Taken by a Monster (In the Arms of Monsters 2)

“You knew my mother?”

“I knew a great deal of your mother. Rebecca wasn’t a nice woman. She certainly wasn’t the mothering kind. The fact you turned out nice was a miracle. I never thought you should have spent all that time hanging out with the Bishop kid. He was always bad news, and you could have done so much better.”

“Bishop, right?”

“You and Bishop never seemed together. I mean, you must have been for you to be pregnant with his kid and married.”

This was certainly an information overload.

“When I heard you lost the baby, I wanted to come and visit you, but it didn’t seem right. We were never close.”

“Thank you, anyway.”

“You don’t remember any of this?”

“A complete blank. It’s nice to know I was a good person at least.”

“You really were.”

Robin tucked her hair behind her ear, feeling a little uncomfortable. “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“Why do you stay with him?” Robin asked. “I know it’s completely impolite, me saying anything but, I just had to wonder why you put up with him if he cheats on you.”

Anne nibbled her lip. “It makes no sense, does it?”

“I don’t mean to upset you.”

“I’m not upset. My husband … what can I say? I haven’t loved him in so long.” She shrugged. “There’s not a whole lot of reasons I can give, really. This isn’t the first time he’s cheated, and it won’t be the last. I no longer even care for his excuses.”

“But you’re still with him. Do you love him?”

“When I married him, I did, not anymore. I stay with him for the kids. We’re a family and it’s tough.” Anne held her hands up. “What can I do?”

“Do you … see other people?”

“Me? No.”

“Why not?” Robin asked. “Ugh, forget I asked anything. It doesn’t matter. It’s your life and I shouldn’t be talking like that.”

Anne laughed. “It hasn’t come up. No one has asked me and I guess I don’t like the idea of stepping out on my husband. It’s complicated.”

Robin was going to ask her another question but they were both pulled away as the gossiping women wanted attention, as did a couple of kids.

With new returns being added to the cart, Robin was on return duty. She had no problem walking all around the library, returning books. It meant she didn’t have to talk.

Hearing Anne’s story, it did make her wonder though.

Bear had been lonely and he was only a few years older than Anne. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to bring the two people together. There was no opportunity to ask for the rest of the day, but she made a note to talk to her father.

By the end of the day, she was tried and there was no sign of Bear or her father, so she started to walk through town, toward her home. She came to the park and stopped again to watch the kids. They were all having fun, playing on swings.

“You know, that used to be us,” Bishop said, coming to her side.

“Bishop,” she said.

She hadn’t seen him since the disaster at the bar. Preacher wanted him, she didn’t know for what, but seeing him now, a part of her knew it wasn’t good.

“Hello, Robin,” Bishop said.

He looked a mess. Pale, gaunt, dirty.

“What are you doing here?”

He laughed. “Because my dad is after me, you mean? I’m sure he’s been alerted to my presence. To be honest, I don’t even know why he hasn’t caught me. Clearly, I’m not that important.”

“Don’t say stuff like that.”

“Why not? It’s the truth. When it comes to my dad, I’ve never been important. I’ve always been Preacher’s boy. I’m not a problem for him. I’m not a huge priority. Not like Reaper.”

“Reaper?”

“Ah, you know him? Has your memory come back? It seems only assholes and monsters get a taste of you, isn’t it, Robin? I wasn’t mean enough to you, was I?” he asked.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I could have been good to you. One day, you’re going to remember and you’re going to regret everything.” He glared at her. “See you around.”

He spoke in riddles but before she could say anything, Bishop took off at the unmistakable sound of a bike heading in their direction.

What the hell was that about?

****

“I’ve told you everything. He was speaking in riddles.”

Preacher watched Robin. She looked nervous, but he didn’t think she was lying.

Bear sat beside her.

He’d gotten the call from Cheeky about sighting Bishop. Preacher had told him not to let him out of his sight, but his son was long gone by the time he got there. He should’ve let Cheeky grab him, but he’d been dealing with issues forming within the club.

Grave had decided he was abusing his power as the president of the club and wanted to vote on his ability to continue to lead.