here and tell me how to work my men and my business?”
“Most of them have a death wish. It’s why they come here in the first place. Don’t give me all that bullshit about how they need the money and stuff.”
“Preacher, I hate to break it to you, but you and I have a working relationship. Your boys, they don’t like me.”
“I don’t give a fuck what it is they like or don’t like. I know what I want you to do. Now, organize for me to go on there.”
“And if you die?”
“It’s a decision I make.”
“This is fucked up.”
“Listen to me, Dog, I’m not asking for your permission. What I’m telling you right now is if I don’t go out there and hurt or kill, then I’m going home and murder the bastard who raped my woman and impregnated her with his kid, then kill my son who allowed it all to happen.”
Dog paused. “Wait a second, these people aren’t dead already?”
“I’ve got a deal with the fucking devil and I can’t kill them, not yet. It is all about timing.”
“Why the hell not?
Preacher gritted his teeth. “Do you want to be on my list? I’ve got no problem putting you there.”
“You really are in an awfully shitty mood.”
“Yeah, well, you haven’t been me for the last twenty-four hours. Believe me, if you had, you’d be wanting to fight as well.”
“You do know none of these fights are guaranteed. You could die out there. I can’t stop that.”
“I’m not wanting to party, if that’s what you’re getting at. I want to fight. This isn’t for show. I’ve got to do something, and seeing as my hands are tied right now, this is all I’ve got.”
“Wait. All of this because of the love of a woman?”
“Yeah, speaking of the love of a woman, Robin has her memories back. I’m thinking Sunday, two o’clock for the dinner I promised you. Don’t worry, the other guy claiming to love her is already there. Welcome to my fucked-up life.”
Dog stared at him and suddenly started to smile. “Your life is sounding crazier than I ever imagined. Count me in. I love family drama as much as the next dick. I’ve got to see what all of this is about. If you die today, I will hunt and kill Reaper for you in your place, just so you know.”
“Why?” Preacher asked.
“It’s what friends are for and last time I checked, I’m not in love with this woman who seems to have everyone’s dicks locked up so fucking tight. You know, it’s easier to fuck whores. They know the score. There’s no attachment. They’re there for one simple purpose in life and that’s to take dick however we choose.”
“Said like a man who hasn’t found the right woman. Believe me, when you do, you’ll be surprised at the lengths you’d go to just to be with them.”
“I’m not the one on a suicide mission because of a woman. I’m very much sane, which is a nice feeling. It’s nice not being the crazy one for a change. How about that?”
He didn’t wait around to see what else Dog had to say. He walked right into the thick of the ring and the crowd was told there would be a change of plans.
Preacher watched and waited as he saw his opponent hesitate. He wanted the prick to hesitate, to be nervous. They all should be nervous around him. He was a fucking killer. For too long, he’d been holding back, and he was no longer going to be on a leash. They would get the real monster tonight.
The bell rang and he didn’t bother to do the whole circle and foreplay some fighters seemed desperate to act out. He was more interested in killing.
He slammed his fists against the guy’s stomach, charging at him, pushing him to the edge of the circle, and hitting his face. He took one to the face himself but Preacher didn’t stop. In the back of his mind, all he saw was Reaper. The way he stood holding Bethany as if it made him better because the bastard was able to have a kid with her, and then he heard the distinctive sound of Robin’s screams. Her cries and begging for him to stop her from losing their baby, but he couldn’t help nor could he stop what happened. She lost the baby in his arms, and he had to deal with the anger, the hatred, the loathing all over again.