Page 17 of Reaper's Rage

“Adam, I mean, Flame, has that covered, but thank you. I just want to tell you how happy I am that you’re with Ashlyn.”

I’m grateful for my dark skin because it hides my blush. “You are?” I ask her. “You don’t think she could do better?” I ask, but immediately want to pull back the question.

She studies me for a long minute before responding. “How could she do better than a strong, handsome man who loves her beyond reason and only wants her to be happy?”

I don’t answer her right away, but I glance over at Ashlyn and then away. I open my mouth to respond, but Cecilia beats me to it.

“Do you think I’d object because you’re a member of the Demons?” She asks me with some heat in her tone. “What kind of hypocrite do you take me for?”

“It’s not that.” I protest. “I just worry that she’d be better off with someone who isn’t…”

“Black? Seriously?” She asks. “Flame said you were thinking those thoughts. Do I wear the Confederate Flag or dress in white robes? I’m not a bigot or a racist. Flame told me what happened to you when you were a teenager and let me tell you something. Bigots and racists are bottom-dwellers. They know it, which is why they feed the hate inside. They let fear and their own sense of worthlessness take over. Do not allow them to make you feel less than you are. They are inadequate. Something you will never be. Do you know how many men hassled me because I was raising four children on my own? At first, it made me self-conscious. Then I got smart and really looked at each one of them. You know what I saw?”

I shake my head, silenced by the venom in her tone.

“I saw men threatened by me. They saw a woman doing it all on her own without the help of a man. They saw me for what I am. A hell of a lot better and more capable than them.” She says, causing me to grin. “My guess is those assholes were jealous of your youth and if they saw you today, they’d be even more jealous.”

I smile at Cecilia before glancing over to see Ashlyn watching us. She, too, has a smile on her face. I’ve never felt so happy. And accepted.

CHAPTER TWELVE: ASHLYN

Watching Reaper talking with my mom, the expressions flitting across his handsome face has me smiling. She’s embarrassing him. Which means she’s telling him what he needs to hear. I know what happened to him as a teenager has stayed with him. I don’t know if it’s because it was his first real brush against racism, or if there was more to the confrontation than he’s said. Watching him, I know he’s expecting my mom to have issues with us dating, but I know something he doesn’t. My mom adores Reaper, and she’s well aware of my feelings for him. There is no one better than him. He’s as gorgeous on the inside as he is on the outside.

I lead the way to the clubhouse with mom behind me and Axel taking up the rear. Mom has never been to the clubhouse, and I cringe when I think about her seeing the kutte bunnies. Mostly, I ignore them. Well, as much as you can ignore half-naked women draping themselves all over the guys and begging to be fucked. Maybe I should give mom a head’s up.

We drive through the gate and I pull over to where those with cars, or cages as the guys call them, park. Mom pulls in next to me while Axel drives around to the back where they park the club’s SUVs.

I wait for her to get out and join me. “I probably should have told you sooner, but there are other women living here that are, um…”

“Whores?” Mom asks with a grin. “Honey, I’ve read MC books. I expect to find half-naked women and couples having sex out in the open. I promise not to embarrass you and your brothers by clutching at my pearls and stuttering, ‘oh my’.”

I laugh. “Good to know. I just didn’t want you surprised.” I tell her.

As we step up to the clubhouse door, Axel opens it to let us in. “Everything ok?” He asks.

“Yeah. Everything is fine. I just realized I didn’t warn mom about the bunnies.”

He blushes and I realize he forgot about them, too.

When we get inside, Axel tries to rush mom through the common room and down the hall to the guest rooms. She waves him off as she glances around the place, taking in all the visuals it offers. Simon and Tamara are behind the bar, chatting with a couple of members I haven’t met yet. One has reddish hair, the color of burnt copper, and the other is blonde and drop dead gorgeous. They both turn to look at us and yep, the blonde looks like he should be a model. He turns far enough that I can read his name patch, Shield. So this is the cop that is also a brother.

In the corner, Laser and Ghost are playing pool. Two of the bunnies are chatting with the guys. Lily is wearing a bikini bra and cutoff jeans. I imagine her ass is hanging out the back because the front barely covers her pussy. Joanna is flirting with Ghost, who is ignoring her as he lines up a shot. She’s wearing a tube top that’s more like a bandage wrapped around her impressive breasts and bikini bottoms that I think are the match to Lily’s top. Interesting and a little gross.

Mom leans in close to me and says, “they should pay these girls more so they don’t have to share a bikini.” I bark out a laugh that draws the attention of everyone in the room, including the Old Ladies. Taking my mom’s hand, I lead her over to the coolest women I’ve ever met. I introduce everyone and take a seat with them after Axel brings over two more chairs.

“I want to show mom her room before we leave.” Axel says to me and I nod.

“I have to leave in twenty minutes.” I tell him. “You’re going with me?”

“I’ll drive us in the SUV.” Axel says. “It’s bulletproof.” After he leaves us, I see him pick up our suitcases, which he left against the wall and head down the hall. I hope he puts my bag in Reaper’s room, but I figure I can move it later.

“We can show you to your room later.” Kingsley tells my mom. “I’m glad you’re staying with us. Did something happen?”

I tell them about the two dead bodies, then about the flowers and the card.

“Damn, so Renee had a buyer for you but gave you to the Spades. What she lacked in intelligence she made up for in gumption.” Kingsley muses.

Mom shakes her head. “I just can’t believe that was going on right under my nose. I feel like an idiot.”

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