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)
Tears filled her eyes, and she didn’t even know why she was here. There was no one for her to come and see. Her mother didn’t get this luxury, nor did O’Klaren. She’d seen some of O’Klaren’s family and they seemed to be doing a lot better without the man. He’d been a true monster. Beating his wife, hurting his kids. Sure, to the outside world, he’d painted a pretty picture but the very truth was one of misery.
Pain was something she was coming to know quite well.
“I have to say it’s a shock to see you here.”
She turned to see Bishop arriving. He sat down. No leather cut. Just a single jacket with no signals or ownership.
“I figured you’d have skipped town by now.”
“Kind of can’t. My dad warned me he’d put out an order to kill. It doesn’t exactly inspire the traveling spirit.”
She snorted. “I guess not.” She looked out across to near the church. She’d never been inside. Never needed to pray or wanted to. Part of her had always assumed she’d be rejected for being Bear’s daughter and her association with the Twisted Monsters MC. “How did we get here?”
“I walked here.”
“I walked here too, but that wasn’t what I meant.”
“I know it wasn’t but I was trying to be funny.”
“Sorry, I’m not in a funny mood.”
“I think we’re both exactly where we need to be.”
This made her turn toward him. They’d aged a little. They were no longer the carefree teens they’d once been.
“You think this was our life? How it was always supposed to be?”
“Obviously a lot of changes have been made, and I can’t control the outcome of what happened, but we can’t turn back the clock. We can’t change what happened.”
“When did you become all-knowing?” she asked.
“Right around the time my death was a real option.” Bishop sighed. “You know, I never wanted you to be hurt or for anything bad to actually happen to you. It was never my intention for you to suffer.”
“I did.”
“I know, and I will never forgive myself for it. For a long time, even when you were with Reaper, I thought my actions were valid, you know? That I had some reason and pleasure at seeing Preacher not get what he wanted.”
“Why do you hate your dad so much?”
“I don’t. I was angry that he was able to get you when I couldn’t get anything. I know you had feelings for him, and they grew so fucking fast.”
“I loved you too.”
“It’s not the same.”
“It could have been.”
Bishop shook his head. “No, I messed that shit up when I started sleeping with random women and girls from school. I realize now my chance with you ended the moment Milly started her plan to hurt you. I wasn’t there. I was more interested in what I could get. I wanted a woman dancing on my dick every second of every single day. You wouldn’t even let me touch you, and I know when we did fool around, your heart was never in it. You were never there for me.”
“I wanted to be.”
“I know, but wanting to be and actually being there are two different things.”
“You were my best friend.”
“Exactly, I was your best friend and that’s my fault. I realize that now. You never wanted to hurt me. Not even when you realized you were in love with my dad. You’ve always done whatever was needed to protect me and I’ve got to learn to walk on my own two feet. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t know exactly how long that’s going to be. My dad isn’t a man of many words, but I know he’s a man of action.”
“He won’t kill you.”
“You don’t know that. I had hoped to make this right by finding Reaper, but that bastard turned up before I could even do that. I kept you guys in hiding, kept his location from Dad, and then, everything fucked up. I never meant for this, how it worked out. He’ll kill me.”
“He would have done it already.”
“Wow, thank you for the vote of confidence. I was hoping he’d just forget I existed and I could go on my way and not look over my shoulder.”
She smiled, but tears filled her eyes and she covered her face, hoping to hide the tears and gain control before they even got a chance to spill down, but she didn’t have any such luck. She was broken, and right now, she needed a friend.
“Hey, hey. What is it?”
“You don’t want to know.”
“I do. I’m here now.”
“No, you’ll be angry and pissed, and I feel like we’re sharing a moment.”
“We’ve shared a lot of moments, but I’m here for you. You don’t need to hide from me. I’m here and I’m not going to judge you. This is a judgment-free zone.”