clung to life. His pain glazed eyes met those of a young man no older than sixteen and then fell on his friend and he sighed.
Preacherman knelt by the man who he’d come to call friend, even if they were as opposite as night was to day.
“Aww hell Carson, we came as soon as fast as we could. What happened? Where is Lacey?”
“Devils…devils came…wanted to know…I didn’t tell them…even when…” His breath caught as his eyes fell on the now covered body of his wife. “Wouldn’t have mattered…” His eyes closed.
“Carson, stay with me. Lacey? Where is your daughter?” Preach had seen what the Devils did to women and he couldn’t stand the thought of the innocent young girl in their evil hands.
Carson grimaced and Preach thought it was meant to be a smile. “Lacey…my princess…” he began to cough and bloody bubbles gathered on his lips. “I made her run…she got away…barn…waiting for you…so smart…only trusts you…” His eyes darted to the boy standing like a wraith in the moonlight. “Scared of him…keep her safe.” His body was racked with a pain filled cough. “Take care of her?”
The blood soaked man gripped Preach’s arm with more strength than Preach thought possible. Preach saw the question in the man’s blue eyes, so much like his daughter’s and nodded. “You have my word on that Carson. She will be kept safe. Loyalty is served with loyalty. She’s my family now. Is there anyone I need to call?”
The man nodded. “Her mother…” He looked toward his wife.
Preach closed his eyes. “Where Carson? You have to tell me where and I need her name.”
“Lace knows… I gave her the… papers…”
Preach nodded and gripped the man’s hand. “You have my word Carson. I will protect Lacey with my life.”
The man gave out a relieved sigh and closed his eyes in death.
Preach lifted his eyes to the boy he had known as his son for the last eight years. He was still shattered from the events of his life and Preach knew he hadn’t been able to give the boy the help he needed. Even tonight would scar him. Shadow was already acting as a prospect for the club at sixteen and would no doubt make brother by eighteen. He wore the scars of a man twice his age and Preach vowed that would not happen to this man’s daughter, she would thrive and find the happy life her father would have wanted for her.
With his mind made up he met the eyes of his friend and the president of the Defenders MC, Tank McCurdy and then his brother Moose who had only made brother that week. They needed no words to understand what had to be done and as Preach and his son walked into the woods his brothers returned the bodies to the now blazing house.
Preach and Shadow made their way to the old barn just inside the woods. The moon wasn’t full, so Preach had a hard time finding his way, but Shadow always seemed more comfortable in the dark and to be able to see like a damn cat. The kid marched right into the forest and straight to the barn. A slight lift of a brow was the only indication that the damned kid was disgruntled.
“Kiss my ass Shad. Not everyone sees in the damn dark.”
The boy made no sound as he stepped back and let his father pass.
“Lacey girl, it’s Preacherman.” He squatted down and listened for the little girl but no sound came from the barn. Had they found her after all? He looked to his son and the boy nodded to the corner of the barn. Preach spoke again.
“I’m here to take you somewhere safe. Will you come on out Lil Lacey so I know you’re alright?”
Preach felt Shadow shift beside him and knew the memories were coming back to him too. Preach looked up at his son and knew he was feeling for the little girl more than anyone else could ever understand. He heard a sniffle just before his arms were filled with a shivering child of twelve.
“Hello there Lacey girl.” He
Preacherman knelt by the man who he’d come to call friend, even if they were as opposite as night was to day.
“Aww hell Carson, we came as soon as fast as we could. What happened? Where is Lacey?”
“Devils…devils came…wanted to know…I didn’t tell them…even when…” His breath caught as his eyes fell on the now covered body of his wife. “Wouldn’t have mattered…” His eyes closed.
“Carson, stay with me. Lacey? Where is your daughter?” Preach had seen what the Devils did to women and he couldn’t stand the thought of the innocent young girl in their evil hands.
Carson grimaced and Preach thought it was meant to be a smile. “Lacey…my princess…” he began to cough and bloody bubbles gathered on his lips. “I made her run…she got away…barn…waiting for you…so smart…only trusts you…” His eyes darted to the boy standing like a wraith in the moonlight. “Scared of him…keep her safe.” His body was racked with a pain filled cough. “Take care of her?”
The blood soaked man gripped Preach’s arm with more strength than Preach thought possible. Preach saw the question in the man’s blue eyes, so much like his daughter’s and nodded. “You have my word on that Carson. She will be kept safe. Loyalty is served with loyalty. She’s my family now. Is there anyone I need to call?”
The man nodded. “Her mother…” He looked toward his wife.
Preach closed his eyes. “Where Carson? You have to tell me where and I need her name.”
“Lace knows… I gave her the… papers…”
Preach nodded and gripped the man’s hand. “You have my word Carson. I will protect Lacey with my life.”
The man gave out a relieved sigh and closed his eyes in death.
Preach lifted his eyes to the boy he had known as his son for the last eight years. He was still shattered from the events of his life and Preach knew he hadn’t been able to give the boy the help he needed. Even tonight would scar him. Shadow was already acting as a prospect for the club at sixteen and would no doubt make brother by eighteen. He wore the scars of a man twice his age and Preach vowed that would not happen to this man’s daughter, she would thrive and find the happy life her father would have wanted for her.
With his mind made up he met the eyes of his friend and the president of the Defenders MC, Tank McCurdy and then his brother Moose who had only made brother that week. They needed no words to understand what had to be done and as Preach and his son walked into the woods his brothers returned the bodies to the now blazing house.
Preach and Shadow made their way to the old barn just inside the woods. The moon wasn’t full, so Preach had a hard time finding his way, but Shadow always seemed more comfortable in the dark and to be able to see like a damn cat. The kid marched right into the forest and straight to the barn. A slight lift of a brow was the only indication that the damned kid was disgruntled.
“Kiss my ass Shad. Not everyone sees in the damn dark.”
The boy made no sound as he stepped back and let his father pass.
“Lacey girl, it’s Preacherman.” He squatted down and listened for the little girl but no sound came from the barn. Had they found her after all? He looked to his son and the boy nodded to the corner of the barn. Preach spoke again.
“I’m here to take you somewhere safe. Will you come on out Lil Lacey so I know you’re alright?”
Preach felt Shadow shift beside him and knew the memories were coming back to him too. Preach looked up at his son and knew he was feeling for the little girl more than anyone else could ever understand. He heard a sniffle just before his arms were filled with a shivering child of twelve.
“Hello there Lacey girl.” He
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