She nodded and I half-carried her out of the cold, sterile room, and back to the lobby.
“Ohmigod, Willow!” a female voice cried.
“Jazz.” She pulled away from me and walked into her friend’s arms.
“I heard there was a shooting on the news and I’ve been trying to call you for hours.”
“I lost my phone,” Willow rasped.
“Lisa called me and told me you were here.”
“My dad’s dead, Jasmine.”
“I know, honey.” She rubbed Willow’s back. “Let’s get you home, okay?”
Willow turned toward the reception desk. “I’m supposed to―”
“I’ll get the information,” I said. “I’ll drop it by your house.”
She met my eyes. “You don’t know where I live.”
“I’ll find you.”
She studied me for a few seconds and then let her friend walk her out of the building... still wearing my jacket.
* * *
Willow
Jasmine drove me home and we had to hunt for the spare key because my purse was still at the church. I had nothing. No way to contact anyone or even get into my stupid house.
Once inside, I pulled Dash’s jacket closer, still not wanting to take it off, the scent of him calming me. I settled myself on the sofa in the family room and stared at the ceiling.
“I left Brad a message,” Jasmine said, sitting beside me and handing me a glass of water. “Hopefully, he’ll call me back soon.”
I realized in that moment, I hadn’t thought about him once. I’d had the worst thing in the world happen to me and he wasn’t even on my radar. I glanced at my engagement ring and it was suddenly heavy on my hand.
“Parker’s leaving work now and should be here in a few minutes.”
“Thanks, Jazz,” I said, and took a sip of water.
“Who were the people with you at the coroner’s office?”
“Bikers.” I gasped. “Oh, my word. I didn’t even thank them.”
“I’m sure they understand.”
I bit my lip. “My dad told me to run... to get help. The closest place is Barney’s.” I blinked back tears. “He won’t be happy with me for going there. I mean... oh! He’s gone, Jazz.” I burst into tears again and Jasmine pulled me close, bumping my arm which made me squeak in pain.
“Willow?”
“I was shot.”
“Holy shit!” she snapped. “You were shot? Why didn’t you tell me? Why aren’t you in the hospital? Where?”
Jasmine was one of my “low-class” friends according to Brad. She drank, she swore, and she told it like it was. She was a human mirror and that was awesome when you liked what you saw, but if you didn’t, she bristled people... people like Brad. But I loved her more than life itself. She always told me the truth, even if it was hard to hear, and she would die for me.
Parker was just as loyal, only in a quieter way. She was Brad-approved, but that was only because she was rich and had been raised the “right way.” My dad had loved both of them and I now clung to that fact as Jasmine fussed over me.
“Doc sewed me up and gave me something for the pain, but it’s wearing off.” I slid my right arm out of the jacket and Jasmine examined it.
“Who the hell is Doc?” she demanded.
“He was there with Olivia and Hatch... and Dash.”
“Dash?”
“The man who...” I swallowed. “At the coroner’s.”
“The one who belongs to this jacket.”
I nodded and slipped my arm back in, once again feeling safe. “Yes.”
“I think you might want to take it off before Brad gets here,” she warned.
I shook my head. I couldn’t yet. In the few hours I’d been wearing it, I’d come to rely on its comfort.
“Okay, honey. Let me call my dad. See if he can get you something for the pain.”
Jasmine’s dad was a doctor and had his general practice in downtown Savannah. He’d been a Godsend when my mother was battling cancer, and was like a second father to me.
“Willow? Jazz?” Parker called, letting herself into the house.
“Back here,” Jasmine called as she pulled her phone out of her purse.
The next four hours could only be described as controlled chaos. Jasmine played host as people from the church brought food and flowers, and then refereed when they wanted to sit down and tell me how wonderful my father was and how much he’d be missed. She and Parker helped to usher those who wanted to stay too long out of the house without hurting anyone’s feelings.
Jasmine’s father had arrived an hour into the mayhem with a prescription of Percocet and something to help me sleep. He’d also brought a bag for Jasmine who’d declared she’d be staying with me for a few days.
Brad still hadn’t come. He hadn’t called either and this bothered me, but it was also a relief. There was really only one person I wanted to see and he belonged to the leather now engulfing me.
The doorbell rang a few minutes after the last person left and I groaned. “I can’t visit anymore.”
“I’ll get rid of them,” Jasmine offered, and made her way to the front door.
Heavy booted footsteps sounded on the hardwoods and I rolled my head to see Dash walk into the room. Goodness, he was handsome. Something I really shouldn’t notice, but I couldn’t help myself. Dark hair that fell over his forehead, deep blue eyes, and muscles upon muscles, clearly showcased by his white T-shirt. He was lean, but probably because he was so tall. Close to a foot taller than me.
I rose to my shaky feet, but he shook his head. “Sit down, babe.”
“Hi.” I nodded to the chair next to me.
“Hey.” Dash smiled gently and handed me a phone. “Burner to hold you over until you get yours back. Programmed a couple numbers in there in case you need one of us.”
“Thank you. That’s really sweet.”
Jasmine and Parker shared a “look,” but I ignored them. We could debrief later.
Dash pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket, then took his seat. “Got all the information about funeral homes and that kind of shit.” He handed it to me. “But you don’t need to do anything today.”
“Okay, thanks.” I took a deep breath.
“Still wearin’ my jacket, I see.”
I nodded. “Is that okay?”
“Yeah, babe, it’s all good.”
“I can’t believe you found me.”
He chuckled. “Yeah, took a minute. You’re not listed, and this might be a small town, but it’s tight-lipped when it comes to you.”
I sighed. “I know. Dad wanted me safe.”
“Good man.”
I met his eyes. “He really was.” I burst into tears again, dropping my face into my hands. “I don’t know what I’m going to do without him.”
I felt the sofa dip and then strong arms guided me against a very familiar chest. “I got you.”
I buried my face into his T-shirt and sobbed until I felt like I had nothing left. “I’m sorry,” I rasped. “I keep soaking your T-shirt.”
He chuckled. “It’s all good, Willow. I’ve got several.”
I smoothed my hand down his chest, over the area I’d crumpled with my fist. He laid his hand over mine and gave it a squeeze before guiding it away from his body. I suddenly felt mortified that I’d touched him so intimately and felt the heat flood my face. “Sorry.”
“All good, babe.” He rose to his feet. “I should get goin’.”
My heart suddenly raced. I didn’t want him to go, but I forced my panic aside and nodded.
He raised an eyebrow. “You need to keep my jacket for a bit?”
“Oh, right.” I bit my lip as I stood. “Um...”
“I can pick it up in a couple days.”
“Won’t you need it?”
“You like it?”
I sighed. “It makes me feel safe,” I blurted.
He stroked my cheek. “I’ll pick it up in a couple of days.”<
br />
I swallowed as I leaned into his hand. “Thank you.”
“You need me, you call, yeah? You get scared, you call. You want to cry, you call.”
I nodded. “Okay.”
“Okay.” He smiled, then walked out of the room and I heard the front door close then the roar of motorcycle pipes.
“What the hell was that?” Jasmine demanded, forcing me to sit down again.
Parker sat in the chair Dash had been in earlier and stared at me in her quiet, disconcerting way.
I filled them in on Dash’s incarceration and his help at the coroner identifying my father’s body, but I left out everything that happened at the church. I wasn’t ready to talk about it. I wasn’t sure if I’d ever be, but for the moment, they gave me space.
“He’s really hot,” Parker whispered, and Jasmine choked.
“I’m sorry?” she said.
“Well, he is,” Parker pressed.
The new topic of conversation brought a small levity to my day and I was able to genuinely smile. “Not that I would admit noticing, but I’d have to agree. He was also very kind to me even though I got him thrown into jail.”
“Technically, you didn’t get him thrown into jail, Willow,” Jasmine countered.
“No, but if he hadn’t been helping me, he wouldn’t have had to deal with any of that, and some of his friends are still in there.” I sighed. “I should have just called the police, but I wasn’t really thinking straight.”
“It’s okay, Willow,” Parker assured me. “I’m sure they’ll figure it out.”
“Can you ask Levi to help?”
Parker’s brother, Levi, was an attorney, and although he specialized in environmental law, he was the only lawyer I knew, so I had to ask.
Parker smiled. “I’ll call him right now.”
“Thanks.”
“Any word from Brad?” Parker asked Jasmine.
“Nothing yet,” she said, and I could tell she was trying to hold back her irritation... not well, but she was trying.
I yawned and sank further into the sofa.
“Maybe you should rest,” Parker said.
“I’m fine here,” I said. I wasn’t ready to go upstairs. Upstairs was where my dad’s room was. I couldn’t go there yet.
“Stretch out, honey,” Jasmine ordered. “Sleep.”
I nodded and settled myself on the side that wasn’t stitched up, letting the pain meds do their thing and succumbing to a fitful sleep.
* * *
Dash
Fuck me, what the hell had I just gotten myself into? When I’d walked into her house, and she was still wearing my fuckin’ jacket, I had to stop myself from pulling her into a room and kissing her ’til she came.
Then, when she cried into my chest and ran her tiny hand over my stomach, I thought I might fuckin’ come myself. I had no business sniffin’ around a preacher’s daughter, but even though I knew that, I also knew I wouldn’t stay away. She looked good in my patch. Like it was right where it should be.
I pulled my bike up to the compound and backed it into a parking space, then headed inside. I was grateful for the warmth of the building... I was fuckin’ cold, and knew I’d need to grab another jacket before the sun went down.
“Dash!” Hatch called from his place at the bar.
“Hey,” I greeted, and walked their way.
“How’s Willow?” he asked.
“Fuckin’ sad.”
Hatch nodded. “She got people?”
“Two of her friends were there when I got there. I think she’s good.”
“See you didn’t get your jacket back,” Hatch said.
“Nope.” I grabbed a beer and twisted off the top.
Hatch chuckled, but I ignored him. He obviously knew I’d had no power over Willow keepin’ my jacket, but didn’t press me on the subject. Smart man.
“Any word on Badger and the guys?” I asked, then took a swig of beer.
“Got a call in to Mack. He’s got some contacts here, but he’s gonna try and fly out this week.”
Mack Reed was one of the officer’s in the Portland chapter and was also a really good attorney. We didn’t yet have access to someone like him here, so it was good he was willing to travel at a moment’s notice. Rusty, the bartender, had also been released and he’d texted me to let me know the other guy workin’ the bar had been let out, but none of the Dogs, which led me to believe there was an agenda when it came to our club.
“Fuck!” I hissed. “It’s that damn sheriff. He’s such an asshole.”
“Seems like it,” Hatch said.
“He’s been gunnin’ for us for years,” Doc said, approaching from the back patio. “He can’t hold ’em for much longer without arrestin’ them, though. And he can’t arrest ’em without evidence.”
“Wouldn’t put it past him to ‘find’ some,” I ground out.
“True,” he said, sounding defeated. “You see the girl?”
“Yeah, man.”
“She okay?”
“Define okay,” I said.
“Her arm okay? Is she in pain?”
“She seemed good on that front,” I said.
“She still got your jacket?”
“Shut up,” I retorted, and saw Doc give Hatch a grin.
I ignored their silent ribbing and finished my beer. As the night wore on, women approached, some I’d had before, some I hadn’t, but I turned them down. I couldn’t get Willow out of my head and the thought of fuckin’ some random gash turned my stomach. Instead, I headed to my room hours earlier than I normally would have.
Willow
The sound of screaming and the coppery smell of blood shook me awake, and for several seconds, I had no idea where I was, but my heart was racing and I felt sick to my stomach.
I sat up and blindly reached for something... anything... my hand connecting with my security blanket of late. I pulled the jacket close to my chest and took a deep breath. The smell of leather and Dash’s intoxicating scent, gave me instant comfort.
I thought about Dash and the sweetness he’d shown, in vast contrast to that of my fiancé. Brad had never come by. Oh, he’d called to check on me and make sure I was okay, but he’d been too busy to come to the house and offer any comfort.
A virtual stranger, however, had taken the time to rush into a dangerous situation, get himself arrested, then still offer me support when I had to identify my father. This so-called ‘degenerate’ had shown me more care and tenderness than my ‘upstanding’ and ‘good’ fiancé. I was a little over it.
I reached for the phone on my nightstand, grimacing as I pulled the stitches in my arm a little. Checking the time, I debated on calling him, but he’d said I could, so I did.
“Yeah?” a sleepy voice answered.
“Uh, sorry, were you sleeping?”
“Yeah, babe. You okay?”
“Bad dreams.”
“Yeah?”
“Yes,” I whispered. “Sorry, I shouldn’t bother you, but...”
“It’s all good, Willow. I told you to call.”
“I know, but you don’t know me and I don’t want to take advantage of your kindness,” I said. “I just can’t get the sounds out of my head.”
“You wanna talk about it?”
“I don’t know,” I admitted. “But I’m supposed to give a statement tomorrow and I’m not sure I can.”
“Might help to talk it out first.”
“Maybe.” Good Lord, this man was sweet. “My dad’s lawyer called after you left.”
“Yeah?”
“I didn’t even know he had a lawyer... I mean, one that wasn’t affiliated with the church.”
“What did he say?”
“That my dad left everything to me and I could pick up the paperwork anytime.”
“Paperwork?” he asked.
“A full list of his assets and things like that.”
“Makes sense.”
I sat up slightly and sighed. “I’m pretty sure the ho
use is mortgaged heavily, so I’m not sure I’d call it an asset.”
“I guess you’ll know when the lawyer walks you through everything.”
“Yeah,” I said, laying back on the pillows. “I’m really sorry I woke you.”
“It’s fine, Willow. Stop apologizin’.”
“Why are you being so nice?”
“Because I’m nice.”
I smiled. “This is true.”
He chuckled. “I’d think, bein’ a preacher’s daughter, you’d be used to nice.”
“I am, but I’m also used to people pretending to be nice in God’s name,” I admitted.
“Yeah?”
“Unfortunately, yes.”
“That sucks.”
“Yes, it does.” I sighed. “Why are you called Dash?”
“Right to the heart of it, huh?”
“Sorry, is that too personal?”
“No. But that’s for another day.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Oh, okay.”
“How’s your arm?” he asked.
“It hurts.” I grimaced. “I should take another pill, but I’m afraid to fall asleep again.”
“You got someone staying with you?”
“Yes. Jazz is here.”
“Any issues?”
“You mean other than the nightmares?”
“Yeah.”
“No. The house is locked up tight, we have food for days... lots of people came by and dropped off meals... I have carrot and raisin salad up the wazoo.”
He chuckled. “Sounds disgustin’.”
“It is. I have never met anyone who eats it, so I don’t understand why people continue to make it... and in so much abundance.” I sighed. “I can’t believe I’m talking to you about carrot salad.”
“You avoidin’ talkin’ about somethin’ else?”
“Probably,” I answered immediately.
“You know it’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it, Willow. You don’t have to.”
“I’ll have to tomorrow.”
“Want me to come with you?”
“It’s at the police station.”
“Yeah, Willow, I figured that.”
I bit back tears. “You’d come with me?”
“Do you want me to?”
Saving the Preacher's Daughter (Dogs of Fire: Savannah Chapter #1) Page 4