“I want to see what it is that made you become this obsessed prick. You got shot in the leg. I’ve never been able to put a bullet in your body before she was taken. I’ve seen what a crazy dick you’ve turned into. Call me intrigued by the woman who tamed the beast.”
Preacher took off, heading down to grab his cut.
As he got to the table, he looked at Dog. “She keeps trying to escape?”
“So I’ve been told. Again, this is all rumor, Preach. Everyone has a price and well, Reaper clearly paid a lot of money to men that he wants to keep her close.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.”
He grabbed the money and headed out. Bear was at his bike, smoking. He was surprised there wasn’t a drink in his hand and this made Preacher stop.
After killing Rebecca, Bear had turned to women and alcohol. Was there a problem there he needed to take care of?
“Hold your hand out,” Preacher said.
“Is this some kind of joke?”
“Hold your fucking hand out.” Preacher waited.
Bear rolled his eyes. “Are you going to put a ring on my hand as well?” Bear held his hand out.
It was steady.
No shakes.
He put the money in his grip. “Take this back to the club.”
“You thought I was in withdrawal, didn’t you?” Bear asked.
Preacher sighed. “Can you blame me?”
“No, I can’t blame you but it’s a little unfair you think so fucking little of me.”
“I don’t think little of you, Bear. Drinking and sex, it’s all you’ve got. You’ve given up on Robin. What else do you have to live for?”
“I haven’t given up on my girl.”
“Then why do you keep on suggesting I stop looking for her, huh? If that’s not giving up, I don’t know what is. I’m trying to find her. We both know she’s alive, but you want to stop. Why?”
“Do you think you’re the only one who breaks a little when you come back home empty-handed?” Bear asked. His voice was so soft, calm, it was almost impossible to hear, but he did.
“What?”
“The first twenty-four hours. That’s what they say, isn’t it? If you’re going to find anyone taken, it has to be within those first few hours.”
Preacher didn’t have a clue what the saying was and he really didn’t care. In his book, the only time to stop looking was when he had a body, alive or dead. “It’s been two years. Each time we come back with the lead being dead, I die a little more inside because I’ve failed her again. You think each time is easy for me? I love my daughter and I failed her. I let her down by keeping her slut of a mother around and I should’ve seen what a toxic cunt she was. If I’d seen the truth, Robin would still be here.”
“It’s not your fault.”
“But it is. I was so busy getting my own dick wet I didn’t see the truth. I should’ve known Rebecca was up to something, but I couldn’t stop her because I wasn’t there. This is all my fault. You think I don’t imagine my little girl begging for help? Wanting her daddy to come find her? Fuck. I messed up, Preach.”
“This is what that bastard wants,” Preacher said. “This is what all of this is about. To tear my club apart looking for her.”
“You’re playing right into his hands,” Bear said.
“Not just me. All of us. I will find Robin. She’s alive. Get that to the club. I’m heading in to see Billy. I’ve got some new leads.”
“And what are you going to do if all of this is bullshit? She’s dead and has been resting at the bottom of a lake somewhere. What are you going to do then?” Bear asked.
He knew she wasn’t dead.
Right now, Bear’s weakness was starting to piss him off, to the point he wished he actually had a drinking problem.
“Then I’m going to find Reaper and for however long it takes for me to find the truth of Robin’s death, that’s how long I will keep him alive to hurt him. You need to understand me, Bear. The moment Reaper took Robin, he signed his death sentence. Even if I find her alive, he’s dead. I won’t stop hunting him. I will find him. I’ll fucking kill him and when I do, I’ll make sure you’re there to celebrate right along with me.”
He got on his bike and left the warehouse. Once again, it was dark, but he didn’t mind. The darkness helped him to blend in and to not be so consumed by the burdens chasing after him.
There weren’t many people milling around on the streets. No chance of him mistaking any of them for Robin. It had happened a couple of times driving through the city. A couple of women he’d scared because he was sure he’d seen her. Again, the mind playing tricks on him, which was why he preferred to hunt for her at night.