A Monster's Beauty (In the Arms of Monsters 3)

“He hurt my woman with that thing. There was no way I was going to let him keep it.” He took a long deep draw on the cigarette, waiting for the satisfaction of what he did. He didn’t have anything.

No happiness. No nothing. Just an emptiness.

r /> He wasn’t happy, nor was he sad. He was nothing. There was just nothing to him.

The house started to catch fire.

He and Dog stayed there. He’d already called Billy to wait for his signal. When he was ready, the fire crew would come, but until then, there was nothing.

“What happens now?” Dog asked.

“I hear you’re looking for a couple of extra fighters.”

“Are you back in the game?”

“It’s time to get back in the game.” He’d taken care of this little problem and now he had to wait and see what it would be like with Robin before he approached her. This was the risk he’d taken, but he’d done it for her.

Running a hand down his face, he climbed in the car with Dog by his side and phoned Billy. The house was done for. He let him know to send his boys to put it out within an hour.

Chapter Eight

No one was able to identify the body, but Robin knew who it was.

The fire had been the talk of the town, which lasted for a month. Now, it was nothing more than a faded memory. She put the latest batch of books onto the shelf and pushed the cart around the library.

She was numb.

It was strange. She didn’t feel upset, but Reaper had been part of her life for nearly four years. Bethany was nearly two years old and growing up so fast. Anne was taking care of her at the front desk. They’d bought a small crib with a couple of toys to keep her entertained. She still lived with Anne.

She hadn’t seen Preacher since that day. He hadn’t stopped by, neither had her father, and she hadn’t gone to the club.

He’d killed Reaper and now he wasn’t even coming to see her. Was this his final way of saying it was completely over between them? She didn’t want to think about what it could all mean.

With her empty cart, she walked back to the desk where Anne sat typing away at the computer.

“Hey,” she said.

“So, I was thinking you could go to the diner and get us some lunch. I’m finishing up the order and I’m getting hungry. I’ve got Bethany, no need to worry.”

“You’ll keep an eye on her?” Even with Reaper gone, she didn’t want to let her baby out of her sight. She didn’t know if Reaper had any enemies or long-standing friends.

“I’ll keep an eye on her.”

“Okay, then.” She took Anne’s order and left the library. She kept trying not to think. As she passed a couple of people, they stopped to say hello to her. She didn’t make small talk and rushed toward the diner. On her way inside, Bear was coming out. “Sorry,” she said, stepping out of his way.

“Robin.”

“Bear.”

At that moment, she missed her dad more than anything else. She wanted to hold him, to ask him if everything would be okay, but she didn’t. Instead, she bowed her head, waiting for him to go.

“I’m glad I ran into you,” he said. “I’d like you and Bethany to come to dinner.”

“Bethany?”

“You know, my grandkid,” he said.

This made her look at him. He’d never acknowledged Bethany as his.