Page 5 of Reaper

"Different scenario." I drain my beer, needing the burn."She's earned her place now. You saw how she handles that bike."

"Yeah, that's what worries me." Tank's eyes narrow as Sandy slips out the back door, phone in hand."Since when does a treasurer need those kinds of skills?"

He's got a point. Sandy's riding is too precise, too tactical for someone who should've learned everything from club runs.But before I can follow that thread, Timer's voice booms across the room.

"Listen up!" He stands, commanding attention like only old-timers can."Kings are getting bold, pushing into our routes.We need eyes on their movements before we hit Georgia."

My phone buzzes with a message from an unknown number.

470-400-0054

Meet me out back. Now. - R

Rebel.Sandy. Whatever name she's using now, she's still got me jumping at her call.

"Taking a smoke break." I stand, ignoring Tank's knowing look."Keep planning. I'll catch up."

The desert night hits like a wall of velvet, stars burning impossibly bright above the motel's dim lights.Sandy stands by her bike, the neon vacancy sign painting her skin in shades of red and blue.It takes everything I have not to cross the distance between us.

"We've got trouble." She doesn't waste time with pleasantries."Kings are moving tonight. Big shipment, coming through our route."

"How do you know?"

"Does it matter?" She steps closer, close enough that I catch that familiar jasmine scent."What matters is they're trying to force a confrontation.We need to change course."

"Or we could hit them first." The tactical part of my brain is already mapping ambush points."Send a message."

"That's your answer for everything, isn't it?" Frustration edges her voice."Fight first, ask questions never?"

"Says the woman who walked away rather than talk things through."

Low blow, but she doesn't flinch.Instead, she gets in my face while hers flashes fire and fury.Shhe's fucking gorgeous in the neon light.

"I walked away because you wouldn't listen!Because you were so caught up in proving yourself that you couldn't see--" She stops, breathing hard.

"Couldn't see what?" I crowd her space, backing her against her bike."What weren't you telling me, Sandy?"

"Don't." Her hands fist in my cut, but I can't tell if she's pushing me away or pulling me closer."We're not doing this. Not now."

"Then when?" My voice drops lower, rougher."Another five years? Another lifetime of wondering what the hell happened to us?"

"There is no us." But her eyes drop to my mouth, betraying the lie."There can't be."

"Bullshit." I brace one hand on her bike, caging her in."You're still wearing my shirt.Still watching me like you used to.Still--"

She kisses me. Or maybe I kiss her.Doesn't matter. What matters is the taste of her mouth opening under mine, her fingers sliding into my hair as five years of distance disappear in an instant.I press closer, swallowing her gasp as I lift her onto her bike's seat.

She feels exactly like I remember.Soft curves against hard muscle, sweet heat and deadly grace all wrapped in leather and attitude.My hands find her hips, thumbs brushing bare skin where my shirt rides up.

"Reaper." My name falls from her lips like a prayer as I trail kisses down her neck."We can't--"

Engines roar in the distance, growing louder.We spring apart just as Timer rounds the corner.

"Kings spotted on the highway." He eyes us suspiciously but doesn't comment on our proximity."Full crew, headed this way."

"How many?" I'm already shifting into Road Captain mode, pushing down the lingering heat from Sandy's kiss.

"At least twenty. Armed."

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