Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 72756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 291(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 291(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
I think of the close calls I’ve had, and how I forgot to even check last night. If they're going to keep getting me as excited as they do, someone's going to forget or something's going to happen, and am I ready for that?
“Are you two scaring our girl?” Devil yells, the three of them heading out of the clubhouse. “Shoo, we’ve got shit to handle.”
“Nice to meet you!” Natalie yells over her shoulder as Faith grabs her hand and drags her inside.
A few minutes later, we peel out of the Screaming Eagles compound, following the highway north along the river until the city falls behind us.
I don’t know what we’ll find, but one way or another, this is going to be my last visit.
29
PREACHER
We avoid the obvious trap of going straight to the estate, deciding it would be better to check out the Hall of Grace and see what people are saying. It’s the fucking middle of the week and there are still tons of cars in the massive parking lot.
A few people give us looks, but nobody makes a move to stop us when we pull in. Devil’s with me, and Crash is waiting nearby, backup in case it’s a trap. Summer wanted all three of us, but Devil and me are plenty imposing around here.
We’re all super fucking suspicious. Even Summer, who doesn’t have a sneaky bone in her sexy little body. It would’ve been easier to tie her down and lock her up until she forgot about those messages, but we aren’t like the fucker that raised her.
I’m sure her feelings are all over the place, but I don’t think it’s love that’s drawn her back here. Just like Crash with his mother, she needs to see things with her own fucking eyes.
And we’ll be there to pick up the pieces afterwards.
This time when we bust in, it’s not nearly as dramatic. There’s people inside, but there’s no service or broadcast happening. Just day to day church shit. It looks like any other mega-church, except that shitheel going by the name of Grayson is up on the stage directing people to move things around.
Someone whispers something to him and points. He looks up, a nasty expression rolling over his face before he covers it with fake concern. “Summer! You're back! Thank goodness, honey.”
Summer opens her mouth to answer, but I break in first. “Get her fucking name out of your mouth. We're not interested in you. Where's Aaron?”
Grayson raises his eyebrows, feigning shock. “Summer, what are you doing with these savages? I hope you’re here because you’ve reconsidered how you left things. There's always room for forgiveness in the Hall of Grace.”
I can feel her body tense and still beside me, but she doesn’t shrink away. She’s grown a lot in the short time she’s been with us. “I’m here because I heard something was wrong with my father. Is that true?”
One of the other people on stage looks at Grayson, obviously concerned. “He’s just resting from all the stress, right?”
Grayson nods. “He's resting, yes, and taking some time to pray over the path forward. He trusts me completely to handle things in his absence. Haven't you been watching our services, Summer? It’s especially important when your faith is being tested to not lose your way.” The way he cocks his head makes me want to fucking knock that head clean off.
Fucker. The only altar she's praying at now is the altar of cock, and I like to think we give her plenty opportunity to practice that particular religion.
“Grayson, stop it. Can we see him or not?”
“We?” Grayson looks at me and Devil like we're not housebroken and she just suggested they should corral us on their fancy Persian rugs.
I suppose I did bust his face up last time we talked, and there was a bit of an incident with that window. I grin.
He narrows his eyes at me. He fucking knows I can bring his whole act to the ground if I want to and I don’t think he likes it. “I’m sure he would love to speak to his daughter. But you can understand why he wouldn’t want to be reminded of all the recent nastiness.”
A few guys shift forwards, actual guards this time. Question is, are they gonna cause trouble? We're not here to start anything, but we're sure as fuck going to finish it.
Summer clasps my hand, trembling just a tiny bit but still standing strong. “Where is he? His room? I’ll have them drive me over if you let the guards know to let us in. I’m sure they can wait in the hall.”
Grayson clearly doesn’t want to go along with any of this, but everything she’s said is so reasonable that I can tell he doesn’t want to look like the asshole in front of the people he needs to believe his con. “Of course. I’ll go with you,” he bites out through overly white teeth.