Page 7 of Reaper

And something tells me those reasons are about to catch up to all ofus.

4

SANDY

Dawn breaks over Albuquerque like a fever dream.I've been staring at the same surveillance photos for an hour, trying to make sense of what's coming.The Kings aren't just moving weapons anymore--they're moving something bigger.Something that has Handler spooked enough to call three times since we crossed the state line.

"You're up early." Reaper's voice startles me.I quickly slide the photos under the motel's cheap tourist map as he emerges from the bathroom with dangerous grace."Plotting our escape route?"

"Something like that." I force my eyes away from the water droplets trailing down his chest.Last night's kiss is still burning in my memory, making it hard to focus on anything but the urge to trace those droplets with my tongue."Sleep well?"

"Would've slept better if someone hadn't stolen all the blankets." But his lips twitch, undermining the complaint."And if that someone hadn't snuck out at three AM for a mysterious phone call."

Shit. "Restless night."

"Seems to be going around." He moves closer, leaning over my shoulder to study the map.His scent--soap and leather and pure male--wreaks havoc on my concentration."Any particular reason we're taking the scenic route through Colorado?"

"Besides avoiding Kings territory?" I tap a point on the map, desperately trying to ignore how his proximity makes my skin hum."This route gives us more cover, more escape options if things go sideways."

"And what things might go sideways that you're not telling me about?"

Before I can deflect, my burner buzzes.Handler's code flashes on the screen.

Reaper's eyes narrow. "Popular girl."

"Club business." The lie tastes bitter."Devil's Wings like to keep tabs on their treasurer."

"Yeah?" His hand settles on the back of my chair, effectively caging me in."That why you're carrying a federal-issue burner phone?"

My blood runs cold. "What?"

"Five years as Road Captain means learning a few things." His voice drops lower, dangerous."Like how to spot an undercover agent in my convoy."

"You're paranoid." But my heart races as his other hand slides the surveillance photos out from under the map."Reaper--"

"ATF?" He studies the photos with an unreadable expression."DEA? Or something deeper?"

"It's not what you think."

"Really?" Steel edges his voice."Because what I think is that the woman I loved--the woman I just kissed--has been lying to me.Again."

"I never lied about us." The words burst out before I can stop them."Everything between us was real."

"Was it?" He turns me to face him, hands branding my shoulders."Then tell me the truth now. What are you really doing here, Sandy?"

My burner buzzes again, more insistent this time.Everything in me screams to answer it, to maintain my cover.But the hurt in Reaper's eyes cuts deeper than any mission brief.

"I can't." The words feel like glass in my throat."Not yet. Please, just trust me."

"Trust you?" He laughs, but there's no humor in it."Like I trusted you five years ago when you walked out?When you threw my ring in my face and disappeared?"

"I did that to protect you!"

"From what?"

"From this!" I gesture at the photos, at the mess I've created."From having to choose between your club and your conscience.From watching you die because you're too damn noble to walk away from a fight."

Understanding dawns in his eyes."You were undercover then too."

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