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)
Crash is following Summer with his eyes like a Rottweiler follows a piece of steak. I don’t blame him. She’s fucking beautiful. Curvy, classy, and way out of his fucking league. There’s obviously a story there. I saw the way she looked at him, and his reaction when she used his name. But if he’s not going to lay a claim on her, I’d love to take my shot. Or all of us together. Fuck, wouldn’t be the first time we gave a pretty girl a three for one special.
But I’m not a total shit. This isn’t the moment to bring it up.
Preacher puts a hand on Crash’s shoulder. “What’s the fucking plan?”
“You asking me? You’re the fucking team lead.” Crash snaps an annoyed glance at him before his eyes are back on the funeral.
The casket’s out of sight now, and next to the hole, with her father’s arm around her, Summer watches while dabbing a handkerchief at her cheeks. Every so often, she glances up the hill at us. She knows we’re here.
“Don’t be a dick. We’re not on a fucking assignment.” Preacher slaps him on the shoulder. “Do you want to stay? Or should we head back, drink Chef out of a job, and find you someone to take your mind off the little church mouse down there?”
Crash’s shoulders hunch. “I don’t fucking care. She’s part of my past, not my future.”
“Of course you do.” I snort a laugh. “Nothing fucking wrong with that, brother.”
He runs his fingers over his scalp and shakes his head. “I just want her to be okay. That fucker is a shitstain on the ass of Mother Earth, and I don’t fucking trust him.”
“Says the guy who jammed his tongue down the throat of his step-sister,” I snipe at him. “Not that I blame you, though. I—”
I’ve never seen Crash move so fucking fast. One moment, he’s watching the funeral, the next he’s got me up against the tree with his fist around my throat. A knot digs into the small of my back and I grunt at the impact. “What the fuck did you just say?” he growls.
With effort, I get his meaty grip off me and push him away. “Jesus Christ, man. Stand down. If she’s yours, she’s yours. I didn’t mean nothin’.”
“Crash.” Preacher slams his hand on Crash’s shoulder and yanks him back. “You’re going through some shit. We fucking get it, but that’s not how we play. You got something you want to say? Say it, but there’s no room for fucking jealousy between us.”
Crash shakes his hand off and takes a step back. I make a show of brushing imaginary dirt off my jacket as I straighten.
“It’s not jealousy,” he says.
Right.
“So you won’t mind if I shoot my shot?” I should probably stop fucking around before he kills me, but if he’d only admit it, it’d be better for all of us. I nod at Preacher. “She looked all grown up to me. I bet she could handle two at once. Or we could make it three?”
He scowls. “Don’t make me fucking laugh.”
“So you don’t mind?”
“Knock yourself out,” he grumbles. “She can make her own choices, and it won’t be you two fucks.”
“I’m just fucking around, but that sounds like a goddamn challenge.” A thought occurs to me and I laugh. “You’d be my fucking brother-in-law. How about that?”
“Jesus Christ, if you’re going to go for it, then fucking do it, but just shut the fuck up. Now that Mom’s gone, I’m nothing to Summer.” He turns back to watch just as they start throwing dirt on the grave. His breath catches for just a moment.
Fuck, he’s hurting.
Preacher puts a hand on his shoulder, gently this time. “Let’s stick around a few days. See the lay of the land. If she needs anything, we’re here, and if there’s anything you need to do, we’ll make it happen.”
When Crash nods, his voice is steely. “I pegged Aaron Hale for a grifter the night we met, but Mom was so fucking ready to eat up whatever he was selling. She was fucking beautiful, you know? He took one look and knew she’d be perfect. A widowed pastor falls in love with a single mother. He courted her like she was the only woman on Earth, but fuck, she should’ve seen through that shit. Maybe she was just desperate for someone to take control after we’d been alone for so long. I wasn’t an easy kid.”
I shrug with a dry laugh. “You were a fucking kid. It’s not an easy world.” And it’s fucking true. I should know. Growing up, I had no family, and now that I’ve found one, I’ll do whatever it takes for it. These men are my brothers and I don’t take that lightly. “We could just… I mean, the grave is already open and we’ve got a good shot from here…”