A Monster's Beauty (In the Arms of Monsters 3)
“Sandwich?”
Chapter Four
“This is a big old mistake,” Bear said.
“From the moment Robin left, you’ve been telling me what a big old mistake this was. In fact, she didn’t even have to leave for you to feel this was a giant mistake,” Preacher said, testing his gravy. It needed a little more salt and pepper. He added in some more, not too much, because he knew how much Robin loved his gravy, and he wanted this meal to be perfect. At least, some parts of it. When the fuck did he care about his food? He wasn’t about to share his thoughts with Bear or anyone else. This was a dinner for a deal, nothing more.
So far, Dog was on his way, alone as he didn’t want or need any of his boys present. Bear was also here, as was Reaper. The leader of Slaves to the Beast hadn’t left his home, and all night Preacher had been struck with an overwhelming desire to help the bastard meet his untimely end. First, he needed Robin to make any kind of decision. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt her. The temptation was strong though.
People had accidents all the time. Falling down the stairs, tripping, electrocution, Reaper could find himself on the end of being pushed or helped down the death traps. It would be so easy, especially as he could just reach out to Dog, who’d made it clear he’d take care of it. Instead, he’d dreamed about Robin. Watching her with a new family, seeing a darkness lurking over her, but being unable to stop whatever was about to happen because she couldn’t see the truth, and he had to be the one to see her get hurt, to witness her die by the man she thought she could trust. Dreams weren’t real. He had to protect Robin at all costs because even though dreams were meaningless, he still felt they held an edge of truth.
He didn’t trust or believe Reaper, and there was something he was missing. Some random piece of information that could be vital for him to win. He had no doubt with Bethany being Reaper’s daughter, there was a chance Robin would try to do the right thing, but he wouldn’t let her or her daughter get hurt. She shouldn’t be making the right decision for her daughter; no, she should be making the choice for herself and her future happiness.
Reaper may be Bethany’s father, but Preacher wouldn’t let it interfere with his need to protect, nor would he hold it against the little girl. She had no say in who her father was, and besides, it wasn’t about whose cum it was that fathered her. It was all about the man she called father, and he would quite happily take the role. He’d come to that decision just last night, sleeping alone with no Robin in his home, in his arms. He’d do anything to keep her and if that meant being a dad to a child that wasn’t his, he’d do it, for her, for himself.
He’d made a mistake when he’d told Robin to get out of the bathroom. Whatever had caused her to become Reaper’s wife, he had to remember in the beginning, she was hoping and praying for him. His inability to get to her forced her to make the best of what she had. The truth was, she’d given up hope and he needed to remind her that when it came to Reaper, she’d given up, not made a choice.
The doorbell rang and Preacher left Bear alone with the food to answer the door. Hopefully not spoiling it in the process. Bishop was on the doorstep, carrying some beers.
“Bear called me and I guess I want to make amends for what I’ve done. I know you hate me, and I’m probably on the last couple of weeks if not months of my life, but I am sorry. To you, to Robin. I want … I want to make it up to you in any way I can.”
“You can come in for dinner, but don’t start shit. I’m not in the mood or interested.”
“Ah, so the loving son returns again. I’m shocked you’ve accepted him back with open arms. I didn’t think you had it in you,” Reaper said. “You know, with him being a traitor to you. When it comes to what Bishop wants, everyone has to suffer.”
“Did you set the table?” He wouldn’t react. There was a time and place for this.
“What? You’re not going to bite? Remember we’re all in this mess because of Bishop.”
“Actually, we’re in this mess because you couldn’t handle me being happy. This is all because you forcibly took what is mine. So keep bringing it up. If Robin keeps on hearing you, it’ll remind he
r who you really are and what you do.”
Silence met his response. He was done with this conversation.
“Have you set the table?” he asked again.
“This is all very domestic of you. Maybe I should marry you, Preacher, have you as my bitch, and yes, I set the table.”
Preacher ignored the jibe and made his way into the kitchen, grabbing one of his cool beers from the fridge.
“You do realize how messed up this all is and sounds, right?”
“What?”
“Dinner with Dog because he helped you out,” Bear said.
“I have to pay my debts off somehow and seeing as the club is already pissed at me, I figured offering to sell off the girls wouldn’t exactly work.”
“No, it wouldn’t,” Bear said. “The boys are all a little tense with Reaper being in town and his club not too far behind him. They’re all waiting for a war and of course, they’re nervous about what you did to Grave.”
Preacher finished mashing his potatoes and then draining his sprouts. It was a little early for a Christmas dinner, but with the last-minute notice of cooking, he settled on ease. The door went again. He left Bear with the sprouts as he went to answer the door. He was surprised to see Dog in a suit.
He couldn’t recall ever seeing the man in anything other than a wifebeater shirt and jeans. This was all new. Oddly strange for him to put in any kind of effort.
“You do know I’m cooking, right? I’m not some fancy chef.”
“Yeah, well, I’m entering a war zone and I’ve come armed. I didn’t know if you’d need some backup. Besides, it’s respectful to show up at another’s house looking all nice. It was one of the few things my parents taught me.” Dog opened his jacket to display all the knives he had ready if the moment needed it. “All you’ve got to do is give me the all-clear, and I’ll take out your problems right now. Even in front of your girl if that’s necessary.”