“Aren’t you even going to ask what we’ll be doing?” Hawk asked, looking concerned for the first time. I knew that he’d noticed that I was a drunken mess the last few days, but he wasn’t the type to pry into what the problem was. That was good. I didn’t want to talk about my woman problems.
“Doesn’t matter. I assume you need some extra muscle for whatever you’re doing.”
“We’re going to confront the new minister.”
“On a Wednesday evening?”
“Choir practice,” he explained.
I drained my coffee cup. Normally, I’d ask a ton of questions, wanting to know what I was getting into, but I was sobering up too slowly to give a damn. I just wanted a distraction.
“Fine. Let’s go.”
Hawk led the way out of the bar and to his truck. My head was pounding and as we drove west, the late evening sun was shining in my eyes. I leaned my seat back and threw my arm over my eyes.
“Don’t fall asleep,” Hawk said gruffly. “You’re no use to me if you’re unconscious.”
“Anyone ever tell you you’re a real softie?” I asked without moving.
“Buck up, buttercup. We need to handle Outlaw Souls business.”
He was right. I needed to stop focusing on my breakup with Sabrina and get tight.
When the truck stopped in front of the church, I looked out at the brick building with the stained glass windows. It looked like any other church I’d seen, nothing special with a large white cross attached to the front of the building.
“Let’s go blackmail a man of God,” Hawk said, giving me a small smirk.
Maybe I should’ve asked questions.
Too late now.
Hawk was already getting out of the car. I followed him, feeling more sober by the minute. We went up the church steps, and when Hawk pulled open the tall wooden door, I heard the melodic sound of a choir singing and a piano playing.
As we walked into the sanctuary, the door closed loudly behind us, the sound cutting off the music and drawing all eyes to us. We must have made quite a sight, standing there just behind the pews in our leather jackets. I had a red bandana tied around my head and scuffs on my boots. I wasn’t exactly dressed up for a service.
“I think we’re scaring them.” Hawk smirked. I had to agree.
“Can I help you?” The man behind the piano stood, looking at us.
“You the minister?” I asked.
“No, I’m the music director. You want Reverend Jack. He’s in the office,” he said, pointing to a door to the right of the altar.
Hawk led the way past the choir, made up mostly of middle-aged men and women. Each one of them stared with wide eyes, and I couldn’t help smirking at them.
“Carry on,” I said, nodding to the music director as he settled back onto the piano bench.
Hawk didn’t bother to knock on the office door, just let himself in like he owned the place. There was a man dressed completely in black—shiny shoes, slacks, and a button-up shirt—and short blonde hair sitting behind a desk with papers spread out across the top and, of course, an open Bible in the corner. He looked up in mild surprise at first, but as he took in the sight of the two of us, I saw fear in his face. It got worse when I closed the door behind us.
“Uh…” He cleared his throat. “C-can I help you gentlemen?”
“Ya hear that, Hawk? I don’t think I’ve ever been called a gentleman before.”
“Somehow that doesn’t surprise me,” Hawk replied, moving to one of the empty seats in front of the minister’s desk. I stayed standing, just behind him. I wasn’t sure what his play was, but I knew I was here as backup.
What kind of threat could this man pose?
“You know,Jack, the two of us are a part of Outlaw Souls, and I think it’s about time we had a heart-to-heart.”
