I studied him, and as I did, I realized it was going to rain and it was scary cold as only Chicago could be.

And I probably would be okay, hanging all night at the train station.

But then again, maybe I wouldn’t.

And what happened when you took a taxi and couldn’t pay?

Did they arrest you?

“No Preacher?” I asked dubiously.

His face got hard. “Way he played tonight, babe. No Preacher. No fuckin’ way. That’s a promise.”

I didn’t know where the L was.

I might not have enough money for a taxi.

It was cold.

My train didn’t leave for at least nine hours.

It was about to rain.

And I was a massive idiot, coming to Chicago without any emergency cash, not even knowing why I was there.

“I’m out of there if he shows,” I muttered, turning back and deciding I liked Jesse because he looked very relieved, and I was telling myself this was because he was getting me out of the cold.

“He won’t show,” Jesse assured me.

He fell in step beside me again as we walked back.

[Off tape]

Do you know who told Preacher that you were there?

Yes.

Josh.

I would not put it past that guy to follow Jesse when he chased after me.

But I saw him in the lobby when we came back, watching.

Everyone thinks it’s because he mouthed off to the press, that was why he was kicked out of the band.

But it wasn’t.

That was just the excuse Preacher used.

As contradictory as it was, and Preacher could be that, it was because Jesse had made me a promise, even if, in the end, it was a promise Preacher wouldn’t have wanted him to keep.

But Josh made it so Jess couldn’t keep it.

And Preacher was all about keeping promises.

That is why Josh was kicked out of the band.

Because he’s…a fucking…sneak.

And Preacher McCade could not abide a sneak.

Jesse introduced me to his girl.

Her name was Cynthia.

And I did not like her.

I hid that from her and Jesse because really, it was none of my business.

In a few hours, I’d be out of there anyway.

I realized right away that it wasn’t that she didn’t want me around, I would have gotten that.

She didn’t care I was around.

Watching her, I could see she wanted to go back up to the big suite and party with the band.

Now, if Preacher was mine like I thought he was after that night we’d shared, and I hadn’t seen him in months, I would not want to party with anyone.

I’d just want Preacher.