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Before Reaper had shown up with Bethany, Robin had told him everything. Bethany’s birth, her feelings for Reaper, even her acceptance of staying with the prick. All of it had come spilling out.
He couldn’t hate her though. Not after what she’d gone through. Sure, he’d hated hearing her share her feelings. How she’d finally given up hope and just tried to make the best of a bad situation. The last thing he ever wanted her to feel or do was to have to make do. She was better than that, but he hadn’t been in her situation. He didn’t know what she went to or why she finally decided to give up.
“Do you want to hurt me?” Robin asked.
He heard the sob within her voice and he took the seat beside her, pulling her into his arms, holding her as tightly as he could without hurting her. “I could never hurt you.”
“I’m a slut.”
“You’re not.”
“I was with another man, Preacher. We have a child together. Now I’m so confused. I hate Bishop. I want him to suffer. I hate myself.”
“You should never hate yourself.” He stroked her hair.
“How can I not? I was weak.”
“You’re not weak.”
“If Bishop hadn’t done what he did, this could’ve been me and you. I hate him so much.”
“Just say the word and it’s done. I’ll kill him.” He was serious. It was like he felt her acute pain.
“But what if I miss him? I can’t have his death on my conscience. I just … can’t. Damn it. Don’t get me wrong, I do want to kill him, but not like this. I don’t want to ever allow him to make me feel any kind of guilt.”
“You won’t. His death wouldn’t be caused by you.”
“He’s your son,” she said.
“No son of mine would do what he did.” As far as he was concerned, Bishop wasn’t his. He’d already killed him in his own mind.
“He was upset.”
“And if that was the argument against all men who made a mistake, you think the courts would be needed? Slap him on the wrist? He fucked up, made a mistake. All is forgiven.”
“You know I don’t mean that.”
“I want you to understand that because of him, you were taken. I saw the picture of you, Robin. Before all of this with Bethany, it wasn’t nice and loving. Don’t ever forget this started out as a kidnapping. He took you because of me. He hates me. Reaper hurt you. He tortured you, raped you, and yet, you still fell in love with him. What kind of fucked-up mess did he do to you?”
“I don’t … I know you’re angry.”
He held her even tighter. “No, I’m not angry, baby. I’m far from angry.” He kept his arms around her. “If you want Bishop gone, all you have to do is say the word. All I want to do is make this better for you.”
“Not yet. I can’t make that decision about Bishop. You shouldn’t be making it better for me. I should suffer.”
“Do you love him?” Preacher asked.
“I don’t know. I think so. I’m so confused right now.”
“Then don’t think about it. Not now. Not ever. I’m not going to force you to make a decision.”
She took a deep breath. “I do love you, Preacher. That I know without a doubt.”
“I know. I know.” He kissed the top of her head. She loved him and he’d never question her about that. It was what she felt for Reaper that he wanted to know. Why she didn’t want Reaper dead, and why he was right now standing at the back door, looking at them. He wanted to rub Reaper’s nose in the fact he was holding her, but he didn’t. Instead, he basked in having her in his arms and knowing when it came to this woman, he would do whatever she needed him to do and not question why. He trusted her, had faith in her, and there was no one else in his world he wanted more. Even if she still hadn’t given him the all clear to hurt the bastard who had taken her from him. Whatever her reasoning, he’d wait until she was ready.
****
Robin was always told falling in love would be so easy. At least the storybooks and the movies showed her that. People around her gave her a hint. Whenever she looked at her parents, she honestly didn’t believe in love or love at first sight. Her parents had nothing but hatred between them. There was no joy, no love, just an equal measure of detest for one another. Love, if it happened, was supposed to be easy, right? Two people would meet each other, feelings were explored, love would develop, and it would just be a perfect story of being together. Then her life happened. Bishop, Preacher, Reaper, all the men, and now she was so confused.
