Bishop rolled his eyes.

“I’m done,” Preacher said.

His son looked toward him.

“If you want to push and test me, go ahead. Today was the last day I help you out of any little hiccup you cause. You think you’re so smart, telling me what you will and won’t do as if you have a choice in the matter. Fine, go ahead, be this big tough guy you think you are. I won’t be there to bail you out, and neither will any of my men.”

“I’m still your son.”

“I know, and, Bishop, I’ve got a lot of enemies. Let’s hope they don’t hear about this ultimatum because I won’t be coming for you. I won’t help you. You’re my son by name, but I wash my hands of you.”

He stepped out of his son’s room.

If Bishop wanted to test him, he could go right on ahead, but Preacher wouldn’t help. The only way to deal with a spoiled brat like Bishop was to push him at his own game. He could try to fight him every single step of the way, but it wouldn’t work.

No one would ever be loyal to Bishop. His son had shown his true colors one too many times, and people were fucking tired of it. Preacher knew for a fact he was.

Bored.

Grabbing a beer on the way out toward the fire, he took a seat next to Bear, swigging his cold drink.

It wasn’t what he needed, but for the time being it would do.

“You okay?” Bear asked.

“I don’t know why people have kids. I really don’t. I’m starting to understand why animals kill theirs. Little shits, they always think they know best.” He glanced over at Bear to see his friend smiling. “Yeah, yeah, yeah, you got a good one. A nice little angel. Academic and all that bullshit.”

“What? I got lucky.”

“Yeah, you did. With a mother like Rebecca, you sure fucking did.”

“Now you’re starting to sound a little bitter.”

“I’m not bitter.” Was he though? Bear had it easy.

Robin and Bishop had grown up from the cradle with each other. He’d had Bishop even before he’d become club president, but even back then, he had one of the fiercest reputations anyone could have.

Rubbing at his eyes, Preacher tried to clear his mind.

He’d never married, and the slut that had given birth to Bishop hadn’t been any kind of mother.

Within two years of having Bishop, he’d fought his way to the top, and had been dealing with all the MC problems from debts, to bad investments, to enemies. He’d been out all the time, and Flora had made sure Bishop paid for it. She forgot to feed him. Left him alone in the streets.

He recalled a phone call he’d gotten where the motel Flora had used to fuck six men still had Bishop. He’d been four and locked in the bathroom.

The only time Bishop had been taken care of was when he’d stayed with Robin. Rebecca had been a good mother in the beginning when she thought she’d gotten the better deal.