“What information?” Preacher asked, frown deepening.
Nicky cleared his throat. “His medical chart shows years and years of abuse. How the hospital didn’t investigate further is insane. His last hospital stint was six months after sustaining third-degree burns to forty percent of his body. If Memphis chooses to go on the record, there’s no statute of limitations for attempted murder.”
Preacher felt sick at the thought of the pain and abuse Memphis must have endured in the hospital’s burn unit if they kept him there for six months. “From how Memphis tells it, his father and brother weren’t trying to kill him. They just thought it would be funny.”
“What the fuck?” Linc snarled. “This dude set his fucking kid on fire for laughs. Fuck the cops, let’s just end this motherfucker.”
Preacher felt the same way. As much as he didn’t want Memphis to fear Tennessee and told him the man wasn’t omniscient, he did have a long reach. Preacher might be willing to do another twenty years if it meant seeing Tennessee pay for what he’d done to his children, especially to Memphis.
“Last resort,” Jackson said, as if it was something he’d said a hundred times before, like he was used to having to talk Linc off a ledge. “Let’s try to fix this without committing first degree murder.”
“If either Tennessee or Nash goes anywhere near Memphis or Knox, it will be a mercy killing by the time I’m done with them,” Preacher promised.
Cy nodded in agreement. He was ride or die. They’d been through hell in that prison together and come out the other side. They’d take a bullet for each other. But he didn’t know these people, so their seemingly endless help would be suspicious if not for Cy’s and Nicky’s backing. Preacher wasn’t used to strangers’ generosity, not without an ulterior motive.
“Uh, guys. We’re getting off track here. Even if the feds can’t prove Tennessee meant to kill Memphis, it’s possible they could still use him as a witness regarding prior bad acts and things he witnessed growing up. Or Tennessee could want him dead to get Knox back or scare him into silence. Why he’s decided to take Memphis out isn’t nearly as important as making sure it doesn’t happen,” Nicky reminded them with a look of exasperation.
Jackson and Linc nodded. “You’re right,” Jackson said.
“I usually am,” Nicky said.
“Okay, so why are you all here?”
“Well, we brought Day and Wyatt because they’ve been through abusive situations, and we thought Memphis could use somebody to talk to about what he’s been through.”
“He’s not much of a talker,” Preacher said, looking up at the sliding glass doors.
Linc snorted. “Don’t underestimate Wyatt’s and Day’s ability to get somebody to spill their whole life story. They could have worked as interrogators.”
Jackson nodded in agreement, both of them looking fond and disgruntled at the same time.
Preacher shook his head. “Okay, so why are the rest of you here?”
“We’ve come up with a plan, but Nicky thought we should all come because you don’t really know us very well and you’re not a trusting type,” Jackson said.
Preacher cut his eyes to Nicky who shrugged. “What? You’re not.”
“So, what’s the plan?” Preacher said, refusing to give Nicky the satisfaction of being right.
“We think we should separate them,” Nicky said.
“No fucking way,” Preacher snapped.
All eyes swung to Cy who said, “This isn’t about you. This is about keeping them safe.”
“I can keep them safe,” Preacher said through clenched teeth.
“You can’t even legally own a firearm, man. Besides, how is Memphis going to feel if Knox gets hurt simply because he got in the way of a bullet meant for him?” Cy asked.
They were right. Fuck. “Goddammit,” he fumed.
Jackson ran a hand over his bald head. “We want to take Knox to a friend with a farm two hours north. His husband is one of my ex-employees. A former Texas Ranger and a private investigator. Top notch bodyguard. Their facilities are secure. His husband is a pastor who takes in former trafficking victims, gets them counseling, gives them a place to stay until they’re on their feet. The counselors are there daily and are used to dealing with children in crisis. There are animals for him to help with, and he can bring Donatello. He can get the therapy he needs in a safe environment. Hell, he can bring Bo and Luke if it will make you feel better.”
“I don’t even know these people,” Preacher said.
“You barely know Memphis and Knox,” Nicky said, earning a glare from Cy.
Linc stepped forward. “Look at it this way. Even if somebody manages to find out Memphis is with you, they’ll never find Knox. There’s no way to trace you to the Seton’s. None. It’s a six degrees of separation thing. We can do the same for Memphis. We’ll move him to a safe house with no connection to this place, and we’ll set him up with round the clock protection, and you can go back to your normal life…if that’s what you want.”
