Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77999 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77999 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
“He was.”
“Was?” My voice filled with panic. “Did something happen?”
“Yes and no.” I could hear the frustration in his voice as he said, “This whole thing is taking a lot of time and energy, and Weston’s patience is running thin.”
“I can imagine.”
“No, I don’t think you can.” His eyes were filled with emotion as he continued, “He’s in a dark place, and I’m afraid if he doesn’t pull out of it soon, it will cost him his chance to walk again.”
Weston had always been so full of life and seemed so tough and strong, obstinately so, and to hear that he’d found himself in a dark place made my heart sink. I was still trying to process everything when Preacher announced, “You know, he told me about the night you met and everything that happened.”
“Oh.”
“He seemed to think there was something between you two. Even went so far as to say you were the one. He’s never said that about anyone.” He held up his hand, preventing me from interrupting his thought, and added, “I know all the bullshit about your dad and his mom. I don’t care about any of that. All I want to know is if you felt the same about him and if you still do.”
“It’s not that easy.”
“You don’t gotta make this thing hard. Just answer. Either you did, or you didn’t. Either you do, or you don’t.”
“I did.” I shrugged. “I do.”
“Then, help him. He needs you.”
“Needs me to do what?”
“Go to him. Remind him he has something to fight for.” He kept his eyes trained on me as he stood and said, “And before you start throwing out excuses, know what it took for me to come here. I put a lot on the line, and I did that because I think you’re the only one who can get my son back on track.”
“Why me?”
“I know my son. There have only been a few times when I’ve seen a true fire in his eyes, and one of those times was when he was talking about you. I just need you to remind him of that fire.”
“I think you’ve overestimated the effect I have on Weston. I aggravate him more than anything, and even if I had the capability of bringing back that fire or reminding him of it, I just can’t do it.” I motioned my hand to the stack of files on my desk. “I have all this work. I’ve only been here a few months. I can’t just up and leave it all behind.”
“I was hoping it wouldn’t come to this but...” He reached into the side pocket of his leather jacket and pulled out an envelope. He tossed it on my desk as he said, “Maybe this will persuade you.”
“What is this?” I quickly opened it, and my breath caught when I saw my father’s name at the top of the page. It was a financial report, and it was covered in red. Dad had never mentioned having money troubles, so I looked up at Preacher and asked, “Is this real?”
“Afraid so,” he answered. "Your mother’s medical bills and funeral hit him hard, and then, add in your college expenses, and things went south fast.” He crossed his arms with determination. “I have the means to turn things around for him.”
“You have the means to fix this?”
“I do.”
It wasn’t just a few hundred dollars he was talking about. It was thousands upon thousands. It was more money than I could imagine, and I couldn’t fathom how a biker—no matter how rough and tough—could come up with that kind of cash. “But how?”
“Not gettin’ into that. All I can tell you is that it will be handled as soon as Weston is back on his feet.”
“How did you get this? My father hasn’t mentioned having any money troubles at all.”
“I have my ways. I just need to know if you will help my boy.”
I stared at him, still unsettled by the news of my father’s troubles. “Okay. I guess I have no choice but to give it a try.”
“You can’t go into this with that kind of attitude. Wes is even more bull-headed than me, and that’s saying something. So, I’m not exaggerating when I say he’s gonna give you hell.” Preacher took a step towards my desk. “He’s going to fight you every step of the way, and I mean fight. He’s going to tell you he doesn’t want you there, and he will try his damnedest to hurt your feelings and make you feel as bad as he does. But you’ve gotta be strong enough to keep pushing.”
“Boy, you really know how to sweet talk a girl.”
“Just telling ya like it is. You need to know what you’re getting into here.” His eyes filled with emotion as he told me, “It’s gonna be tough, but you’ve got to hold onto the thought that there are two men who are counting on you.”