“Hello, beautiful,” he said.
“You’re not angry.”
“Why would I be angry? Oh, you think I’m pissed because you tried to run?”
“This wasn’t a try. I did run.”
“There was a pay phone across the street, Robin. You could have called for help.”
She hadn’t seen the pay phone. “I didn’t have any money.”
Reaper laughed. “You’re still going to keep on dodging the truth, I see. Okay, fine, I can handle it.”
“I don’t want to talk about this anymore,” she said. “Whatever you think is happening here, you’re mistaken.”
“We’ll see.” He reached out, taking a strand of her hair.
She held her breath as he circled the curl around his finger. He didn’t hurt her. There was no tugging or fighting. He twirled her hair around and then let it go. “I wonder what Preacher will think of our new ink.”
“You forced me. He won’t think anything of it.”
“You play the hard and tough woman, but we both know that’s not the case.”
“You seem to think entirely differently to everyone else,” she said. “There’s no way I will ever have feelings for you, Reaper. What you’re doing isn’t going to make me fall in love with you. You’re delusional. You think I’m just going to forget the way you’ve treated me?”
Why don’t you shut up before he hurts you? Do you want another black eye? Broken bones? Bruises?
“I want you to think about the woman last night.”
“Why?”
“I was the one who brought her to the club. I make sure all my men are taken care of. I approached her, asked her if she wanted a good time. I know I’m a pretty face and it didn’t take a lot to convince her to come back and play. Even while we were driving back, she was coming onto me. Wanting to suck my dick in the car.”
“Why are you telling me this?” she asked.
“The woman was like a bitch in heat. I could have asked her for anything. Her mouth, her ass, her pussy. She would’ve given it to me, but I didn’t touch her. I had no reason to. The men took one look at her and they wanted her.”
“But you didn’t.”
“Nope. Now tell me what it feels like to know there was a woman who wanted me. Who craved my touch more than anything.”
“I don’t want to do this.”
Reaper laughed. “You know, I used to think you were a strong woman, but now I see you’re weak.”
“I’m not weak. I’m still standing here, aren’t I? I tried to get away from you. I wanted to be free.”
“And you could have been, but you took the hard way out. Come on, Robin, admit it. You were jealous of the thought of me taking comfort in that woman. You like me and you hate yourself for it.”
“I don’t know what it is you think you know, but believe me, it has nothing to do with me.” She glared at him. “Do your worst.”
He sighed. “You still think I’m going to hit you.”
“Why not? You’ve done it before.” Part of her wanted him to hit her. If he raised his fist at her, she could be free of any possible feeling. He was merely a monster.
She stared at him, waiting.
He didn’t raise his fist.
Gritting her teeth, she waited.
His hand came up but there was no pain. He stroked her cheek with the back of his fingers and smiled at her.
“There’s nothing I would ever do to hurt you, Robin. I made my mistakes with you and I won’t make them again.” He leaned down and brushed his lips across hers. “I can’t tell you how sorry I am for being an asshole to you. I can only promise you from now and for the rest of my life that I will never hurt you.”
The tears she’d tried to keep at bay fell. “Why are you doing this to me?”
“I’m not doing anything.”
“You know you’re doing this on purpose. You’re making it hard for me to hate you.”
“I made a lot of mistakes.”
“This is all lies.” She sniffled.
Reaper pulled her into his arms and she squeezed her eyes closed, not wanting to believe him.
There was no way he cared about her. He’d taken her. No matter what words he said, they were lies. This was all part of his revenge plot, and she was merely a bargaining chip. There was nothing else she could do to make him see reason. She was his prisoner.
Reaper didn’t let her go. He held her until the tears subsided, and together they walked back to his bike. She didn’t talk to him. Words weren’t important to her right now. Nor would they ever be.
He’s a monster.
He took me against my will, forced me, hurt me, and even though he’s acting all changed, he’s not.
Remember the monster.
Don’t forget Preacher.
There is a life you want.