Page 4 of Preacher

Finally. “We can figure that out. Is there anything else you’re not telling me?”

“No. Maybe. I’m having trouble adjusting to not being around my friends and family.”

“I can understand that.” Leaning away from her, Preacher tipped her head up with his finger. When her tear-drenched eyes met his, he sighed. “That wasn’t so hard, was it?”

Jack gave him a weak smile. “No.”

“Go get dressed, so I can take you out to dinner. Maybe we can take a ride through town and see if there’s any rental space available.”

“Preacher, I don’t have the money.” He listened to her panicked tone and smirked.

“You need a backer. I’ll be it.” He saw her mouth drop open in surprise. He’d told her he wanted her happy. Maybe, just maybe, if she was happy, they would be happy. Maybe they could get back on track.

“It’s a loan that once you’re on your feet, you can pay back.” He watched her stick out her hand and took it. She smiled as she shook it. “A gentlemen’s agreement,” he said with a wink.

Before she could drop his hand, Preacher pulled her in for a kiss. When he let her go, she was breathless. “I could make a payment now if you’d like.” He smiled hearing her words.

“Food first, then I’m gonna want dessert. From you.”

“Let me get dressed and we can go.” She gave him a saucy smile.

Preacher watched her run out the room and he let out an audible sigh. Pulling out his phone, he needed to find out if there were any listings in town. He knew exactly who to reach out to. Hitting the call button, he listened patiently for the ringing to stop. When it did, he knew he’d interrupted Angel. “You better be bleeding,” the brother growled.

“Not bleeding. I need the realtor’s number. What’s her name? Deanna?” Preacher chuckled.

“Janice.”

“I need to talk to her.”

“Her mouth’s busy at the moment.” Preacher knew Angel was still screwing the woman. The brother adamantly said he wasn’t, but he was busted now. “Hang on,” Angel said, annoyed.

“Hello?” came a feminine voice over the phone.

“Janice, this is Preacher, one of Angel’s friends. I was wondering if there are any rental spaces available in Lampsing. Preferably on the main drag.” Preacher listened to muffled sounds and shook his head. “You can call me back.”

“No, no, no. It’s fine. There’s a space that just came available. It’s the spot next to Decadence.”

Next to Decadence, that would be a plus. Quinn’s shop was a busy place, and having a steady stream of customers coming and going from the chocolate shop could mean potential shoppers. “When can you show me the space?”

He knew the building the woman was speaking of. It had been a fast cash loan business, and it wasn’t surprising it had closed. The area was just building back up after being a dying beach town. Residents weren’t interested in getting deeper in debt when they had just gotten their heads above water again.

“Give me an hour. Sorry, make that two, and I’ll meet you there,” Janice said, laughing.

“We’ll meet you there,” Angel grumbled into the phone before the line went dead. Chuckling to himself, Preacher found he was a little more at ease than moments before.This could work.

ChapterThree

Six months later

The thin tin walls gave way to the number of occupants inside. Three or four men talked about a football game they were attending later that night.They wouldn’t be making the game, Preacher thought.

“Preacher?”

He heard his name crackle through the earpiece. He spoke calmly and low, letting his brothers know what he was detecting. “We have three, maybe four inside.”

Crow didn’t like the low vantage point he was at. He needed to be higher, where he could get a better shot. “I’m moving position.” Shouldering the rifle, Crow moved across the rooftop. Scrambling over the edge, he moved down the flimsy, rusted metal that was a poor excuse for a ladder.

“Wrench?” Gypsy wanted to know how the brother was doing. He had been pulled away from Frisco and their baby girl. If this hadn’t been imperative to the club’s survival, Gypsy was sure Wrench would’ve told them no, but the loyalty Wrench had to the club was staggering.

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