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

“I’m going to need you to stay here. To tell me when Preacher’s got a lead, let me know so I can get her out of the way.”

“I’ll do it. I don’t want him to have a single moment of happiness. I want him to keep on waiting. To know she’s being hurt because he was too damn obsessed with his revenge to even know what the fuck hit him.”

“You don’t think he’s going to know you let them take me? You’re a fucking coward, Bishop. A piece-of-shit coward.”

“The lady’s right. I’m going to have to hit you, make it real.”

Reaper passed her into the arms of another man, and she tried to get away, but she was caught up in their tangle of a web with no way to escape.

She gritted her teeth, wanting to be free. Wanting to be cut loose. When Reaper’s fist hit Bishop’s face, she smiled. She couldn’t help it. If she couldn’t hit him, then she was more than pleased someone else had gotten the pleasure she couldn’t have.

****

Present day

Bishop shook his head. “So all of your memories are back and you’re coming to me. Why?”

“I know you’re a cowardly bastard, but I need you to get a message to Reaper,” she said.

He burst out laughing. “You really think I’m going to help any of you?” He raised his voice so Preacher and Bear could hear.

She glanced behind her and nodded for them to join her.

“What the fuck are you doing?” Bishop asked.

“You know, you talk the good talk but we all know you’re a terrified little boy. I’m surprised you haven’t pissed yourself yet.”

“Robin, what are you going to do?”

“Oh, what I usually do. I take care of people, it’s what I do. I talked with Preacher and Bear. They’ve been looking for you and well, I knew how to bring you out. Now I’ve got an agreement in place. You help me locate Reaper, and you get to live. You don’t, then you die.”

“Seriously, what the fuck is this?” Bishop asked.

Preacher and Bear stopped by her side.

Bishop went to leave. Frost, Rider, and Cheeky were there, waiting. They had all the exits covered. She had to keep him distracted long enough for Preacher’s men to be in place. Robin was shocked at the lack of love and compassion Preacher had for his own child. She didn’t know what had happened in her absence, but she was guessing he was pissed at the betrayal and lies.

Child or not, Bishop would pay for what he did.

For now, she needed him to live.

“You ask what is this? This is the deal I got for you. Tell me where Reaper is. How to get to him, and they will let you live. Of course, it’s reliant on you only caring about yourself. I figured it’s the kind of man you are, so you wouldn’t disappoint me. I’m getting a sense here, that you’re going to do what we ask, especially if you want to live.”

“What happened to you?” Bishop asked.

Robin stepped forward.

Preacher and Bear were nervous for her, but she wasn’t. Bishop had been her best friend, and a part of her believed he was a soulmate. She knew him inside and out. Their time apart hadn’t changed that. Bishop hadn’t changed. He only ever cared about number one, himself. Everyone else was always in the way. When he’d allowed Reaper to take her, he’d destroyed her love and a part of herself because of it.

“What happened to me? You’re really going to stand there and ask me that question?” She looked around her. “I’m twenty-one years old. You were so angry that I loved your daddy more than you, you gave me to his enemy. Do you know what happened to me?”

“I saw the pictures,” Bishop said.

“There were so many times you could’ve helped, but I’m not talking about the beatings.” She laughed. “They actually stopped. No, I’m talking about the fact Reaper made me care about him, Bishop. I guess you were right. You’re not much of a monster for me, after all. I’m married, Bishop, to Reaper, and we have a kid together. I need to find him.”

“Then all you had to do was ask,” Reaper said.

She spun around and there was Reaper. His men were behind him but on his chest, in a baby carrier, was her little girl, Bethany.

“Hello, Robin, I was hoping I’d get the chance to see you again,” he said. “Bethany has missed you. Say hello to mommy.”

****

Her time with Reaper

“Well, what do you think?” Reaper asked.

“It’s quiet, quaint. We’re near a small town, but far enough away they have to get to us by car. Set back in a woodland, what’s not to like?” Robin asked.

“Okay, so why am I getting a sense here that you’re not happy?” Reaper asked, coming to stand behind her. He placed his hands on her very swollen stomach. “We’ve already found an abandoned warehouse. I’ve got a down payment put on the land, and I’ve got the boys working on everything else. Tell me what I’m missing,” he said. “You know me. I like to make sure you have everything.”