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

“Robin!”

“No, you don’t know what happened and you don’t understand anything. You’re judging me and you know what? It’s fine. You can judge me. I don’t care.” She pushed her daughter away. “It’s okay, sweetheart. I know it’s going to be tough, but we’ve got to make a decision and I believe I’ve already found it. I’ve just got to be brave enough to do this.”

She didn’t look back at her dad. Instead, she kept on moving forward, knowing in her heart the only way she’d be able to deal with her life right now was to take a step back from the club, from Preacher, from everything. It was the only way she was going to survive this.

Chapter Three

“What the fuck is this?” Preacher asked.

“It’s an apartment near the library. The rent is good and I know I can make a living for me and Bethany,” Robin said.

Bear cursed and got up. “This is fucking ridiculous.”

Preacher had been taking care of business and looking for Robin when he’d gotten the call that she wanted to talk to him. Reaper, of course, was present. The bastard was everywhere he turned. He went

from not being able to locate him, to not being able to take a piss without the prick being there with his smiling face. It was like he was mocking him with his presence, and he hated it. Still, at least with him close by, he didn’t have to worry about if the guy was going to be attacking him anytime soon.

Robin ignored Bear and looked at him.

“Let me get this straight, you want to leave my house?”

“I think it’s best. For me, for Bethany, for the clubs. I know this can’t be easy on anyone and I know some of the men are already pissed at me.”

“Robin, be careful,” Bear said.

“I don’t have to listen to you.” She turned to Bear. “I’ve thought about this. Your feelings toward me, to the whole situation. You think you’re the only one who feels this way? No, I don’t. I believe there will be other people who feel the same, and staying here isn’t safe for me.”

“Robin, this is the safest place for you,” Reaper said.

“No, it’s not. I want… I’ve done everything everyone has asked of me, my entire life. I followed Bishop around, and I did what you asked for when I got pregnant,” she said.

“I only wanted to protect you,” Preacher said.

“I know. So, I married Bishop. Then I lost the baby and we … it went on, and then I was taken, and this happened, and I need space. You both want me to pick you and to make the right decision in all of this and I can’t. I’ve only just got my memories back and you want me to be your wife,” she said, pointing at Reaper. “I don’t know who she is anymore because I came home and I know what it’s like to be with Preacher. I can’t do this anymore. I won’t.” She sat back and took a breath.

Preacher saw the determination in her face.

“This is my decision. I’m not asking for permission to do what I need to do. I’m telling you I’m moving into this apartment, and I’m not getting in the way of club business. Whatever you guys need to sort out, deal with it, because I’m not getting in the middle. I won’t. I’m done. I feel like I’ve already wasted enough of your guys’ time, and it’s now for me to leave and to find a place for myself.”

“How do you expect to support you and Bethany?” Preacher asked.

“Working hard. I can budget, I always have. I can do this. I know I can.”

Bear laughed. “You’re not cut out for the big wide world, Robin. This is all a fallacy.”

“I’m not cut out for the big wide world, huh? I guess being raped and beaten, used as a bargaining tool, hurt, humiliated, and forced to marry a guy I didn’t want… I mean, what else is there? I’ve lost my memories, gained them back, lost a kid, got a kid. Yeah, I’m not ready for the big wide world. What can I not do?” she asked. “At the end of the day, if I struggle to make ends meet, I could always, I don’t know, become the whore you think I am.”

“Enough!” Preacher heard the pain in her voice, the anger, the regret. He looked at Bear, who had also gone silent. “We need to stay calm.”

“No other man will touch you,” Reaper said. “If you call her a whore again, I will cut your dick off, shove it in your mouth, and make you eat it before getting a bat and fucking you in the ass, and getting my boys to use you one by one. Do you understand?”

Preacher slammed his hand against the table. “You’re not a whore. This is… It’s not safe for you. You don’t have to do this.”

“You think I didn’t see what you did last night after I told you the truth that I’m married to him? I can’t look at your face, Preacher. I’m not stupid and I’m not blind. I’m the cause of all of this and I can end all of this by not giving in. By not being this way. A fresh start with my daughter. You and Reaper can resolve your issues. No more pain. No more anything.”

“You’re our issue,” Reaper said.

Robin pressed her lips together and stared down at her lap, hands clenched tightly together. She sniffled. “I know and you all want me to make some kind of choice, and I can’t do that. I’m sorry. I’m confused. I…” She looked at Bear.