The Kingdom (Preacher Brothers 1)

It didn’t matter that it was obvious I wasn’t going to turn anyone in, but I’d inserted myself into their lives, and it was clear Cullen was not used to that, didn’t want to accept it.

“I have to agree with Dom,” Frankie said. “I think this is just an excuse, because you’re still pissed about not getting your way with the girl.

“Amelia,” Dom snapped. “Not the girl. Amelia. Get it right next time.”

Frankie held up his hands in surrender.

I couldn’t help but smile at the sound of Dom defending me.

“If you want to leave, fine. But own up to why you’re doing it,” Wilder added.

Still, Cullen said nothing, just stared at me with those dead eyes.

A full minute passed.

“Let’s make one thing clear,” Cullen finally spoke, his arms still crossed over his chest, his baseball cap still pulled low. “I don’t give a shit that you found a piece of ass, Dom, or that you’re in love, or that you want to get married and have a houseful of kids.” He shrugged and look at Dom. “I don’t care if you’ve found your fairytale happily ever after.”

I shivered at the tone of Cullen’s voice.

“I need to get out of here, because we’ve been doing job after job. I’m going to the cabin to clear my head. When I know all of us are ready to focus, then we can start up again, yeah?” He phrased it like a question, but I knew it was anything but one. He looked at each of his brothers, and despite how hard Cullen was, I felt this emotion come from him.

I didn’t know if the other guys recognized it, didn’t know if they’d be able to see how hurt Cullen actually was. I understood to an extent. I screwed up their ecosystem, the way things had always been. He wasn’t used to that. His only reaction was anger. He did what he had to do and made no apologies.

I didn’t say anything, because I knew it would only makes things worse.

Cullen made a deep sound in the back of his throat and lowered his gaze to the ground, shaking his head. “I just need to get away, clear my mind. Without saying anything else or looking at anyone, he left the kitchen, walking past me, the breeze from his departure moving along my body and having goose bumps form along my arms.

Everything was silent for long moments after he shut the front door, and the sound of his vehicle leaving came through. Then there was a crack of thunder from the impending storm. I had felt it in the air, smelled the promise of rain as I stepped out of that coffee shop and came to Dom’s.

I turned and looked back in the direction of the kitchen again. Frankie and Wilder were murmuring softly to each other and definitely annoyed, and Dom had his focus on me, an apologetic look on his face. I felt myself melt. It was clear he was worried about me, probably about how I felt after witnessing all that.

I didn’t stop myself from walking over and wrapping my arms around his waist, putting my head on his chest, and just reveling in the fact that he was mine.

I didn’t care that his brothers saw us or that I felt their gaze strained right on us. I didn’t care who saw the displays of affection we gave to each other.

“We’ll hit you up later,” Wilder said.

“Yeah, we’ll leave you guys to it,” Frankie added with amusement in his voice.

Then we were left alone. Dom had his arms wrapped around me as he kissed the top of my head.

“It’s not you, baby,” Dom murmured against the crown of my head. “Cullen’s always been a lost soul. He’ll leave at random for months at a time, going to the cabin we own a couple hours from here.” He smoothed a hand over the back of my head. “Hell, we don’t even know if he’s alive when he leaves, because he won’t call us, won’t answer us when we reach out.”

That broke a part of my heart.

“Aren’t you worried about him just going off like that, not contacting anyone?”

I felt him inhale deeply and exhale just as hard. “No. This is how Cullen has always been. This is just who he is, has been ever since our father died and he didn’t have to worry about the abuse or the fights breaking out between us.”

I tightened my hands around him and closed my eyes. “Dom, I love you.” I pulled back and looked up at him, my head tipped up in his direction. “I love you,” I said those words softly, from the heart. This flicker of emotion passed across his face then he leaned down and placed his lips on mine, kissing me sweetly, hesitantly now.