Page 15 of Preacher

“Yeah, I feel you, Whip.”

Whip let go of the girl and walked off.

ChapterTen

Preacher woke to the sound of music blasting in the clubhouse and sunlight blinding him as he cracked his eyes open. Glancing around through eyes that felt like sandpaper, it all came crashing back in on him. Jack, the cops, the mess in his house, and coming to the clubhouse.

He remembered slamming back a half-dozen shots with Bones and Trip when they arrived. The fact he was on the sofa still dressed in what he had on the night before told him he hadn’t made it upstairs to his room.

His head was pounding, and his mouth felt like it was covered in fur. He tried laying an arm over his eyes to block out the light with no luck. Sitting up, he looked around the common area and found the place empty. With the music on, someone was there. He’d find them after he found some aspirin and brushed his teeth. His eyes caught sight of his credit cards on the coffee table in front of him.

A note from Doc laid next to them.

Preacher,

I spoke with Jack this morning. She’s not sure what she’s going to do. If I were a betting man, I’d say she’s counting on you to take her back. Again. Here are your cards. One debit and two credit. I gave her the money to help get her on the road.

As your lawyer, I’m suggesting you call a locksmith and have the locks changed on the shop. The lease and the business are in your name. Also, call Viper ASAP.

Doc

Reaching for his phone, Preacher didn’t want to call the woman. He hated being a rat, but Jack might need her friend. Scrolling through his contacts, he found Viper’s number and hit the call button. He listened as it rang, waiting for the woman to answer. When she did, her voice was raspy. She sounded tired. “Viper.”

“Jack called me early this morning, said you kicked her out.” He heard the clipped tone and ignored it.

He was done being a doormat, done being used. “First of all, you can cut the bitchy tone. Your girl was caught in a hotel room with another man. By me.”

Viper adjusted the phone. “Wait. What did you just say?” Tossing the sheets aside, Viper climbed out of bed. She was exhausted from traveling and from being kept up half the morning listening to a sobbing Jack.

Preacher heard the rustling sounds of sheets being moved. “You heard me. When we got home, she called the cops, saying she was afraid of me. Before you ask, I was outside talking to Wrench and Bones.”

Rubbing a hand over her tired face, Viper couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Wow. I don’t know what else to say, Preacher.”

“Viper, I’ve done everything to try and make her happy, but I won’t be made a fool of. I’m changing the lock on the business. Doc got my credit cards from her, and we gave her seven hundred dollars to get her back to Reno or Louisiana.”

“Why would you change the locks on her business?” Viper asked him.

“The lease and the business are in my name,” Preacher answered her question. He heard Viper laugh, but he didn’t know why she was laughing. “Viper?”

“This is priceless. I should’ve known she didn’t ask her aunt to back the business.” Viper thought about everything Preacher was telling her. “What did you say about credit cards?”

“If her aunt did give her money, she didn’t spend it on opening a business.” Preacher heard the question about the credit cards. He let out a breath. “Viper, I’ve been supporting Jack since she came to Lampsing. She barely held down a job until I bankrolled the shop.”

It made no sense to her. Jack had sat with her and Phoenix five months back and told them things between her and Preacher were perfect. But now, things were making more sense. When they went to Phoenix’s house for a girls’ weekend, they had to drive back to Lampsing. Jack had seemed off on the drive back. “I hope the business has made some money back for you.”

“She’s barely opened it.”

“Preacher.” What was she supposed to say other than sorry? She and Phoenix had continuously gotten Jack out of trouble. Her aunt had financially supported her, her entire life. No wonder the girl couldn’t take care of herself. “I’ll make sure she comes this way. Please don’t hold this against me and the boys.”

“Don’t worry, there won’t be any issues between the clubs,” Preacher told Viper, wanting to ease any building tension.

“I don’t give a shit about the clubs. We, the three of us, consider you a friend. I’d like to keep it that way,” she told him.

“Sounds good.” Preacher was about to hang up. “Can you let me know when she lands somewhere? I’d like to know she’s safe.”

“You’re a good man, Preacher. I’ll let you know. Talk soon,” Viper told him then hung up.

Preacher tossed the phone on the table when they hung up. Lying back down, he rolled over and tried going back to sleep. It didn’t work. After the conversation with Viper, his headache, the music, and Jack, there was no way he was getting any more rest. Grumbling to himself, Preacher got up and headed for his room upstairs.

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