Page 69 of Savage Lust

I flinched. “Both.”

When they stared at me, I shrugged and gave them the cliff notes version of my argument with Cam.

“He’s an asshole.” When Kenna flashed her a surprised look, Dylan chuckled. “I can say that. You didn’t deserve him being a prick, but he was doing the same thing I tried to do. Warn you off, show you what this life is really like.”

I stiffened. “After what just happened, I’d say I’ve had a really good taste of it.”

“And?” Finished with her nails now, Kenna stole my soda and took a sip. “You going to run?”

Leather clad bikers filed out of the hallway. I watched them, prickles of excitement threading through me as I looked for Cam. When I saw him, head low, talking to Merc, I was certain I wasn’t scared. “Nope. Not even close.”

Kenna whooped a cheer, and Dylan smiled approvingly. Whatever had happened between us was gone. It wasn’t just Cam. I was making real friends here for the first time in my life.

I was almost to him, ready to feel his arm draped over my shoulder, to find out what came next before Preacher stepped into my path. The beefy, older man always made me uncomfortable. Today wasn’t any different. But the way he looked at me was. Whatever fake generosity he’d shown me at the funeral, even at my father’s house, was long gone.

“I heard you were going through Archer’s things. Find anything interesting? He’s got a lot of shit, I’m sure, especially if you didn’t know him.” He tried to sound friendly but failed.

All the little sirens inside me that the adrenaline rush of the day brought to the surface revved their engines. I thought of the guns I’d found with Cam, Dylan, and Merc. But said nothing. Sure, the Desert Kings were all about loyalty, but it seemed like Cam and Merc were an island all on their own with this.

I’d protect that.

“Not really. Mostly pictures, clothes.”

He grunted like he didn’t believe me. And something similar to fear coiled in my belly. Who knew, being scared made me mouthy and left more than a good bit of accusation in my tone. “Maybe whoever broke in found all the interesting things.”

I should have looked away, like the frightened cat he wanted me to be, but I didn’t.

He kept his composure even as anger flared his nostrils. “You should be hearing from the lawyer soon.”

Next week, not that I was telling him that. My intuition was that Preacher was bad news. Cam hadn’t come out and said it, but he didn’t give me the warm fuzzies AP or the others did. I had a hard time believing this man was Archer’s best friend.

“I guess so.” Playing dumb, I looked past him to where Merc and Cam had stopped to talk with Dekes.

When I tried to walk away, the large, barrel-chested man wedged himself between me and the hallway. To get away, I’d have to turn back and run back to the girls or shout for Cam, which would cause more problems.

“The club will need to know what’s in the will. And I’ll need to come by. Archer had some things that belonged to me.”

“I’m sure you can talk to Cam about all of that. I’m really not—”

“Cam isn’t Archer’s kid, darlin. That’s you.” His bullying tone made me feel sick, my bravado fading.

I glanced over his shoulder, willing Cam to look my way.

“And I’m sure there’ll be money. That’s why you’re here, ain’t it? Homeless, looking for a handout.”

How did he know anything about me? I’d only told Cam, and if he told anyone, it wasn’t Preacher. I grew cold and wrapped my arms around myself to keep my hands from trembling. He wasn’t wrong, but he wasn’t right either.

“That’s not exactly what—”

“The Kings can buy the house from you and any other property he has.”

Why did he care so much about buying me off?

“That won’t be necessary, really. I’m thinking about staying around for a while.”

He snorted and sneered. “Must have found enough to set you up for a while, huh? Feel taken care of now?”

Finally, Cam looked up at me, read the situation correctly, and stalked toward us in a way all too familiar. It was like the bar and the rednecks, round two. “Cam takes care of me just fine.”

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