Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80957 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80957 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
I grabbed a bottle of bourbon and a glass, then sat down. I poured myself a tall one and kicked it back. I was about to have another when Preacher came over and sat down next to me. He glanced down at my hands and asked, “What the hell happened to you?”
"It’s been a night.”
“Oh, yeah? Wanna tell me about it?”
Preacher had his own shit going on and I hated to unload on him, but there was no one I trusted more to give me advice. I poured another and tossed it back before answering, "Tallie came by my place tonight."
“And?”
"She had quite a story.”
“I can imagine.”
“Nah, there’s no imagining this. Hell, this was one for the books.”
I cleared my throat then told him everything Tallie had told me. At first, he didn’t say anything. He just let it all sink in. After a moment, he finally let out a breath, "Jesus. They did a real number on you both."
"Yeah, they did."
“Doesn’t explain why your hands look like they’ve been through a meat grinder.”
“I stopped by the hotel and had a word with Rooks.”
“I see.” He studied me for a moment, then asked, “You really care about this girl?”
“Yes, sir. Always have.”
“So, what are you going to do about it?”
“She asked me the same thing.” I rubbed my hand over my face. "I just don’t get why she’d wait two years to reach out to me. I don’t give a fuck what her old man said. I could’ve held my own.”
“Shep said he was involved with the Volkov family.”
“Yeah, among others.”
“Would be enough to make anyone leery, especially a young, single mother who was off in another country alone.”
I understood what he was saying. They were bad people who didn’t think in the lines of limits, but I wanted to believe I was strong enough to handle whatever they would throw at me. And maybe I was, but I couldn’t say the same about Tallie. “But what if she didn’t know about her father’s dealings? What could’ve kept her from reaching out?”
“Even if she had no idea who he was involved with, she knew he was powerful in his own right. And he was her father. That would be enough to make her hesitate.”
“I guess you have a point there.”
“Definitely one to consider.” He took a pull from his drink, then asked, “How’d you two end things?”
“I told her I needed time to think it over.”
“What are you thinking?”
"I don’t know," I said honestly. "But the thought of losing her again is fucking killing me."
“Hmmm.” Preacher leaned back with a knowing look—one that told me he’d already figured out what I hadn’t yet. "Sounds like you already know what you gotta do."
“But how am I supposed to just let all this shit go? I lost seven years with my kid.”
“Sounds like that was on her folks and not her.”
“She’s not completely innocent in all this.”
“No, but forgiving her isn’t for her.” Preacher kept his eyes trained on me as he said, “It’s for you. Let that sink in for a minute.”
“That’s kind of deep, Prez.”
“Maybe, but it’s true. Just give it time. You’ll see.”
Prez sat with me as I finished another drink and then another. Once the alcohol took effect, I decided to call it a night. Prez’s words were still rattling in my head as I left the bar and walked down the hall to my room. I couldn’t help but wonder if he was right. Maybe it was better to just forgive her and move on, but I wasn’t sure I had it in me to just let it go.
I didn’t bother taking off my clothes before I collapsed on the bed. The room spun just enough to force me to kick my leg over the side of the bed. I rested my foot on the floor and willed the world to stop spinning, even if it was just for a minute. Thankfully, it didn’t take long for me to drift off.
It was the kind of sleep that felt more like falling into a black hole than actually sleeping. There were no dreams. No thoughts. Just nothing.
Only the nothing didn’t last long.
I had no idea how long I’d been out when my phone started buzzing in my pocket. The harsh sound cut through the silence like a knife, and it wouldn’t stop. It didn’t take long for me to become irritated, and I pulled out from my pocket. I looked at the screen, and I sat up the second I read Duggar’s name.
“What’s wrong?”
“They’re here,” Duggar answered.
“What do you mean? I was just there a couple of hours ago.”
“I don’t know what to tell ya, brother, but that Mercedes is parked right out front, and two shady-looking assholes just headed into the lobby.”
“Dammit.” I swung my legs off the bed and stood as I ordered, “Stay there. Keep eyes on ‘em. I’m on my way.”