Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 72156 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 361(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72156 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 361(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
“Well, what do you think?”
“Wow, I’m kind of wow. That’s a lot to process.”
She left out the vital parts of murder and death, but other than that, she pretty much kept to the story. Of course, she didn’t need to know she was given the date rape drug the first time around, so Anne didn’t have all the facts.
“Yeah.”
“And this guy, Bethany’s father, he’s here now?”
“Yep. A nice added complication.”
“How do you feel about that? I mean really feel.”
“I don’t know. I honestly don’t know what to do. I don’t … do you think I should move out? Or find another place to live? I need to be on my own. I don’t know if I can be on my own. Everything is so fucked up.”
“I … I mean, it’s an option as are all of these things. This kind of makes my issues with my husband seem pointless. I don’t have two men vying for my affection.”
“I don’t have two men. They just want to kill each other. In all honesty, I don’t even know if they love me. I mean, I know Preacher does. I hope he does, he has every right to hate me though. I’ve done nothing but cause him pain, heartache. Reaper, I don’t know what to think about him. He took me to hurt Preacher, I’m sure of that. I don’t know if he loves me, or loves the idea of hurting him.”
“I, no, it doesn’t matter,” Anne said.
“Please, talk to me. I’m surrounded by a lot of hatred right now. My best friend, well, he’s one of the reasons I’m here in this predicament.”
“Yeah, I’d want to beat the crap out of Bishop for what he did but you can’t take back any of this. You were happy with Preacher?”
“Yes, really happy.”
“And with Reaper?”
“Not in the beginning. I was taken and then I guess I made the best of the situation, you know? Trying to find that silver lining. Wow, can you even hear me right now? I made the best of a bad situation? How horrible do I sound?” She nibbled on her lip. “I’m an asshole.”
Anne laughed. “You’re not an asshole and I’m not stupid either. I guess you’ve left a lot of details out. But how do you feel about Reaper now?”
“Guilty, angry, sad. I’m confused because I’ve been with Preacher now, and I guess I’d resigned myself to a life with Reaper and I’d tried to forget what it’s like to be with him, you know?”
“I don’t know why you should feel guilty. I mean, yes, you’ve got some issues as we all do, but at the end of the day, you were hurt, badly. You’ve made some bad decisions along the way, but you can’t be held responsible for all of them, can you?”
“I have to.” She ran fingers through her hair then finished off her coffee. “I made this choice. I could have … ignored these feelings.”
“Robin, you were young and on your own in a bad situation. Have you ever considered you need therapy? The guy kidnapped you, and I’m guessing it wasn’t always good.”
Robin tried not to think of the early days of being with Reaper. It wasn’t good. In fact, it was painful. The very thought of it filled her with dread. “A lot happened, I can tell you that.”
“We’ve been looking everywhere for you,” Bear said.
She looked up as her father came into the library, letting his presence be known.
“Dad,” she said.
“Reaper and Preacher are looking for you. You shouldn’t go out on your own. You know it’s not fucking safe.”
“Language,” Anne said. “You’re in a library where children come and there’s a little girl right there.”
Bear sneered. “It’s the spawn of fucking Satan, is what it is, and this is none of your business.”
“My business or not, get out of my library, or I swear, I will call Billy and I don’t care what kind of friendship you have. I will have you locked up so fast you won’t know what to do with yourself. You have no right to come in here and spewing your hatred. She’s a little girl and doesn’t deserve your spite. You call yourself a man? You’re worthless.” Anne stepped up to him. “Now, get out.”
Bear glared at the woman and Robin saw a little admiration in his gaze.
“Do you want me to give you a countdown? Your cut doesn’t scare me.”
“I’ll be outside, Robin. Don’t make the wrong decision here. It will end badly for you.”
She watched her father go and felt even more deflated. “Great,” she said.
Getting to her feet, she picked Bethany up, who started to fuss because she didn’t want to leave.
“So, that’s your father.”
“Yep. It’s him. I better be going.”
“Robin, I’m always here if you need me. All you’ve got to do is ask for help.”