Page 4 of Preacher's Property

“Will you stop calling me that? My name is Chassie, and no, I don’t want a drink.” I think I need to remain completely sober if this is how the guys are going to act. “If you’ll excuse me,” I say, scooting past him. I rush back over to Meg who still seems to be in a heated exchange with Dozer. Meanwhile, Dakota looks terrified. I turn to where she’s staring and there’s a man watching her. A man with a gnarly scar running down his face. It’s not so much the scar as it is the look in his eyes that has me moving to her side and wrapping my arm around hers.

I hate to say it, but Meg was right. These men are terrifying. I was expecting them to be like Cage, nice and funny, not act like womanizing pigs.

“My bad, doll,” comes that rough voice again as he saddles up to my side. “Thought you were one of the new club girls. Didn’t realize you were just visiting. The name’s Preacher.” He holds out his hand.

“What’s a club girl?” I ask, not bothering to shake it.

He looks taken aback by the rejection. Too bad. I’m offended by everything that is him.

“They are.” He scans the crowd and that’s when I notice all the scantily clad women. Some already in the state of undress as they make out with the guys. “Those girls hang around the club and see to our needs; in exchange they get free room and board. I was told we had a new girl coming tonight, and I assumed you to be the one.”

I never thought it was possible for a man to turn ugly when he opened his mouth to speak, but I’ve just been proven wrong. This guy is getting uglier by the word.

“We have an open room if you’re interested?” He has the nerve to crook his brow at me. If I wasn’t surrounded by dangerous men, men who are known criminals around town, I’d be slapping him across the face. I’ve never been so offended. The guy just asked if I wanted to be a whore.

“Meg, are you ready to go?” I don’t even bother to respond to him. There’s no need. He and his crooked smile can move along.

“Yes.” She turns toward me, looking relieved by my offer. I look to Kota, but her attention is still locked on the dark corner of the room. The scary man is still watching her, looking like he wants to take my friend as his prisoner and do who knows what to her. It’s time to get her out of this place. None of these men seem like Cage.

“Kota? Are you ready to go?”

I finally gain her attention, and her throat swallows nervously. I don’t think I’d be able to get a single word out of her right now if I tried. But I can see that she’s more than ready to go. This night did not turn out to be what I expected. I thought we’d come out and dance and drink, meet some hot men and see where the night led us, but now we’re all in a sour mood. And I know I’m going to have to listen to Meg’s “I told you so” all the way back to town.

1

Preacher

“Yo, Preach!” Cage interrupts my shot, making my cue slip. I stand and turn, wanting to know what’s so goddamn important that he’s interrupting my game. Got five grand riding on this round. “I’m gonna be riding out with King for a few days. Would you be able to guard my girl while I’m gone?”

The last thing I want to do right now is be on babysittin’ duty.

“Can’t you get one of the prospects to do it?” Isn’t that what they’re here for? To do the grunt work.

“Don’t trust them with my woman. They’ll be too busy trying to get into Chassie’s pants and won’t be paying attention.”

Did he just say Chassie?

That girl had me gripped by the balls. I’d never seen a girl as pretty as her in all my life. Those curvy hips had me memorized. I was under hypnosis the moment I saw her sway through that door. And then she turned… Fuck, her green eyes were stunning.But something I said pissed her off royally, and she left without giving me the time of day. I’d love to know what got her panties in a twist, because before that, she was all in.

“Yeah, I’ll do it,” I tell him.

Chassie and I have some unfinished business to tend to.

“Thanks, man. Payton knows you’re coming. She’s got the couch ready for you.”

Couch? I won’t be sleeping on the couch. I’ll be aiming to be tucked in her roommate’s bed tonight. If Cage were smart, he would’ve asked a prospect to do the job. Her roommate is the one I’m going to be keeping my eye on. Those curves may have my undivided attention.

2

Chassie

“Honey, I’m home!” I call out as I shut the door, kicking off my shoes. I was excited to see Payton’s car parked in the lot. She’s been spending so much time with Cage lately that I rarely get to see her anymore. It almost feels like I live in this apartment alone.

“Hi, baby. Long day at work?”

I stall out as I enter the kitchen and see a man sitting at my kitchen table. Not just any man.HIM. The one who asked me if I wanted to be a club whore.

“What are you doing here?”