it seem like he was involved. Too absorbed in his frustration, Priest opted out of reading the story since he knew nothing said would be accurate. They would rather crucify him as a bad guy than seek the truth.Priest pulled out of his parking space, tossing the newspaper out the window as he sped off. The media could pick at him all day. He didn't care. But when they took the limelight off the fact that Jamari, an innocent 12-year-old boy, got his life snatched away by a careless act of gun violence just to put it on him, Priest drew the line.

Once he arrived at the penthouse, Priest parked the vehicle in the parking garage before making his way up.Upon entrance into the penthouse, Priest’s dark orbs scoped around the home, failing to catch sight of Britain or Jazzlyn. Walking further into the penthouse, Priest was delighted to see Britain standing alongside Talia in the kitchen while Jazzy sat across from them.

"We having cooking lessons or something?" Priest asked with a light chuckle.

Britain, Jazzy, and Talia looked up and smiled at him. "She's teaching me how to make calamari." Britain pointed down at the fresh squid Talia had just taken out of bags in excitement.

Priest screwed his face up at the thought of eating calamari. "Who asked for that?"

Jazzy and Britain glanced at each other cluelessly before they all averted their eyes to Talia, waiting to see who had requested that she serve the calamari. "Sylvia. She told me you guys were having dinner here tonight. Did you guys not know?" Talia questioned as she shifted her questioning eyes between Jazzy and Priest.

From the years of working for Priest, Talia had grown accustomed to Sylvia's sporadic ways. She did things like this all the time, but usually Priest would be notified by her, and he would just let it happen. "I would jump off a cliff before I entertained a conversation with her," Jazzy muttered.

Priest shook his head. "Nah, I didn't know," he clarified. "Do me a favor and stop fixing dinner. I'll take care of you for the inconvenience," Priest assured Talia who obliged.

"You don't need anything else from me?" Talia asked.

Priest shook his head, granting her permission to clean up and leave.

Looking down at her Rolex watch, Jazzy let out a sigh. "Welp, I'm out of here. While you deal with your airhead mother, I gotta go work," she announced as she slid out of her seat.

Priest took a seat at the counter. "I'm not dealing with shit," Priest scoffed with a shake of his head.

"Good luck with that," Jazzy chuckled while patting her brother's shoulder encouragingly.

After a while, Jazzy headed out with Talia, who had successfully cleaned up the kitchen, leaving Britain and Priest alone.

"How was it with everybody?" Priest asked as he rested his hands on her sides as she stood between his legs.

Britain let out a light sigh. "It was fine. They were all really nice. Jazzy and I hung out all day, and she reminds me so much of you," she told him as she sat her hands into his broad shoulders.

Priest smiled. He was glad Britain was easing into his family life with no issues. Aside from Sylvia, everyone enjoyed Britain and what she was doing for Priest's sanity. After a few hours with her, they all understood why she was the one who got taken to the Hamptons, got to stay in his penthouse with him and enjoyed life alongside him. Their relationship just made sense. There was no other way to explain it.

"Nothing crazy came out of her mouth, did it?" Priest asking with a raised brow.

Britain laughed while shaking her head. "Unfortunately, no. She didn't spill the tea about you at all. It was just therapeutic girl talk. She thinks I should become a therapist."

Priest wrapped his strong arms around her, pulling her closer. "I can see that for you, Gioia."

Britain cupped her soft hands around his face, the tamed hairs of his beard tickling her palms as he peered down at her. "What's up?" he asked her when he recognized the questioning look in her brown orbs.

"Something's bothering you," she pointed out. Once she highlighted the burden that was placed on his day, his mind instantly traveled back to the article in the newspaper. Priest could handle the ridicule of the media, but Jamari being involved was different.

"Just some shit inThe Times," Priest admitted dismissively, not really wanting to get into it.

Britain let out a light groan. She dropped her hands from his face and pulled away from his hold. Priest watched as she walked across the oak wood floors to retrieve her phone from the couch where she had left it. She returned to him, this time with her focus on her device as she tapped away on her screen.

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