Page 24 of Revenant's Fire

“Told you she’s not as soft as you think,” Mercy mutters on her way past. I don’t miss the proud smile she gives Sunny though.

“Everyone! Church! You too, Sunny. Fuck!” Gallows growls as he storms past, his heavy boots echoing through the common room.

My feet are planted, head spinning, as wave after wave of relief washes over me. I barely notice Sunny’s dark eyes staring up at me until she clears her throat.

“Um, Prez wants us thataway, big guy.”

I grunt, spinning on my heel and carrying her into Church. I don’t give a shit about the smirks my brothers have pasted on their faces, or that I’m now sitting with Sunny on my lap. This woman will be the death of me and I can’t find it in myself to care at the moment.

“Ah, just let me, um, -” Sunny wriggles in my lap until she’s facing Gallows and my brothers, “-hey everyone,” she waves awkwardly.

Gallows takes a deep breath, before letting his stiff posture loosen. “Sunny, are you OK?”

“Why? What have you heard?” Sunny asks. I can’t see her face, but I’m guessing she’s frowning.

“What have I -? What? Sunny, you just watched a man die out there,” Gallows says, voice verging on disbelief.

“Yeah. And I saw the asshole who did it.” She looks around the table before turning back to Gallows. “So, do you want a description so you can go out and avenge Cobb?”

Mercy bites her lips as every brother stares at Sunny. A throat clears and Fog raises his hand.

“Um, if you have a description I could look it up,” he offers, laptop open.

“No need,” Gallows replies. “I’m pretty certain that was our first brush with Amos Crowe.”

Sunny’s head snaps around. “Amos Crowe? The collector?”

Ledger’s brows knit together. “The collector?”

“Yeah. Some old slave shackles turned up on church land when I was a kid. Amos Crowe showed up offering the church a butt ton of money for them.”

“What the hell?” Sleet says.

Sunny nods, “Yeah, he told my dad he liked collecting things. But Dad said they sounded like things that celebrate human suffering.” Sunny shivers, and my arms wrap around her before I can stop myself.

“The pastor didn't sell them to him, did he?” Brake asks.

Sunny shakes her head, looking offended. “He told him to fuck off.”

Snorts sound out around the table for a moment before the weight of the situation presses down on us again.

“What else did you notice about him?” Mercy asks.

“He was creepy as hell.” Sunny says. “Ruby ring on his left pinky, and a signet ring on his right index finger. I think there was a crow on it.” She tilts her head back onto my shoulder, her dark hair brushing my throat. “His suit fit him perfectly. Manicured nails. His shoes had a lift to them, so I’d say he’d be Mercy’s height without them. He smelled expensive and he was smoking a cigar.” She closes her eyes for a moment. Her long lashes flutter against her cheeks. “His eyes didn’t look right.” She swallows. “And he smiled the whole time.” She looks around at everyone. “The whole time.”

“Well, that sounds like a problem,” Jubilee says, scratching his beard. “A big fucking problem.”

Gallows sits silent, still, staring down at the Saint’s Outlaws patch burned into the worn, wooden table. He takes a breath, then another before his gaze snaps up, fire in his eyes. Ready for war.

His tattooed fist hits the wood twice, gaining Hush’s attention. “Get me information. Somehow Crowe has the Wolves in his pocket and us in his sights. Take Coyote with you.” Hush dips his chin and I’m thankful Prez didn’t elaborate in front of Sunny how they were to get said information.

“Fog? You and Ledger find me everything on Amos Crowe. And I mean everything.” Gallows looks around the table. “Mercy, take Jubilee, Sleet and some of the prospects and tighten up security around the compound.”

Sunny bounces slightly in my lap. “Oh! What do you want me to do?”

Gallows stares at her for a beat. “Sunny, I want you to leave my cut sluts alone,” he deadpans.

Before I can ask, Sunny pats my chest. “Nothing to worry about.”