Free A Sinful Calling by Kimberla Lawson Roby

be more open to it than you think.”
    Dillon had been hoping she wouldn’t suggest that, but maybe explaining her desire to the board in person was exactly what needed to happen. They would never go for it, and once she realized that, maybe she would move on.
    “Let me talk to Levi,” he said. “But I’m sure it won’t be a problem.”
    “Thank you,” she said, seemingly content. “All I need is a chance to talk to them and let them know how good this will be for the church. How great it will be for the ministry.”
    “I agree,” he lied.
    “Do you think I’ll be able to come to the meeting right away next week?”
    Dillon closed his eyes, wishing she’d stop pushing so hard. “I don’t see why not.”
    “Although, I think we both know that even if they all vote no, you still have the right to make me co-pastor. You founded this church, and you can do anything you want.”
    “Yeah, but you know I’ve never had to do that. And I don’t want to start. The elders of this church are very loyal to me, and making demands and vetoing the majority’s decision will only cause problems.”
    “Well, I’m just saying. You can do whatever you want. But maybe that won’t be necessary, because I really believe they’ll be fine with it. They’ve always given me free rein with the way I run the women’s ministry, so it’s not like they don’t trust my judgment.”
    Dillon knew full well that one thing had nothing to do with the other, but he kept quiet. He wanted to make his case and try to change her mind, but he decided it wasn’t worth it. She was speaking to him again, and it was better to leave well enough alone.
    Dillon leaned back in his chair. “So are we good?”
    “We’re very good,” she said with joy in her voice. “And, baby, thank you.”
    “You’re welcome. But hey, I need to get going. I’ll see you this afternoon when you get here, okay?”
    “See you then. Bye, baby.”
    Dillon set the phone on its base and relaxed even further in his chair. What a day, and already he couldn’t wait until next Tuesday so Raven could address the elder board. They’d never go along with her plans, and this would all be over. She wouldn’t be happy, but by then, he’d have thought up something else to appease her.
    Now, though, as he sat quietly, he reminisced on how far he’d come. How powerful he was within the church and Mitchell’s community. But it wasn’t enough. It was a nice start, but he wouldn’t be satisfied until he was bigger and better than his dad. He wouldn’t feel as though he’d arrived until his congregation was larger than Curtis Black’s. This was Dillon’s number one goal in life, and he was willing to do whatever he had to. Sure, increasing the membership was going to help him get there, but he didn’t want to wait years for it to happen. He wanted new members, and more than that, he wanted his dad’s parishioners. He wanted folks to leave Deliverance Outreach in droves and follow him.
    Dillon tossed a number of ideas around in his head but then became furious. His dad was a monster. Dillon had just told this story to his congregation for the umpteenth time on Sunday, but now he thought about it again. His dad had actually disowned him when he was a newborn baby and caused his mom to commit suicide. It was that particular thought that always turned Dillon’s anger to sorrow. If only Dillon had gotten to know his mom. If only she’d lived until he’d been old enough to spend time with her and remember it. Because as it was now, he had no memories of her at all. His aunt, Susan, had told him everything she could about her, but it hadn’t been the same. Dillon almost wanted to cry, but instead his pain turned to rage and he wanted revenge again. Well before moving back to Atlanta, he’d worked hard to scandalize his father’s name, but his plan had failed—thanks to that scatterbrained chick, Melissa, he’d been engaged to.
    Dillon hit his desk with his fist but