CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

“Confessions aren't as bad as you think once they're out in the open." – Ruby

 

 

 

 

She’d fucking taken off.

A chicken shit move waiting until he drifted off to sleep, the drug of sex dragging him under against his will, body worn, brain dead, he'd gone without a protest, and she’d grabbed her bag and sneaked out.

Preacher was disappointed and fuming.

His jaw hardened. Honed and sharp as a razorblade he slid into his jeans, shoved his feet into the boots and tried to rein in his mood. There was no point in being pissed off. Not after he’d seen her phone and bag was gone from the table and all her girl products off the bathroom counter.

Had she even looked back at him asleep before she’d ran? Felt a flicker of guilt leaving him there? Did she even waver? So much for him thinking they had something. Dumb fuck. 

It took a good five minutes before he could center himself. Another ten minutes he’d walked to the all-night diner down the street to pick up a coffee and a bagel. Another fifteen minutes he was back in the motel room that smelled like them, like her.

Only when caffeine and food were in his system, only when he felt able enough to not say nasty shit did he fish out his cell phone to call his little runaway tiny dancer.

Only his phone was already illuminated with a wall of notifications. A whole row that went on and on and on.

All of them from Ruby.

Pulling up their text thread, he plonked down on the side of the bed, took a last gulp of the coffee before crumpling the cream cardboard cup, launching it into the trash can by the TV.

Let’s see what you have to say, beautiful.

The endless list of messages went as far back as two hours ago. So almost from when she must have stepped out of their room.

He started at the beginning.

R: 8:12 -  I’m sorry, Preacher.

R: 8:12 - I had a great time. Really, I did. Maybe not the bike ride. I’m catching a bus home. I think it's for the best, not just because I don't think my legs can take more of your bike. 

R: 8:13 - You’ll think I’m being a coward. I am. I'm sorry.

R: 8:14 - My life is screwy. So here it is. You wanted to know.

R: 8:14 - Seb is the most gorgeous thing I have in my life.

It was fortunate her next text was right after that one or Preacher’s head would have exploded all over that fucking motel room had he been made to wait for the next message. His brows pinched and he kept on scrolling.

R: 8:14 - He’s four and my sister’s son.

A nephew? Why the hell couldn’t she just tell him that? He was more confused that he had been.

R: 8:15 - As I said. Screwed up life. I didn’t want you to know any of it, you already took care of my car, which you still haven’t billed me for btw.

Not going to either, baby.

R: 8:16 - My dad is in jail, too long of a list to go into, but he's how I know about the biker lifestyle. I have a brother and a sister. I’m the middle kid, boring me, right? My brother is mostly absent, we stay in our own corners, we were close once, but life, you know? My sister is unrealistic, spoiled, entitled and I take care of her because she is unwilling to become an adult and take care of her child. I had Seb for the first ten months of his life, she didn't want him at all. 

R: 8:16 - I loved him, Preacher, like he was my own.

She included a red heart emoji. Preacher paused from going on. His sweet tiny dancer. Some of his anger drained away. Not much, but enough he could clear the seething from his eyes.

R: 8:17 - Rita hated being a mom. I think she still does. He’s the sweetest boy and she resents him. It breaks my heart. I can’t do much and she won’t come and live with me. I’m responsible even if I’m not his mom, someone has to look out for him. Our mom died of an overdose, and as I said my dad is in and out of jail, not sure of Rita’s dad, there’s only me to keep the family going, to be the only good role model for them both.

R: 8:18 -  I didn’t want you to know, to feel sorry for me. I was stupid not to tell you. I liked what we had, it was freeing and fun, you didn't have any expectations from me. 

R: 8:18 - You wanted me. I wanted you. And it was nice. I never had that before, something for just me. I just needed it for a minute, Preacher.

Was. Had. He picked up on that straight away. The tick in his jaw growing hard. He leaned over resting his arms on his thighs and kept reading.

R: 8:20 - I only had room in my life for fun.

R: 8:22 -  We had fun, didn’t we?

R: 8:22 -  Thanks, Preacher.

Had. Again. Something flared in his eyes. Goddammit. If she was thanking him for fucking her he really would strangle that woman.

R: 8:25 -  Hope you work it out with that big dude.

R: 8:25 - Though, you should have punched him, ‘cause he deserved it. Big mouthy punk.

R: 8:26 - Then make friends. ;) because everyone needs a friend, even big tough outlaws.

He laughed low.

R: 8:28 -  If you need to talk. Or whatever.

R: 8:28 - Anyway. I probably blew up your phone. See you around, Preacher man. ;) xoxo

See you around. Oh no, Ruby. you don’t get off that easily.

Fuck that noise.

He scrolled through his phone book and called up her number. It rang four times and hit voicemail. He rang again. This time it went right to voicemail.

Oh, that little … she was cutting off his call and dumping him right to voicemail.

She really did want sexual torture that ended in her screaming.

He fucking hated texting, it caused him to concentrate too much to figure out the letters, he wasn’t on the high-end scale of dyslexia but it was enough that he needed to examine each word.

P: 10:10 - Answer my call, Ruby.

A second later.

R: 10:11 - It’s probably best I don’t. You’ll yell at me.

Despite his mood, he laughed.

P: 10:14 -  That’s twice you’ve crept out of my bed. Not liking it, so yeah, I’m gonna yell at you, beautiful. Then you can tell me where the hell you are so I can come and get you, so I can kiss the fuck out of you.

R: 10:15 - I didn’t creep! I walked.

R: 10:15 - I wouldn’t mind the kissing.

R: 10:15 - Even if it’s not a good idea.

P: 10:18 - Where are you?

R: 10:18 - On a bus. It smells like feet and peas. I saw Seb for a little while. They don't live far. I should confess it was a reason, not the only one, but the big reason for coming with you, I hope you don't hate me for that. I wanted to go with you, as well. She included a row of heart emoji’s. He liked that she did something to make herself happy, at least. And he wasn't mad for her reasons for coming along on this trip. As much as he'd dreaded seeing Red Light again having Ruby at his side felt nice, felt right. 

P: 10:22 -  I’m seeing you when I’m back in town.

Thank god for predictive text. The back of Preacher’s skull was hurting from concentration.

R: 10:22 - Sure :) I need to get the car bill from you anyway.

Goddamn, this woman. Could he strangle and fuck her at the same time? Nah, that was Hawk’s deal. But the urge was there.  Clicking his tongue, he strode across the room to grab his cut, slipping it on, followed by his jacket. His phone pinged again.

R: 10: 24 - My legs still hurt. Just as well I took the bus lol.

P: 10:25 - Heading out, babe.

R: 10:25 - Oh? Got a hot date?

He smiled. Smiled again as he replied.

P: 10: 27 - Tell me something.

R: 10:27 - Sure. you know all my dirty laundry now. What do you want to know?

R: 10:28 - IS IT A DATE????????????

He ignored that. It would do her good to stew in her own juices and think he was going to fuck someone else after fucking her stupid for hours.

He was still pissed off. Not done with Ruby Steele. Not by a long shot. She would just have to deal with that. She could run but she could never hide from Preacher.

P: 10:29 - You wet for me, babe?

A minute went by. And then two. He was outside standing at the side of his bike when her reply finally came.

R: 10:33 - Against my better judgment, always.

P. 10:34 - Good. As I said I’ll see you when I’m back. Let me know you got home safe.

R: 10:34 - Sure. If you want me to.

P: 10:35 - I do.

P: 10:35 - Stay wet. You’ll need it when I get my hands on you. Later, tiny dancer.

It was the closest Preacher had come to sexting. He preferred the up close and less technology approach. But he hadn’t minded it. In fact, knowing she was probably turned on and thinking he was off for a hook-up. Yeah, he felt damn good.

Throwing his leg over his bike, he stuck the key in the engine and fired her up, she purred like a dream, but she should, he took better care of that bike than he did his own body, giving her a tune-up every week, fresh oil, she was a pampered little thing, and he loved her.

R: 10:36 - You didn’t answer. Is it a date?????

R: 10:36 - Preacher man!

R: 10:36 -There will be no hands on me if you’re sexing up someone else.

R: 10:37 - I mean it.

R: 10:37 - Ugh. Stupid man. She added on a row of angry red-faced emoji’s. He just laughed, feeling lighter in his chest cavity.

No more messages came after that, not for a long time until Ruby was home and she sent him a single text to let him know.

Preacher grinned and rode off to meet with the boys and Genty.

Just you wait until I’m home, tiny dancer.

Just you wait.

This girl who had him strung out in his own damn skin was benevolent, strong as hell, fierce. She was a fighter. She was everything.

She was fucking stubborn and he might just lock her up her when he got hands on her again.