For an entire year, she didn’t see her or know she existed. She had thought those men would have been taken care of.
“It was the car,” she said.
“What?”
“The car. I remember the rape and torture, but it was hitting my head on the car that finally closed off my world.”
“I imagine the stress didn’t help either. You’re a beautiful person, Robin. Inside and out. You just don’t see it.”
She also didn’t believe it.
“I want to go with you. Whoever those men are, they have to pay for what they did. Come on, let’s go.”
Preacher put Bethany back into the car seat as she packed away the picnic. For a few seconds as he was busy, the locked chains on her wrists made her pause. The only ink she wanted on her body and was her own choice was up her chest, beneath her breast. The chains and Reaper’s name were forced on her.
“I was held down when I got his name at the base of my back,” she said.
She saw him tense as she spoke. Finally, he turned.
She touched the spot she spoke of and his gaze seemed to flare. “The chains meant I was bound to him, and the ink told the world who I belonged to.”
“You’re your own person, Robin. No one owns you or has a chance of ever taking you away again. I won’t let it happen.”
She nodded. She couldn’t help the sadness consuming her. She believed every word he said. Preacher had no reason to lie to her.
It was all because of Reaper, of her own weakness, and knowing there was no choice.
Reaper, she had loved out of necessity.
The love she had for Preacher was pure. It didn’t come from force or a need to keep herself safe. No, the feelings she had for Preacher never went away. For two years, she’d tried to forget about him, ignore him, but he’d kept on coming back, plaguing her thoughts, making her not wanting to give up, not when it came to him.
Even now, she didn’t want to let go or give up. For her, it was about being with him for forever.
Bethany made a fuss.
And here was her dilemma. She didn’t want to hurt either man. Reaper was a good father and around her, he was a good man. How could she take that away from him when he didn’t deserve it?
Pushing all of her thoughts aside, she followed Preacher back to his car and settled into the passenger seat. They drove to the station where Billy was waiting. Without anyone saying a word, she was led back to a room where for the next hour, she talked to a woman who drew what she described.
Robin was able to talk about each man in great detail. The one she killed as well. She even described the glass and the room where she stayed. After each drawing, the woman would hold up the image and she’d point at whichever one it was.
After she was done, Billy shook her hand, and she made her way back to Preacher.
“All done?”
“Yes, can I go home now?” she asked. “Back to Anne’s.”
“Sure.”
He drove her home and this time, when she tried to get Bethany, Preacher helped her, carrying the seat up to the front door.
“I want you to come by the clubhouse next week, if you’d like. I’d like to see you.”
“I’d really like that.”
Preacher stroked her cheek, stepping closer, and she gasped as he pressed his lips against hers. His tongue traced across her lips, and she gripped his jacket, holding on to him.
“One day soon, Robin, we’re going to be happy. You’re never going to be sad again and I’m going to give you everything your heart desires.”
“That sounds like a promise,” she said.
“It is, and every single chance I get, I’m going to make you happy.”
“I like the sound of that.”
He kissed her again, one final time before pulling away. “I’ll call you.”
She nodded and let herself in the house. After closing the door, she leaned against it, her heart racing, her lips swollen, her body on fire.
“I don’t like that man on my doorstep,” Elijah said.
“I’ll talk to Anne.”
“This is my house. I pay all the bills.” She was growing tired of this man. Being with Anne and knowing what a big heart the woman had, it only made her even angrier that this asshole was allowed to do what he wanted.
It had been a long day as well. Talking about the time she was taken, the