A Monster's Beauty (In the Arms of Monsters #3) - Sam Crescent Page 0,29
father in her life. I’ve got experience with this. It’s not … it’s not easy, Robin. You want to know what it’s like, it’s lonely for the most part. My kids are going to be moving away to college, have families of their own, and I’m going to end up alone with a guy I can’t stand.”
Tears filled her eyes, and she felt so sick all of a sudden. “I’m going to throw up.”
She ran out of the room, toward the downstairs bathroom, and threw up the wine she’d just consumed. Anne was there, holding her hair, and it reminded her of the time she’d been ill with Reaper.
This wasn’t the same, though.
What if she didn’t love Reaper but she was only staying with him so Preacher didn’t kill him?
Was it obligation?
Or love?
For Bethany?
Why wasn’t she pushing Reaper aside?
None of her feelings made any kind of sense, and that scared her even more.
Chapter Five
A couple of days later
Preacher made his way to the library where Robin and Bethany were waiting for him. Reaper had finally moved out of his house and was staying at some rented home on the outskirts on the opposite side of town.
He’d never been so relieved in all of his life to finally be rid of the man. It would have been a lot easier if he’d shot and killed him, but he couldn’t have everything in life. So he’d settled for just accepting his living and breathing state for now. There was nothing else he could do.
Reaper would be living for some time, and he would have to keep his killing tendencies under wrap. He had moments like this to look forward to. Being with Robin and Bethany, spending time with them. It was why Reaper was still breathing.
Robin walked out of the library, pushing Bethany, and he smiled at her.
“Hey,” she said.
“How’s the head?” he asked.
Late Sunday night, Robin had called him. She’d been completely and totally drunk and told him about the conversation she had with Anne. He’d never experienced a drunk Robin before, and it had been a revelation. With a few drinks, she was chattier and opened up about a lot of things that were bothering her.
He was starting to like this other woman, Anne. She was on his side, for some odd reason, but rather than question it, he’d accepted it. Anne had his back and she had taken a real shine to Robin. For that, he trusted her and if there was anything she ever needed, all she had to do was ask, and it would be hers. She was more loyal than his own men at the moment, and he needed that.
“It’s better. Headaches, no matter how drunk you are, don’t last a long time.” She rubbed at her temple. “You should have seen Anne though. She looked a little worse for wear this morning.”
“You drank a lot.”
“Yep. I won’t be touching the stuff for another couple of years. So, where do you want to go?”
He took her hand as he moved her out of the way to push Bethany.
“Are you sure you want people in town seeing you so vulnerable?”
“There’s nothing wrong with me pushing your daughter,” he said. “I intended to be involved with our little girl.”
“I can see that.”
Once again, their life was held in sadness.
“Don’t do that, Robin. There’s no need to be sad.”
“No need to be sad? Do you even remember what I’ve done and what we’ve been through? You’ve been wanting to kill Reaper for a long time and now because of me, you can’t.”
“I can. I can kill him anytime I want, and one day, I will, but until then, I’m happy to have you back.” He pulled her close, kissing the top of her head, feeling the overwhelming love she gave him filling up his world.
He’d never trusted a woman until he’d allowed himself the chance to be with Robin. He’d killed Bishop’s mother because she’d gone to Reaper. Shaking his head, he pushed all of those thoughts aside and instead focused on Robin. She was here and in the now, and he wouldn’t be dragged down by any other thoughts or feelings.
“You called her our girl,” Robin said.
“That’s who Bethany is, she’s ours.”
They walked to a small park. Several people were already enjoying lunch.
A couple of the prospects had set up a small picnic and were waiting for him to arrive. He thanked them, letting them leave so he could have this time with Robin.