He whistles. “Preach. You might want to control your girl, brother.”
The words make me see red. Balling my fist, I turn to face Ice as he walks up the stairs with plastic bags in his hands toward us.
“Why don’t you head inside, Queenie? I’ll bring the groceries in.”
The clear dismissal has me ready to rip into him in front of his friend. I open my mouth, and he gives a sharp shake of his head.
“Now.” His eyes dart slightly to the right toward Ice.
Gritting my teeth, I spin on my heel and march inside.
“If you wanted more drama in your life, you chose well. You’ll have your hands full with that one.” Ice’s insult trails behind me.
“She’s going through a lot, and you aren’t the most welcoming.”
Moving out of sight, I keep the sliding door cracked slightly to eavesdrop.
“Sounds a lot like an excuse. Most women aren’t made for this life. You know that better than others.”
Asshole.
“That’s why I’d be the best candidate at picking someone who might.”
“You get a little bit of—”
“Don’t finish that sentence and turn things ugly.”
I nibble on my lip.
“Do what you want, Preach. I’m just here to drop off food and the file in my car.”
Preacher is trying to walk the line between the two of us. I’ll give him that. The stakes are different now. He’s more than a fantasy I wanted to fulfill to break my celibacy streak. I’d never anticipated how he’d make me feel. It’s terrifying two years of being single with the occasional casual date; this man has me ready to dive in head first. The universe has a shady timeline.
I want to trust my gut. I tend to be good at reading people, but after my ex, Rheed, slithered his way into my life and turned it upside down, my confidence in my picker is shredded. I met the suave, dark-haired man at an open house mixer where he’d been looking to sell houses, and I’d been looking to gain interior design business. Three months into the fairytale romance began to slowly bleed into a nightmare.
Silence and the sound of boots walking toward me set me into motion. I run to the breakfast nook, climbing onto a black, high-back stool. The sliding door opens, and I watch the men walk inside.
“I’m going to bring you the file the lawyer provided. You should study it because we’re headed into town tomorrow so you can give your statement,” Preacher says.
I cross my arms. “Only if I get to contact my family.”
“You think this is a game?” Ice asks, slamming the grocery bags on the counter across from me.
“No, I have the bullet hole in my shoulder to prove it isn’t.”
Ice’s lips twitch upward, and he throws his head back and laughs. “Well, damn. You got me there, Queenie. I didn’t expect that from you.”
“I’m full of surprises.” I turn my body toward Preacher.
“I can’t make that call.”
“Contact Grimm. I think it's more than reasonable. If we don’t tell them I’m okay, The RRR could use my alleged presence to bribe them.”
The men exchange a look, and I know coming at them from an angle they agree with was the right choice.
* * *
“The message has been sent to Ang.” Preacher places his phone on the cocktail table in the living room.