Page 29 of A Crossroads Christmas

And that was exactly what I fucking did. I rode to the clubhouse, parked my Harley, and walked inside, making a point to show that I’d arrived. Grim could tell I had something brewin’ in my head, but he didn’t stop me. He ticked his chin my way before I snuck out, grabbing the keys for one of the black company SUVs inside the shop without anyone noticing.

By the time I made it back to my house, I knew I’d gotten lucky because there wasn’t a gift waiting on my porch. Good.

My bike was safe, and my family was tucked inside, gathered around the coffee table as Nylah helped Gavin and Gage make holiday presents for the other club kids. Everything felt normal except for the sudden appearance of two familiar Reapers.

Son of a bitch! I knew it couldn’t be only one of my club brothers fucking with me.

I stayed hidden around the side of my house as Bodie and Wraith walked toward the front. They must have stashed their bikes where I couldn’t see them with my cameras.

“You sure he’s not around?” Wraith asked, scanning the street. “I can sense his Reaper.”

“Yeah. Shadow said he saw Rael in the bar about fifteen minutes ago. Maybe it’s”

Wraith nodded. “Let’s do this.”

Bodie pulled notepads from his pocket and handed a stack to Wraith. I watched as they approached my porch and began drawing on the paper, peeling off their designs and slapping the artwork onto my wooden railing and the supporting beams.

What the fuck did they draw? I crept closer, holding my secret weapon in my hand. Before leaving my house earlier, I stashed an air horn in the garage. I had retrieved it when I returned home, and now I had it with me, ready to use on these fuckers.

Wraith and Bodie seemed pleased with themselves. They snickered at their genius idea, unaware I had started creeping closer. I noticed two things as I got within distance to use the horn. First, those assholes drew cocks with hairy balls on the sticky notes. Dozens of dicks covered my front porch. Two, they weren’t done. Cans of Christmas flocking pointed toward my windows.

They must pay for this, Scythe snarled.We are not dicks!

I agreed with him and decided to rush to the house, pressing down on the air horn as it blared. The loud, piercing sound surprised Wraith and Bodie as they both jolted.

“I got you, motherfuckers!” I shouted.

Busted.

Chapter 9 Jigsaw

December 22nd—

“He fucking knows,” Bodie spat as he stood in my living room, pacing the floor. “His Reaper is pissed.”

“And Rael?” I asked, wondering what his reaction had been.

“Don’t know. He seemed less hostile than I thought he would be.”

I snorted. “Right. That only means one thing, then.”

“He’s cookin’ something up and gettin’ ready to retaliate,” Bodie guessed.

“Rael won’t let it slide.”

“But he doesn’t know how many of us are in on it. We’ve got to strike first.”

Bodie wasn’t joking.

I shrugged. “He’s a pain in the ass, but it’s the holidays. I bet he’s just done being fucked with, that’s all.”

Bodie looked doubtful. “He’s the most vindictive brother in the club.”

Yeah, he had a point. “What you want to do?”

“Don’t know, but something.”

My Reaper seemed unsettled in response, but I didn’t get a chance to think about it further before Miles rushed into the room. He ran up to me, tugging on my shirt. “Dad! Jakey wants to play!”

---