Page 87 of The Reaper

“Yes. No. I mean, I feel fine. Coffee. Coffee sounds good.” I rose from my seat, stuffing the notepad and pen I’d had to buy before class into a bag. Thank God Keir had thought to give me some money, even though I still felt strange about taking it in the first place.

We left the college building and walked across the road to the café where most students went before and after class. We got a table near the back, and Molly joined the queue of students and professionals waiting to order.

Pulling out the burner Keir had given me, I saw there was a missed call from Grayson. Hitting the call button, I pressed the device to my ear and waited.

“Fallon.”

It was just my name, but it instantly soothed my jangled nerves. “Grayson.”

“How are you? Has that bastard Lynch tried to contact you again?”

I’d told my brother almost everything that had happened between us—everything except Orin and mine’s physical relationship.

“Orin kept me safe, Grayson.”

“And for that he has my thanks, but he’s the fucking Reaper. All he knows how to do is kill. He must’ve had an ulterior motive.”

We’d gone over this a dozen times already, but Grayson was always trying to find out what Orin’s angle was. The truth was, there was no angle. We’d both developed feelings for the other that should’ve never been possible, but life-and-death situations certainly had a way of bringing two people together. He and Sloane would know.

“I don’t want to talk about him anymore.” He sighed. “How are classes? Did you miss a lot of work while you were withhim?”

“Class was good. And yes, I did, but I can catch up. It’ll distract me until you and Sloane get home.”

“Thank fuck you could stay at the apartment,” he muttered. “Have you been able to get to the house at all?”

“Orin seemed to think I couldn’t. He said it wasn’t safe. That Mannix King would have men watching the place.”

“He’s right. I don’t want you going anywhere near that place again.”

I bit my lip and flicked my gaze up to see how Molly was progressing in the line. “What about all our stuff? The photographs of ma and da?”

“I’ll swing by the house when I get back and collect the sentimental things. Forget about everything else. Buy new clothes. The clan is taking care of you financially?”

“Keir gave me some money last week. It’s starting to run low, though.”

He grunted. “I’ll call Keir and let him know you need some more.”

“Thank you,” I whispered. Molly was at the counter now, flirting with the barista taking her order.

“If you need me to come home early, I can you know.”

Tears pooled behind my eyes. “I know.”

“Just say the word. Sloane and I will be on the next flight back.”

“No. I’m fine, Gray. Honestly. I just need to focus on my studies.”

I heard the soft sound of Sloane’s voice in the background, then Grayson’s warm reply. To me, he said, “I have to go. We’re having dinner with Sloane’s mother and partner.”

“Okay.”

“Okay.” He hesitated, then said, “I love you, Filly. Thank fuck you’re safe.”

“Love you, too.”

I hung up the phone just as Molly returned to the table holding two steaming mugs of coffee. She placed one down in front of me, then took the seat opposite.

“So, tell me, who’s the guy?”

---