Page 85 of Sergei
If it weren’t for Preacher and the boys, I would’ve bled out, and I would’ve done it without being able to get to Lina out of harm’s way. And they hadn’t just gotten us out of there. They’d cleared the house. Bodies were gone, and security footage was erased. Any trace of evidence was wiped clean.
They were still working through it all when Preacher stopped by to fill me in on things. “Cops have come and gone, and so far, things look good. They’ve got nothing that can connect these guys to you or Lina.”
“You guys work fast.”
“It had to be done.”
“What about the other women in the house?”
“Still working on that. We’ve sent a couple back home, but others were more interested in a fresh start. We’re doing what we can to help them out with that.” Preacher ran his hand down his beard before telling me, “It’s the ones we didn’t get to that are taking more time to sort out.”
“Didn’t get to?”
“There was a ledger in the office. It had pictures of the girls and amounts paid for them, just no location. I’m hoping they can be tracked down from the auction site. I’ve got a buddy working on it.”
“That’s good. Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.”
“Sure thing.” He placed his hand on my shoulder as I said, “Sorry about Bog. I know he meant something to you.”
“He did. It was tough to lose him.” He was on his way to Lina when those two assholes shot him in the back and left him to bleed out alone in the dark. While I was glad they had got what was coming to them, it wasn’t enough. I’d lost a warrior and a friend, and I would hold onto that for years to come. “I appreciate you taking care of him like you did.”
“He would have done the same for me.”
I owed them more than I could ever repay. Men like us don’t throw words likethank youandI appreciate your helparound without choking on them, but when he stopped by to check on me, I gave it a try. “I owe you. We all do.”
“No, it’s what families do.”
“Yeah, but you and the boys went over and above, and you know it,” I pushed. “You saved my life and hers, and you cleaned up my mess…”
“Oh, you made a hell of a mess,” Preacher interrupted.
I got that Preacher was pissed. He was used to being in control. He made the rules, and his boys followed them without question. And they went to him before they ever thought about making a move. My going after those assholes alone went against everything they believed in. But he had his way of doing things, and I had mine.
I gave him a light shrug as I said, “Didn’t really plan on things turning out like they did.”
“Sure you did.” He gave me one of his looks. “You wanted payback, and you got it. Let’s just hope the blowback doesn’t bite us all in the ass.”
“They’ve all been dealt with, and thanks to you, there’s no one who can connect any of this to us.”
“There will be someone. There is always someone, and they will come creeping out of the woodwork when you least expect it.” Preacher cocked his brow. “The trick is to expect it and squash ‘em before they have a chance to bite with any real sting.”
“I’ll have Jenson keep an eye on things.”
“I’ll have Shep on it, too.” Preacher gave my shoulder a fatherly pat. “You need us, you call.”
“You know I will.”
“I thought I did, but you proved me wrong when you went all vigilante on me.”
“It’s what I had to do.”
“No, you could’ve called. We would’ve been there. You’re one of us, and now, she is, too.”
I believed him, and that hit me hard. I wasn’t used to believing in anyone. He told me to take it easy, gave me a pat on the shoulder, and he was gone, leaving me alone withall the thoughts storming around in my head. I couldn’t stop thinking about Lina up on that stage, bound and so vulnerable. I remember the guilt I felt when the guys stormed in.
She was so exposed and was helpless to do anything about it. Then, Skid rushed over and covered her up, giving her a sense of dignity I couldn’t give her. I hadn’t had a chance to thank him for that, so I took out my phone and sent him a message.
Me:
