Page 55 of Priest

She’s dressed softer than usual again, and I don’t know what the hell to do with that. I’ve known Sadie since we were little kids. She was always black leather, lace, and enough skin to make sure every man in a room knew she’d walked into it. Lately, she’s been showing up in pale colors and soft fabric, sweaters that drape instead of cling, clothes that make her look less like the woman I remember and more like someone trying on a shape that was never hers.

It doesn’t fit.

Maybe that’s the point. Maybe she thinks it does.

“Do you want me to come with you?” she asks. “He’s family. And I know how worried you are.”

It’s a reasonable offer. That’s the problem. I don’t snap. I don’t bristle. I just shake my head once. “No. I’ve got Ink.”

Sadie’s gaze flicks to him, then back to me. “Oh. Okay.” She nods like she understands, like she’s gracious about it, but the smile doesn’t quite settle. “I just thought sometimes it helps to have someone there.”

“I’ll have that covered,” Ink mutters beside me.

It’s quiet enough that most men would miss it.

Sadie doesn’t.

Her eyes sharpen for half a second before the softness slides back into place. Ink stares ahead like he didn’t say a damn thing, which somehow makes it worse.

“I’ve got other shit to handle while I’m there too,” I tell her. “I’m not bringing you along just to babysit you in a hospital waiting room.” Her mouth tightens, and I keep my voice even because I already embarrassed her enough there once. “I’ll also be seeing Blue while I’m there. I need to clear some things up with her.”

Sadie stills.

Just for a second.

Then she recovers, stepping closer with careful eyes and a voice that drops into something almost tender. “I could come along for that. Maybe help smooth things out. Woman to woman.” Her fingers brush over the sleeve of that soft sweater, like she’s reminding me of what she’s trying to look like. “Sometimes it’s easier for another woman to explain things. She doesn’t know the club the way I do, and you can be… intense when you’re trying to fix something.”

Ink makes a quiet sound.

Not quite a laugh.

Closer to a warning trying to wear manners.

Sadie glances at him again, irritation flashing before she hides it.

I don’t want to embarrass her in front of the room. I already did enough of that in the hospital waiting room. But damn, she needs to get shit through her head before she wedges herself any deeper into business that doesn’t belong to her.

“That’s not necessary,” I say evenly. “This is between me and Blue.”

“I was just trying to help,” she says. “You’ve been under so much pressure. And Blue… well, she’s upset. Maybe she needs to hear that nobody’s trying to take anything from her.”

Ink’s mouth barely moves. “Bold route.”

I shoot him a look.

He looks innocent.

Badly.

Sadie’s fingers curl slightly against her stomach. “I know how this life works. She doesn’t. Maybe if she understood where everyone stands, she wouldn’t feel so threatened.”

The words scrape wrong across my nerves.

“Blue doesn’t need you explaining my life to her,” I say. “And she damn sure doesn’t need you explaining where she stands with me.”

Silence stretches around us, thin and tight.

Sadie recovers fast. She always does. “Well,” she says, regrouping, “maybe I can help in other ways. Organize meals for Deacon when he’s out. Make sure the women are taking care of things the right way.”