Page 40 of Property of The Grump
“Can I help you?” I say, glancing toward the man in a three-piece suit.
“Yes, you can. My wife is inside your church, and I’d like to see her now.”
“She doesn’t want to see you.”
“So sheisthere?” Leanne shoots her hand to her hip and sighs. “What have you two been doing in there fordays?”
“Yeah, Father,” the asshole barks. “What have you and my wife been doing locked away in this church for days?”
“Your wife? I believe she broke things off with you.”
“I’d like an answer to my question, Father.” The asshole steps forward as though he’s going to intimidate me. I don’t know why he thinks this will work. He’s at least a foot shorter, weighs at least a hundred pounds less, and though he’s built, he’s not nearly as muscular as me.
Vengeance is the Lord’s, but heaven help this man if he thinks he’s forcing his way into my church.
“I suggest you leave the premises,” I say again, my tone firm as the wind blows a flurry of orange leaves from the maple tree behind his black pickup truck.
“Be serious for a moment. What would you do, Father? Someone you love disappeared, hasn’t been seen for days, and their cell phone says they’ve been right at this church. I gave Wren time to text me back, but she hasn’t. I need some proof of life.”
“Is there a message I should send to her? Something you need? Something you misplaced?” I try to keep an even temper, but the longer this fuck stands in front of me, the more restraint it’s taking.
He’s the one who left those bruises on Wren’s arm! The one that made her feel worthless! The one that took my sweet little lamb and broke her!
“I can tell my wife the message myself, thank you.” He glances toward Leanne. “Honey, why don’t you go back inside and see if you can find Wren for me.”
My chest tightens as Leanne looks toward me. I know she’s asking for permission, but I also know her curiosity will win.
I step in front of the door, blocking her from entering the church.
“Father, why are you protecting her?”
“I’d protect all of you. That’s what I do.”
The asshole looks toward Leanne again. “Honey, I really need you to do this for me. Can you please get inside that church and tell Wren I need to talk to her now?”
She stands for a second longer as though she’s contemplating where her allegiance lies, but ultimately settles on herself, bypassing my arm to head into the church.
“Looks like you don’t have the control over your flock you’d hoped for, Father.” The asshole steps forward again, his arms crossed over his chest as another breeze pushes more leaves around.
In most situations, this is indicative of a warning. A display of aggression. One man telling another that he’s willing to physically assert his power if need be.
Before I get a chance to respond, the door is creaking open again. I expect to see Wren, though I hear Leanne’s shrill before I see the pink panties she’s holding at the tip of her fingers.
Fucking great!
“Father!” She stares toward me, her eyes wide, the light shining bright on the panties I tugged off Wren last night, right after I spanked her ass and had her masturbate in the church pew.
There is no God that can help me out of this mess.
“Wren is here because you hurt her. You left bruises on her skin.” I step forward, my shoulders square, every inch of my body crawling with a desire to beat this man into the fucking ground.
“And let me guess, you’ve been herehealingher? Showing her what a real man acts like.”
“Father Anderson would never break his vows. He takes his relationship with God very seriously,” Leanne adds, though I don’t know if she believes it. “That slut must have left her underwear on the floor of the church for some other reason.” She snaps her gaze toward me. “What’s going on here?”
I draw in a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying not to snap, though my fists are tightening.
“I’m protecting my flock,” I say again, my voice louder this time, because apparently,no one can fucking hear me!“Wren came to be beaten and bruised. She needed a place to stay, so I gave her the rectory and I kept her safe.”
