Page 35 of Nun’s Prayer

“No, I doubt he could identify us either,” she replied.

I exchanged a look with Belladonna. “Fuck,” she muttered and got up and walked off.

“What am I missing?” Dagger demanded.

“Priest,” I murmured, nodding at him.

“Babe, you know how many men use Priest as their name? Hell, the RBMC has a prospect called that.”

“This one has been in and out of the country, and wears expensive suits like he was born in them. Priest has a shield Belladonna can’t break and isn’t what he seems,” I replied.

Dagger relaxed back, her resting bitch gaze on Priest, who turned around and held it.

“Most flinch when they see me,” she murmured.

“Nerves of steel,” I stated.

“Come here,” she called to him.

I sat back. If Dagger were going to call him out, I’d stand by her.

Priest sauntered over, in no rush, but I noted how deliberate his steps were. Despite his casualness, he gave himself away. Priest was ready for trouble.

“Did you really think you’d walk in here and I wouldn’t be aware?” Dagger confronted him.

“I’ve been here a day now,” Priest replied. He looked surprised and confused, but my gut told me otherwise.

Dagger leaned forward. “You’re going with that, Priest?” she asked.

“You’ve lost…” his words broke off as Blade leapt onto his back and locked herself in, holding a knife to his throat. He yanked his head away.

“Don’t bullshit us,” she whispered dangerously.

Priest held his hands up. “I think you’ve got the wrong end of the stick.”

“Have we?” Dagger purred and looked amused. “You’re not an assassin?”

There was nothing. Priest gave little away—not a flicker, a flinch, absolutely zero. But I knew he intended to lie.

“No.”

“Liar,” Blade whispered, and a trickle of blood dripped down his throat.

“Look, I’m just a nomad…”

“No, you are not. It’s a great cover. But you forget, I saw you in a suit that cost over twenty thousand bucks. You drive a top-of-the-range SUV, and your Harley is customised. What do you do that allows you that level of luxury?”

“I play the market,” Priest said, not moving, not flinching. His lack of reaction gave him away even more. Too cool, too calm and collected.

“No alarm, fear, or unease. My twin at your throat and you’re not blinking. You’re good, but that alone raises concerns. Either come clean, or we treat you as an enemy,” Blade murmured.

Priest didn’t hesitate. “I don’t know who—”

“Blind,” Dagger whispered, and Priest stiffened. Now there was a hint of panic. “I can make that permanent.”

“Honestly…” The panic in his voice could almost be real, but I heard the calculation behind it, as did my sisters.

“Punch through his shield, Belladonna. I don’t care if he ends up with brain damage,” Sapphire ordered.