Page 34 of Preacher

“Like Muther’s does for you?” She’d heard Preacher’s comment and, for some reason, decided to defend it.

“Muther’s is just a place I work and race cars. And, yes, I own a slice of that crap shack, but it doesn’t come first in my life.” She didn’t like that Preacher was now in her personal space, questioning her choices.

“What does come first in your life, Riley?” Preacher snapped, annoyed they were now in an argument, even if it felt more like a tiff.

Riley pointed at him, almost poking him in the chest, then dropped her hand. “Right now? You.” She saw the surprised look spread across Preacher’s face and wondered if anyone had ever put him first.

“Me?”

“Yes. You. You are my number one priority. I agreed to take care of you while you heal, and I take that responsibility seriously.” Shrugging, Riley added, “Also, you’re easy on the eyes.”

“How would you know, woman? You barely look at me other than making sure my incisions are good.” Preacher didn’t mean to come off agitated, he just hated feeling like he was being babysat. He watched Riley walk out of the small kitchen and across the living room floor. When she stopped in front of him, he thought she might slap his dumb ass. Instead, she rose up on her toes, took his face in her hands, and planted a hard kiss on his lips.

“I look at you more than you know. And I like what I see,” she told him after ending the kiss. Dropping back down, she let go of him and stepped around him. As she did, Riley swatted his ass for good measure. “Now, plant yoursmexyself on the sofa and rest.”

Preacher stood there dumbfounded as the door closed shut, leaving him alone in the house. He’d been taken by such surprise when she kissed him that he didn’t kiss her back. “Damn it, man, you’re dropping the ball.”

ChapterTwenty-Two

Riley was shocked to see a car in her driveway when she walked outside. She was even more surprised when Gypsy stepped out of it. “What brings you to my door, Gypsy?”Probably Preacher.

Gypsy closed the distance between him and Riley James. Over the past month, the girl stayed on his mind, and it was pissing him off. It finally clicked when he saw her with her ballcap on backward at Preacher’s house. He hadn’t said anything due to Quinn being with him. He also waited until he overheard Bones and Wrench talking outside the clubhouse. “I know you were the sniper on the landing. What I don’t know is how you’re tangled up with the assholes who jumped Preacher.”

Riley cocked an eyebrow at Gypsy’s accusation. “And you won’t because I didn’t have anything to do with it.”

The only thing that mattered to him was family, and Preacher was family. If this bitch set Preacher up or had anything to do with it, he’d gut her. “What would you say if I told you I have someone digging into your life and all your buddies at Muther’s?”

Riley stepped into Gypsy’s space, poking her finger into his chest. “You wanna dig into my life, go for it, but you stay out of theirs.” She stepped closer to him, continuing to poke him until he had no choice but to step back. “You don’t know me, so I’m gonna give you a pass. This is the only one you get.”

“You made this my business when you pointed a rifle at me,” he told her. Now, Gypsy knew that family was important to her as well, and the crew at Muther’s appeared to be her chosen family.

“And you put yourself in my crosshairs when you had two rooftop snipers ready to take out my family.” She watched him breathe out and waited.

“I know you’re involved somehow,” he told Riley, trying to taunt her into an argument in which she might let something slip.

“If I am, it’s your damn fault.” Riley was done. Gypsy wanted a fight, and she wasn’t going to give it to him. She was about to tell him to leave when she heard Preacher call out from the porch. She made sure Gypsy saw how easy it was for her to switch gears. Turning around, she smiled at Preacher.

Preacher ignored the pinch in his side as he moved down the steps to the little path leading back to the driveway. He wanted to know what was going on and why Gypsy looked like he was pissed off. “Gypsy, what brings you here?” he called out, wanting his President to know he was there and very present.

Glancing up, Gypsy saw Preacher coming toward him. “I didn’t know you were here, Preacher.” Gypsy looked down at Riley, who was already laying out her tools on the pavement. She could have told him the brother was there.

Preacher stepped up next to where Riley was setting out her things. “Yeah, I asked Riley to get me out of the house.”

“And she brought you here?” Gypsy asked in a clipped tone.

Taking a step closer to Riley, Preacher put himself between her and Gypsy. “Yeah. Why?”

Gypsy knew when he needed to back off to avoid an argument. He wasn’t there to confront Preacher. He was there to get answers from Riley. “Just asking is all.”

“I know you, Gypsy. I also know by your facial expression that you weren’t having a polite conversation with Riley. What’s got you wound up?” Preacher wasn’t in the shape or position to go toe-to-toe with his President, but he wouldn’t allow him to be rude to Riley. The woman was doing him a solid.

“Don’t worry about it.” This was not the answer Preacher wanted to hear from Gypsy.

“Fuck that shit. I’m about done with everyone tiptoeing around my fucking ass. Say what you have to fucking say.” Preacher moved closer to Gypsy, pissed.

Fine, Gypsy thought as he looked from Preacher to Riley and back. Preacher wanted to know what he’d tell him, then the whole babysitting thing could be finished and she’d be out of their lives. “Riley’s the sniper from the warehouse.”

“I know that. What else is eating at you?” Preacher saw the shocked look on Gypsy’s face, which told him neither Wrench nor Bones had told him they knew that information.

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