Page 2 of Preacher's Property

“Kollette will have to dream on because Dusty would never go out with her.” He’d rather see that girl rot behind bars.

I take Meg’s silence as knowing I’m right. I’d question why she’s even friends with Kollette, but we all know the answer: her dad.One must always preside with the company of prestige. It is those you surround yourself with who dictate your success and reputation. I’ve heard Mr. Ellicort’s rants enough in my life. He would be losing his shit if he knew we were headed to the Savage Knight Clubhouse about to be in the company of “criminals.” I think Meg’s about to lose her shit too. Her eyes are as round as saucers as she takes in the scene before us.

I pull to a stop in front of the clubhouse, parking behind a row of heavy-duty motorcycles. Right as I cut the engine,every head turns in our direction. Men are everywhere. Tall, dangerous men lingering about. All of them have stopped whatever it is they were doing, every conversation has ceased, and now they’re all staring at us. I suddenly feel like a fish out of water, but I will never let Meg smell my nervousness. Like a shark scenting blood, she’d never let me hear the end of it.

“It’s not too late to leave,” Meg whispers from the back. “Why are they all so big? They’re all giants.”

That they are. I scan the grounds, checking out every biker, wondering how this much testosterone and sexiness exists in one place. Cage is good looking, but his club brothers are even better.

“Come on, ladies! Time to have some fun.” One last check in the mirror and then I’m climbing out. “Oh my God. This place is?—”

“Not safe.” Meg cuts me off, swallowing hard. She’s too busy staring at their guns on their holsters, but my eyes are on their other guns. Dusty’s strong, but if I were betting on who would make it out of a fight alive, it wouldn’t be him. I’d put my money on any one of these Savage Knights. Some are more terrifying than others.

“You ladies lost?” comes a deep voice from behind us.

We all turn. There’s a gorgeous man attached to that rough voice. Even better looking than the one who greeted us at the gate. But just like the one up front, his eyes go right to Meg, locking on tight. He’s wasting his time on that one though. She wouldn’t dream of dating a Savage Knight or even associating with one. She’s probably going to go home and shower twice to get his eyeball cooties off her before she goes to bed tonight.

“I’m looking for Cage,” Payton answers. “He invited us out. Do you know where we can find him?”

“I’ll take you to him.” His eyes go back to Meg before he turns and leads the way inside. I wish he’d look at me. I’d givehim the time of day. Then again… When we enter the clubhouse, my attention is instantly drawn to the corner. The man over by the pool table may in fact be the hottest guy I’ve ever seen. He’s taking a shot, his dark eyes focused on the cue ball, those carved muscles strained in his forearm as he aligns the cue stick. Rugged. Strong. Just the right amount of stubble around his jaw. He’s so sexy I almost can’t breathe.

“Didn’t think you were coming.” Cage’s irritated voice draws my attention back to the bar. He’s staring forward, drinking his drink, not even bothering to look in Payton’s direction. I thought he would’ve given us a warmer welcome than that. But it’s almost as if he’s irritated we showed.

“Sorry, us girls needed some extra time to get ready,” Payton tells him, looking just as confused by his behavior as the rest of us. He takes another sip of his drink, finishing its contents, still not looking at her. I can feel her mood shift. Her entire demeanor changing. She was so excited to come out tonight, and now she looks dejected.

I almost want to grab the drink from his hand and splash it in his face, yell at him to snap the fuck out of it. This is not the guy who was at our place earlier, asking if we’d come out tonight for the party. This is not the guy who was all googly eyed at my best friend as he kissed her goodbye. This guy is acting like a jerk.

“How many of those have you had?” Payton asks.

“Why?” His jaw clenches tight, turning a rigid stare in her direction. “You got a problem with drinking?”

My best friend visibly tenses at his remark. I think it’s time for us to leave. Payton’s been through too much shit to be treated like this. The last thing she needs is another asshole in her life.

“Told you so.” Meg’s whisper hits my ear. For once, she was right. We shouldn’t have come tonight.

Payton grabs the waitress’s attention then asks for her to pour him another drink. Obviously trying to prove she’s notoffended by his drinking. But when the bartender slides it over, Payton takes the thing and drinks it down in one gulp then slams the glass onto the wooden bar top in front of him. His eyes finally spark to life, but my friend’s eyes are narrowed in anger.

“I don’t have a problem with drinking, but I do have a problem with assholes. See ya around, Outlaw.” She turns and takes my arm, and we walk right back out the same door we just came in through. Her head is held high, but I can feel her pain as she holds my arm tight, seeking my support.

“What the hell was wrong with him?” I ask, leading her back to my car.

“Don’t go, baby. I’m sorry.”

She’s suddenly yanked from my hold as Cage wraps around her from behind. The look in his eyes is like he just swallowed a ton of guilt. There must be something going on with him. He doesn’t seem like himself right now.

“You want to tell me what happened today?” Payton asks, coming to the same conclusion.

“Will you come back in and let me get you girls a drink first?” He looks over her shoulder at the rest of us. “I’m sorry I was rude back there. Just got caught in a rough moment. Would you ladies like to come in and have a drink?”

That’s now two apologies. I don’t think I’ve ever heard Dusty Rockland say it once to me. In all the fights we’ve ever had, in all the breakups, he has never once owned up to his mistakes. Usually, he just ropes me back in with promises that he’ll do better in the future. He fills my head with dreams of what our life is going to look like: kids, the house, traveling around the world. Sometimes he doesn’t even bother with words. He’ll just drag me to the bedroom and sway me into his favor with sex. But apologizing, he never has.

“I think we should go,” Meg says, her body standing rigid by my side. She’s not as forgiving as the rest of us, apparently. But Ialso know she cares about her sister and doesn’t want to see her get hurt. None of us do.

“I think your ass better get a drink and loosen up.”

It’s the same guy who led us into the clubhouse. Interestingly, he’s no longer giving Meg eyes. He’s glaring her down, looking just as annoyed as Cage did moments ago.

“Excuse me?” She whips in his direction, crossing her arms. “Who do you think you’re talking to, mister?”