Page 3 of Creed (Satan’s Fury MC- Little Rock #6)

I glanced up and was surprised to see that it was Preacher. It was almost six-thirty, and he looked like he’d just rolled out of bed. I smirked as I teased, “Damn, old man. It’s almost seven, and you’re just now showing up?”

“Don’t start with me, brother.”

“What? I’m just trying to make sure you aren’t planning an early retirement or something.”

“You know better than that.”

He headed straight for the coffee pot. He poured himself a cup and took a long sip before walking over and sitting down next to me. There was no denying it. The man looked as tired as I felt. “You finally settled in over at Tabitha’s?”

“Yeah, we’re getting there,” he said, rubbing his jaw.

“Something going on?”

“Just worried about her. She’s been busting her ass with those horses, and I know she loves ‘em and all that. But it’s a lot to take on by herself.”

“What about Harlan and her boys?”

“The boys don’t have time to help her out. And Harlan’s good, but she needs two more just like him.”

“The brothers are spread pretty thin right now.”

“I know. I’m thinking we need to hire someone, and not just some kid looking to earn gas money.”

“I hear ya.” I nodded, thinking it over. “What about Misty?”

That got his attention. His eyes narrowed slightly, and I could tell I’d piqued his interest. “She’s always the first to step up when something needs done.

Doesn’t drink too much and only fucks with the guys when they want her to.

Hell, she’s always the one wrangling the girls when they get too wild.

Keeps her head down and does the work. She could be good. ”

“You think she’d be interested?”

“Don’t see why not. She’s been trying to pick up extra hours at the Vault anyway, and she’s always had a soft spot for animals.”

“Alright, I’ll mention it to Tabitha and see what she thinks.”

I gave him a small nod and went back to sipping my coffee. Preacher leaned back in his chair and stretched until his spine gave a crack loud enough to echo. He grimaced and muttered something under his breath about getting old, but he seemed anything but old to me.

It was still early, and he was still shaking off the cobwebs. But that didn’t stop me from saying, “So, we had a situation at the Vault last night.”

“You handle it?”

“I’m working on it.”

“Something I should be concerned about?”

“Possibly.”

I took a moment to fill him in on what went down, and as soon as I was done, he ran his hand over his face and grumbled, “Motherfuckers.”

“I had the same thought.”

“You think this was a one-time thing, or is there more to it?”

“No idea. Hoping Grim will be able to fill us in on that.”

I could see the wheels turning in his head as Preacher leaned back and let out a breath.

He was pissed, and rightly so. It took nerve for these guys to pull this stunt on our property.

I had no doubt it had him wondering if we were slipping.

I’d had the same thought myself, but we weren’t new to this game. We both knew what needed to be done.

Preacher and I had been riding together for over twenty years. And while he had some years on me, we’d been friends before we were brothers. I was there the night he got patched in. The same way he was there when I did. We’d built this club side by side, brick by brick, and fight by fight.

We’d buried more than our share, burned bridges when we had to, and made sure Satan’s Fury came out stronger every time. This life wasn’t easy, but it was ours. And we would do whatever it took to protect it.

“We need to tighten the reins.”

“Agreed.”

Tightening would be hard on us both.

It would mean even more demanding hours and getting in front of any problems that might arise. And that would mean even less time at home which might be difficult for Preacher.

He and Tabitha were just starting out, and he was giving it his all.

I couldn’t blame him. He’d found something real with her, and it showed.

Hell, he looked at her like he’d found something he didn’t even know he’d been missing.

Maybe he didn’t. Not until she came along.

And even then, he’d fought it. But she got to him.

And he got to her.

But I never once worried he’d let it change the way he ruled.

Preacher was too damn loyal for that. Don’t get me wrong.

He’d kill for her. No question about that, but he’d die for this club.

And that kind of man, that kind of brother, was one you could always rely on.

You never had to question his loyalty, and you’d follow him through hell because of it.

This club came first. Always had. Always would.

So, even with Tabitha in the picture, I knew where his priorities landed.

“We’ll hash it out over church tonight.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

I took another slow sip of coffee, letting the silence settle over us as we both thought about the days that lay ahead.

We were both lost in our own thoughts when the back door opened again, letting in a gust of warm air and a heavy dose of tension.

Memphis strolled in first, looking like he didn’t have a care in the world, and right behind him was Goose.

His usual smirk was nowhere to be found, and he was radiating a mood that hit the room like a sledgehammer. He didn’t say a damn word. No smartass remark or unprovoked joke. He just walked over to the counter, grabbed the coffee pot like it owed him something, and filled a mug to the brim.

Memphis gave us a half-shrug likehedidn’t know what the hell was going on. It was clear something was up, so I asked, “Everything good?”

Goose didn’t answer. Just stood there with his cup in his hand, jaw clenched tight, and his eyes fixed on the floor like he was trying to keep something from boiling over. Whatever it was, it wasn’t good.

Preacher studied him for a moment, then shook his head, signaling that now wasn’t the time to push. And he was right. Goose was a lot of things. He was loud, loyal, and wild when he wanted to be. But when he gotquiet, it meant something serious was eating at him, and it was best to leave him be.

Goose didn’t talk about his demons.

He certainly didn’t joke about them.

After a long moment, he muttered something under his breath before turning and walking out the way he came. The door slammed behind him, leaving us all wondering what the hell was going on.

“Damn,” Memphis mumbled.

“Any idea what’s going on?”

“No clue. He’s been off since last night, but I can’t get him to tell me what’s going on.”

“Let him cool off,” Preacher said. “He’ll come around.”

I’d been there. I knew what it was like to try and carry something heavy on your back and pretend like it wasn’t there. Sooner or later, that weight would eventually snap, and it would hurt like hell.

And when it finally happened to him, and it would happen, we would be there to help him pick up the pieces. That’s what family does, and if Fury was anything, it was family.