Page 8 of Priest’s Sunbeam (Renegade Souls MC: Next Generation #2)

Sebastian

“Priest, if Hawk catches you glaring at Sunny like you’re a Jaguar and she’s a fresh kill, he’s gonna peel the skin off your bones.” Seb tuned back into his father’s words as Preacher chuckled.

His eyes traced the shape of her lips as she spoke, and they curved when she laughed; he felt energized by her nearness.

“He’d have to catch me first,” he told Preacher, smirking. “You oldies have creaking bones these days. It takes you all an hour to get out of a chair.”

“You little shit,” he boomed a laugh. “No goddamn respect from these mouthy kids, all ego and swinging dicks.”

“You taught me how to piss standing up, Dad. I’d say some of it is your fault.”

“True enough,” smiled Preacher, still the powerhouse of a man Seb had grown up with.

He’d follow him into a burning building without question.

They didn’t share a drop of DNA, but in every other way it counted, Preacher was his dad, and they loved each other better than a biological family could.

“You should grab some sleep. I’m gonna hunt your mom down to get some shut-eye.

I think she’s updating Tag’s ink in her old room. ”

He was beat, but couldn’t leave while Sunny was awake. Though there was more manpower in this room alone than anywhere else. And everyone was ready to dive into action at a moment’s notice.

Though Seb had only gotten a partial license plate, Lawless was working on it.

“Can we figure out who it is, or are we waiting for them to move again?”

“We always find out who it is. When? That’s the question. Sometimes, we gotta sit and do nothing.”

“I need to do something.” He nearly growled.

Proving he was the calmer Priest male, Preacher climbed to his lofty height and clapped a hand on Seb’s shoulder.

“If nothing needs doing right now, then we do nothing, son. Losing your shit over something we got no control over, only brews bigger shit. Now, if you’re not gonna get some shut-eye, quit glaring at the girl.

You missed her, try telling her that. You won’t make anything happen with the two of you if you’re on opposite ends of the room. ”

As he watched his father stride in his usual powerful way, despite his age, probably to find his wife and make out inappropriately like they always did, Seb switched his gaze across the room again to see Sunny.

But the thunder of a growl rushed up his throat when he saw her in the arms of his brother, giving him the kind of friendly hug he wanted to strangle his brother for.

Tanner had Sunny giggling as he swung her around.

Seb gripped the edge of the table so fucking hard he could have ripped the wood in half. His jaw was tighter than titanium, and an edge of jealousy sloshed through his stomach.

This was his fault. He’d allowed this to happen.

Nothing had ever been typical in his life.

He was born to a woman who didn’t deserve a kid. She’d neglected him, mistreated him. If not for his Aunt Ruby, Seb had no idea where he would have ended up.

Some would say fortune smiled on him that day he finally went to live with Ruby and Preacher as their son.

But destiny happened one more time.

When time ripped open, it gave Sunshine to Seb.

As his best friend. As someone to shield. The girl who taught him how to be a hero or a villain, if he had to be, because there were no limits to what he’d do to ensure she was okay and happy.

He understood now. That rip in time was more than just a moment.

It was a fucking event.

And he’d ignored it.

Now, he had to watch her laughing with his brother, while Seb had nothing but violence sluicing through his bloodstream. The deepest kind of rage dwarfed him like a thick winter coat.

This was his fault.

He’d let it happen.

And now he had to fix it.

No matter what he had to do.

Even if he had to break his brother to do it.

He was jealous, sure.

But that was because he was a greedy bastard and needed all of her attention.

When he had it, it was like being bathed in something heavenly.

And he wasn’t going to give that up.

That jealous edge waned into the background as he climbed to his feet and saw how she flinched.

His sunbeam was always aware of him, no matter what, just as he was with her, and he smiled to himself, letting his feet carry him forward, closer, nearer still.

She stiffened, though she was still talking to Tanner, who noticed him and arched his eyebrow.

Sunny knew he was there—he was sure of it, and that kept him going.

He was in her skin, her entire psyche network.

She’d imprinted on him like a duckling long ago, and nothing took that away from him. So when he met his younger brother’s stare, Seb smirked as his hand skimmed to the bottom of Sunny’s back. She jolted like she had been electrocuted, and it fed his hunger.

“I’m on a break before you say shit to me,” Tanner complained.

He was a good kid and would make a fine club brother one day. But until then, Seb was his superior, and he wouldn’t let him have a free ride to earn his patches.

But this situation was personal, and he wouldn’t sugarcoat Tanner’s feelings.

“I didn’t say shit,” he answered and looked down at Sunny, who was doing her best to ignore him, though the little sunbeam was trembling, and he ached to drag her into his chest, to make the last year go away, to put them right again, because not having her in his life was fucking miserable. He didn’t feel whole anymore.

Dropping a kiss to the top of her head like he’d done a million times before, he looked directly at Tanner. “She’s had a long day. Make sure she doesn’t stay up too late.”

He tugged the end of her braid, dying for her to look at him, guessing she wouldn’t, and he grinned slightly.

He had a lot of work to do to get her to forgive him.

“I’ll be in my room if you need anything, Sunny.”

As he walked through the clubhouse to the bedroom staircase, she huffed. The unfurling of heat became a forest fire in his gut when he glanced back and saw her watching him. She quickly twisted around again, but Seb had seen her unmasked face.

She missed him, too.

And that was something for him to work with.