Page 10 of Preacher

Putting the bike in park, he didn’t so much as help Jack as he climbed off the machine. When she scooted off the bike, he looked down at her as she opened the saddlebag to get her things. “Go get your ass cleaned up.” He watched as she held onto her stuff and hustled toward the front door. “Jack,” he shouted.

When she stopped and looked at him, he almost felt bad as she stood feet from him, shaking from being wet and cold. Almost was the optimal word. “We aren’t done tonight.” Even after she disappeared inside, he stared after her.Everything was too quiet, he thought as he stood in the driveway. Then he heard the subtle sound of a lighter striking and remembered Bones and Wrench were still there.

Rubbing his thumb across his scarred brow, Preacher knew they had questions. Even worries. Shoving his wet hair back away from his face, he glanced at the closed door. “What can we do, Preacher?” Bones asked. His brother was always the fixer, where he had always been the fighter. In this case, there was no fight to be had.

Turning around, he walked over to the two men and took the cigarette Bones handed him. Looking at the thing, he wanted to feel something other than pissed-off. Jack had embarrassed him, humiliated him. Why, was the question at the top of his list. Taking a long drag, he looked up at the sky as the clouds cleared and exhaled. “This is fucked-up.”

“Man, I know your heart’s breaking—”

Preacher cut his brother’s words off with a shake of his head. “That’s just it, it’s not. She never let me in like that.” And he never let her in either.

Maybe a year ago, he would have been devastated. Six months ago, he would have been annoyed. Now, he was numb. The only thing that had fueled his anger at the hotel was her defending the other guy. Humiliation could do a lot to a person’s self-worth.

Taking another drag on the cigarette, Preacher dropped it on the pavement and smashed it with his boot. “I don’t know how you smoke those things. They’re nasty.” He smirked. “Listen, things aren’t gonna get out of hand here. I’m just gonna explain to her that come tomorrow, she’s going to Reno.”

On the thirty-minute ride back from the hotel, he had realized this thing between him and Jack had been a spark, not a fire. It had flashed bright and hot, then slowly burned out. It wasn’t just her fault. He had to take some of the blame. When things had gotten heavy in New Orleans, instead of him just helping Trick and Pierce escort her and Viper to Reno, he had taken Jack with him to California. That had been his first mistake. His second had been refusing to leave her there every time she went running back to Viper. Some things you couldn’t force people to change.

“Both of you need to get home.” It took him by surprise when Bones hugged him goodnight. It didn’t surprise him when Wrench flipped him off, laughing.

He stood in the driveway watching as they rode down the highway. He stayed there until there was no sound except for the wind as it passed through the trees. Closing his eyes, he listened to the rustling of leaves as the branches swayed in the breeze. The smell of the ocean, warm and clean, tickled his nose, and then, as he listened harder, he heard the waves crash against the shore. The sound was lonely and, at the same time, peaceful.

Preacher wanted to remain outside. He wanted to stay there because he knew a sobbing Jack was waiting for him inside. Like always, she would beg and plead, blaming herself and asking for him to give her time to figure things out. But things were pretty much figured out for them. She had figured them out when she got into that car.

Turning on his heels, he headed toward the house and a showdown that should have happened six months ago.

ChapterSeven

Preacher didn’t get to the door before he heard the sound of sirens approaching. The pretty boy had called the cops after all. He must have called Jack and gotten the address.Bitch.

At the sound of motorcycles pulling into the driveway, he turned, shaking his head at Bones and Wrench. They should have kept going—this shitshow didn’t concern them.

“Why are you two back here?” he shouted as they climbed off their bikes. He watched Bones, who was already pulling out his phone, wave Wrench on.

“You should probably not get involved with this, Wrench. You’ve had enough run-ins with the law in the past,” Preacher shouted at his club brother.

“You kill one guy and everybody thinks they’re a comedian.” Wrench pulled out a cigarette, smiling at Preacher. Striking his lighter, he lit the smoke and took a drag just as the first cop car pulled into the drive.

Bones had pulled out his phone, firing off an SOS to Doc. Preacher was probably about to need his lawyer, he thought when he saw the reply.

Doc: On my way.

“Either of you still armed?” Preacher asked, watching the second cop car pull in behind the first.

“Yep,” both brothers stated.

Preacher tipped his head down, muttering, “Shit.”

“Yep,” Wrench and Bones repeated their previous responses.

Bones walked up, cutting off the two officers as they headed for Preacher and Wrench. “Doc’s on his way,” he said, taking a cigarette from Wrench.

“We’re looking for a Jacqueline Landry,” the officer stated as he looked them over.

“You’re looking for Jack?” Preacher was confused. He thought they were there for him. “Can I ask what she did?”

“Miss Landry called saying she was afraid of her boyfriend,” the cop said.

Preacher nodded toward the door. “She’s in the house.”

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