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)
The entire congregation is out here, and everyone's asking questions and yelling and crying. It's total chaos, but the guys don't let anyone get close to me. I get to float in my bubble and try to forget about what it means to feel for a while. God, I'm going to need so much therapy.
It's another ten minutes or so before Crash comes out. A couple of the guys lug a person sized garbage bag and dump it into a trailer at the back of one of their bikes. They start up and pull out of the parking lot immediately. Crash comes straight to us. “Had to help clean up my mess. Let's get the fuck outta here.”
Some of the Eagles are already starting their bikes and pulling out, one after another. The congregation is still milling around, looking lost. Pastor Harley and I lock gazes for just a moment, but I don't think either of us really have anything to say right now. I sure don't. And then I'm getting on the back of Preacher's bike and grabbing hold of him so he can take me home.
Not to the mansion, though I guess that's technically mine now, but to the Screaming Eagles compound. When we pull out and leave the Hall of Grace behind, I hope I'll never have to see it, ever again.
Preacher takes the lead while Crash and Devil fall in behind us, making me feel like I've got an honor guard. Up and down the highway, the rest of the Eagles are spread out, making it a long caravan, but the only part I truly care about is right here, with me.
As we cruise along the highway, I finally let myself cry into the back of Preacher's jacket.
39
PREACHER
Fuck, she's beautiful.
Summer's sleeping on the couch, her head in my lap and her arms clinging to my thigh like I'm a teddy bear, while I trail my fingers up and down her side and up over the flare of her hip. There's just a hint of a snore, and it's fucking adorable.
Ever since Crash put Grayson out of his misery, she doesn't like being alone. I don't fucking blame her. There's no quick solution to the shit she’s been through, before and after we met.
The door clicks open and Devil appears. He looks ready to greet us when I put my finger to my lips. He spots Summer, smiles and nods. He comes in quietly, followed by Crash, but apparently not quietly enough. Either that, or she was waking up anyway. Summer stirs.
She blinks sleepily, then smiles. “You're all here.”
“How’re you doing, baby?” Devil crouches in front of her and places a kiss on her forehead. It'd probably seem sweeter if he also didn't squeeze her tit when he did it, but she puts her hand over his to make him keep it there. I don't think she minds too much.
She shrugs. “I'm okay. Glad you guys are here.”
Crash sits on the coffee table so he's close enough to put a hand on her hip. “You're gonna need to talk about it, sunshine. It's okay. To us, to a therapist, hell, some of the other old ladies around here. They've seen some shit, trust me.”
“I don’t know. Do I really fit in with them? Jewel said—”
“What are you talking about? Did someone talk shit to you?” I can’t imagine any of the other old ladies saying anything, but some of the sluts get mouthy if they feel jealous. It’s nothing like it used to be, but sometimes people don’t know where the lines are. Jewel’s not usually one of them, though.
“No?” She blinks. “Everyone’s been nice. It’s just that I don’t know where I fit in since we aren’t official.”
“What the fuck she’s talking about?” Devil asks. “You’ve been official since we broke you out of jail.”
“What?” Summer sits up like a jack in a box, suddenly wide awake.
We talked to her about it, didn’t we? We definitely fucked in celebration, but… “Summer, your patch isn’t ready yet, and we haven’t worked out where all of us will have space to live, but you’re fucking ours.”
“You didn’t ask!”
Devil laughs. “What did you think? That we let any girl ride on the back of our bikes? That we'd be spending all of our time near you whenever possible if we didn't fucking love you and want to keep you?”
I run my fingers through her hair, watching the warm brown strands fall like silk. “We love you, angel. I guess we assumed you felt the same.”
“I want to hear you say that again.” She grips my leg so hard her knuckles whiten.
“That I fucking love you?” She looks up at me, and I nod. “Of course I do. I thought it was obvious.” I squeeze her closer to me.
She shakes her head. “Doesn't count if you haven't said it.”