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)
Sure, he’d done his best to raise him and he could openly admit he’d made many mistakes. He never, ever claimed to be a good dad. Never wanted to be a good father. He only wanted to get his son from baby, to toddler, to boy, to teenage, and to adulthood. They were all the important stages, but looking at him now, he wanted to kill him. That feeling may never go away.
“I … I didn’t know this would happen,” Bishop said.
“What? You didn’t think my biggest enemy wouldn’t take her and try to use her against me? How fucking thick and stupid are you? Did you learn anything in school, or were you too busy screwing the girls to even care about that?”
“I’m not stupid.”
“Oh, please, you waste so much of your time hating who I am and what I do. You don’t think I know about your all-consuming loathing at being known as my son? Do you know why everyone knows you as my son? My boy?”
He gave him a few seconds, hoping Bishop attacked him. All he needed was a single reason to ram his knife into his son’s face, or at this point, his fist would be just as good. Anything to make this night worth it all. Bishop didn’t move, didn’t even make a sound. Even now, he disappointed him. “Because you haven’t made a name for yourself. You think anyone gave a shit about Caleb Keats? Hell, no. I had to be the man I am today! Me, no one else. When you start being a man for yourself, you’ll learn. Until then, you are royally fucked. The only thing keeping you alive is me. I’m all you’ve got and what do you do, you shit on me, and take the girl who was nothing but kindness and love to you. You make sure she pays.”
Stepping up to his son, he glared at him. “The reason that baby exists is because you were too much of a selfish coward to give a shit. That’s why. When you look at her, I hope you see your failings as a friend. She didn’t do anything in all of this to deserve your hatred. Me? I can handle everything and anything you throw at me, boy! That’s all you are and all you will ever be, a fucking useless boy.”
“She fell in love with you,” Bishop said. “That’s what she did.”
Preacher laughed. “You’re always the one willing to blame. Everything that happened between us was fucked up. You want to know why she fell for me? You really want to know? I was there for her, Bishop. When she wanted you, or someone, I was the one who stepped up. Do you think it was me she wanted by her side? No, it was you. It would have always been you if you’d stepped up and been a real man. But like always, the only thing you cared about was getting your dick wet, and well, she had grown tired of your bullshit, just like we all did. You were always about yourself, never about her. She saw you a couple of times with the women. She knew you were useless, and she only hoped she was wrong, so wrong, but she wasn’t, was she? No, you only care about yourself. It’s why when all of this is over, it’s going to end very badly for you.”
“I need you in there before I tear him apart,” Bear said, coming into the room. “He touched my little girl, and I can’t … I need you in there.”
“Preacher touched her and you got no problem with that,” Bishop said.
Bear walked into the room, a smile on his face. “What did you say to me?”
“You heard me,” Bishop said.
Preacher didn’t stop Bear as he slammed his fist into Bishop’s face. “You should be grateful you’re still standing. I would take my sweet time with you, make you bleed long before I give you a chance to make it up to me. You fucked this club. You turned on Preacher, but as far as I’m concerned, you caused my baby girl nothing but pain. You even let me believe that I was right in thinking she died. Not anymore. The moment his protection of you ceases, I’m having your ass, and it’s never going to see daylight again.”
Keeping hold of his whiskey, Preacher returned to his sitting room to find Reaper with this big old smile on his face, sitting on his sofa and sinking into the seat. There was no reason for him to stop whatever Bear had been saying to Bishop. His son was on borrowed time.
“You’re loving this, aren’t you?” There was no denying the gloating look on Reaper’s face as he watched what he’d caused to unfold.
“What’s not to love?” Reaper asked. “Do you have any idea how hard it was to watch the way you guys were fucking up? Bethany wants her mother and I need her as well. We’d become one nice, big, happy family.”