Page 159 of Preacher Man

"Five years ago?"

Jamie nodded. "I knew if I gave it to you then it would go only one place and it wouldn't have been to help to save your tattoo place or to buy something practical. You would have handed the whole lot over to Rita."

Batting two for two Preacher silently agreed once more.

Ruby bristled. Oh, he knew that little growl in her throat. she was going to-----

"That wasn't your decision to make! I wouldn't have given it to anyone, you saw me struggling, I lost my job, Jamie! you don't think any time around there it would have been a good idea to tell me this? Not that I want his money, but the choice was mine to make."

"No offense, but that's a buncha bullshit. You know fine well where that money would have gone. I wasn't gonna let you waste it on her to stick more tracks in her fucking arms."

"Excuse me for caring about someone else. We all can't be emotion-lacking machines like you, your fucking highness. You can take that back." She gestured to the paper he still held out. "I don't want it, let Wyatt know his hush money is not needed, he’s too fucking late to play daddy."

The tick in Jamie's jaw went mental again. Now he was getting a little more of the picture that was Ruby's life he was seeing for himself just where Jamie fit into the puzzle. Big brother cared only he wasn't showing it. He sighed and threw the paper down on his desk before he rested on the edge, legs spread, his hands going to his thighs he looked over at Ruby as though Preacher wasn't large and living in his office as well. "You know it's not like that, he wanted you to have it, you were always his princess, even though he fucked up at every turn."

"You would say that now you've taken his seat. You could have walked away, Jamie, got your own life, and not stepped into Wyatt's shoes, now look at you, King ofhisroost." Her tone like a bullet.

"People don’t always have fucking choices, Ruby. One day you might understand. Until then, the money is here for whenever you want it."

"I don't want it. Burn it, donate it to charity."

Jamie sighed a hard noise. "Ruby."

"Jamie." Her voice equally stubborn. Preacher moved finally and brought their attention from each other to him.

"Now kids, let's not argue, not before I get my brand-new Fat Boy in brushed silver. Feel free to spoilme, bro-in-law, I don't mind at all." He winked at her and she smiled reluctantly her hunched shoulders drifting down, her tension fading.

Jamie snorted but turned his accusing eyes on Preacher. "Married to a fucking Renegade Souls," he said it with a smirk. "What was it, Ruby, Michael Myers not available?" Funny fucker.

Even Ruby laughed.

"Says the perpetual single dude. There's talk you don't have a pee-pee, Jamie. I mean I'm not saying I started that rumor or anything."

"Fuck you." He fired back with a smirk. "Why don't you go round up some drinks, Ruby, and let me talk to this big bastard a minute."

Oh, here we go.

Preacher grinned and rounded his neck. Did brothers in law throw down? He wouldn't mind the brother-in-law talk, he supposed, a man had to do what a man had to do and if Preacher had a sister ... Nah, he wouldn't let any sister of his marry a man like him, fact. Jamie had a right to do this, he reckoned, but he was staying married so deal with it.

Cocking a brow to Ruby, Preacher flashed a grin at her rolling eyes. "Really? Are you going to play big brother now? Much too late. But I want a coffee anyway. I'd say play nice." This she directed tohimand he wanted to chuckle being chastised by the little Mrs, he fucking loved it, his arms folded against his chest. "But I know you can't. Don't hurt my brother, Preacher Man."

"I'll do my best not to let him run into my fist, beautiful." She slipped out. Only then once he'd watched her gorgeous ass leave did he turn back to the Kingsman president and lift a brow expectantly.

He didn't have to wait long.

"You married my sister."

"Yep, looks that way."

"How long have you known her?"

"Long enough," and then. "Is this going to be a problem for you, Jamie?"

"My sister married to a Renegade Souls or married to you specifically?"

"Either, both." He wasn't looking for his blessing, but knowing the lay of the land would be interesting.

"Don't dick her around." He warned, his expression heavily shadowed.