Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 91900 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91900 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
“I figured I’d find you here. Bear’s having a hard time of it upstairs,” Randall said, dropping his tray on the table and taking a seat.
“I didn’t say you could sit here.”
“Come on, now. We’re old-time friends and you look like you could use a chat.”
“Because I talk to you at the best of times.”
“I’m the only person you’ve got who understands what’s going on with Robin.”
“You don’t have a clue. Me and you, we don’t know the kind of shit life she’s had the past couple of years.”
“You’re right, we don’t, but I do know what she’s going through on a medical front. I know her injuries are severe. She may never walk again, and she certainly will struggle to run. The bones in her foot were shattered. That’s going to hurt like hell and she’s going to need some therapy. Then of course, we don’t know what else she’s gone through, or what kind of pain she’s dealing with on the inside. I’ve got the resources to help her. I know the best people and I can help guide you. We can bring her back to us, together.”
“I can pay the best, Randall. Money makes the world go round, remember?”
“You can’t buy respect.”
“No, but I can buy loyalty.”
“Which someone with a bigger price can also offer.”
Preacher sat back, looking at Randall. All his life, he’d always had the bigger cash flow and if money didn’t help, fear was a great secondary tool.
“Why would you want to help me, Randall? I know you’ve worked for the club for years and I can trust you, but I also pay you. Why are you willing to help me now?”
“It’s not about you, is it? This is about Robin. I helped bring her into the world. I was there when Bear and Rebecca had that huge fight twenty years ago now. I was the one who held her in my arms when Rebecca turned her away and Bear was too drunk and scared to hold her. She was screaming, scared, hungry. I held her. Fed her. For three days, no one wanted her until Bear, he finally came and when he did, he held his daughter for the first time, and I knew she’d be safe, but I bonded with that kid. Whenever she had a cut or graze, or just felt ill. I was the one she came to. I care about her, Preacher, and it’s not because of who you are and what it is you do. Robin’s a good girl. Always has been, and she’s going to need those who love and care about her close.”
“You love her?”
“She’s like a daughter to me and even though I’ve never heard you say the words, I know you love her too.”
Preacher didn’t say anything. He ate his now-cold sandwich and stared across the table at Randall, who had started to eat.
“Where do I need to look first in taking care of her?” Preacher asked.
“First, we get her healthy and we hope she wakes up.”
“If she doesn’t, will Bear have to make a choice?”
“We can talk about that problem when we get to it.”
“I say we talk about it right now seeing as I’m thinking about it and I need to know my options.”
“Okay. If there is even a chance she won’t wake up ever, or her brain activity diminishes, then yes, the choice will be up to Bear as to whether or not he turns off life support, but she has to get to that stage. Right now, we’re assisting her breathing purely because we don’t know the true extent of the damage. And after the surgery, we’re giving her a chance to relax before we go in on any possible invasive surgery. Does that help?”
He sat back down and breathed a sigh of relief. “Yes, it helps. I’m sorry.”
“Welcome to the world of being human, Preach.”
“I … I don’t know what to do right now.” It was the first time he’d ever openly admitted to being out of his depth.
“Thankfully, this is something I can in fact help you with. First, you will finish your breakfast. Then you’ll get a cup of coffee to Bear because I’ve spoken to him and he stinks like a brothel. Then you’ll go home, get washed and changed. I’m going to be at the hospital with Bear. He won’t let anything happen to her and neither will I. You’re going to need your strength. Robin’s not waking up today.”
“Any indication when people do wake up?”
“Do you want me to really answer that for you?”
“I need to know.”
“Fine. Sometimes it can be a couple of days, a few months, years, or never. I can’t give you some kind of miracle date here, Preacher. That’s not how it works. She’s either going to wake up or not. You can’t lose hope, though.”