Page 2 of Reaper's Rage

Flame comes over to join us just as Dante enters. When he mentions the name Deion Jones, my world crashes around me. Because I know that name. He’s the leader the Spades. Which is why he calls himself The King of Spades. He’s the man who promised me retribution when I abandoned his gang to join the Demons. I vent my anger by kicking a stool across the room, silencing everyone. I turn to Flame to apologize. It’s because of me that bastard has his sister. I don’t know what I say to Flame, but I watch the face of my friend turn from concern into fury before he takes the first punch. All I can hear is his anguish as he labels me a traitor. Truer words were never spoken.

CHAPTER TWO: ASHLYN

“How much did I drink?” I wonder out loud as I pry my eyes open. “And where the hell am I?” I add when I glance around the room. Although it’s more of a cell than a room. I’m lying on a dirty mattress atop a metal frame. In one corner is a plastic bucket, which I’m ignoring, for now. Standing on the bed, I try to see out the small window, but I can’t. It’s too high and too dirty. I’m not even sure it’s the sky I’m seeing. It’s chilly in the room, so I’m grateful for my hoody and jeans.

My last memory is of drinking margaritas and looking at lingerie and sex toys with Renee and the Old Ladies from the Demon Dawgs. I’m certain I’m no longer in Renee’s apartment. I vaguely remember feeling sleepy, but I don’t remember falling asleep. If I’m no longer in Renee’s apartment, then someone moved me and not with my permission. I consider trying the door, but I have little doubt it’s locked. Also, I don’t want to alert whoever is on the other side that I’m awake.

I glance back at the window. I’m fit, so I might fit through it. But even if I can open the window, I’m not positive I can escape without getting stuck. Glancing at the door and considering what nightmare may be on the other side, though, has me thinking it might be worth the risk. Glancing first at the bed, then at the wall under the window, I consider my options. I could probably prop the bed up on its end and climb up it. Stepping away from the bed and studying the window, I don’t see a latch or any other way to open it. Which means I need to find something to break the glass in order to get out. As I glance around the room again, looking for anything that I could use to break the glass, I hear someone at the door.

When the door opens, I freeze. The man standing there is a stranger. I’m not weak, but he makes me feel vulnerable. His expression is hard. I know without him having to speak that he is not a nice man. His cold, dead eyes are a black abyss. I cross my arms over my chest to protect myself. I want to appear strong and unaffected by him, but I can’t pull it off. Looks like I’ll have to bluff my way into courage.

“Hello, Ashlyn.” He says. Those two words sound like a threat. I barely suppress a shudder as he moves into my space. He reaches out to loop a strand of my hair around his index finger. “My name is Deion. I’m the King of Spades. You are a pretty little bitch. Gotta give Randall props for his taste in women.” I frown at his mention of Randall, aka Reaper. “And I hear you’re a virgin, to boot. Tasty.”

“What am I doing here?” I ask him. “And where are the others?”

He releases my hair to circle me, pausing behind me to either check out my ass or to play with my nerves. Probably both. Once he completes his circuit, he stands in front of me again. He runs a finger up and down my arm, his touch leaves an ice cold trail. “So many answers to the first question. As for these others, you’re asking about. I don’t know who you’re asking about. You’re the only one here. Besides my men, of course.”

I frown at him and wonder if I should push about the whereabouts of Caitlin and the others. I decide to come at him from a different angle. “How do you know Renee?” I ask him.

He frowns at me. “I don’t know any person by that name. Don’t you want to know why I have you here?”

“In a minute.” I tell him and I can see by the widening of his eyes that I’ve surprised him. Hooray for me. “The last thing I remember is drinking a margarita at a woman’s house and getting sleepy. If she didn’t hand me over to you, then who did?”

He furrows his brows and stares at me. I’m resigned to thinking he won’t answer until he does. “I don’t know this woman. One of my men picked you up outside your apartment. He brought you to me because you’re dating Randall. You’re the bait.”

“Well, first, your man lied to you, but that’s your problem. As for Randall. He’s known as Reaper now. You might want to think about how he earned that name before you do anything to me.”

“You think I fear Reaper, or Randall, or whatever the hell he wants to call himself?” Deion sneers.

“If you’re smart. Yeah. Reaper is a fully patched member of the Demon Dawgs. So is my brother. Every single one of them would die for the other and those they care about. You hurt me, they’ll end you.”

Deion chuckles as he studies me. “Should have known Randall would pick a sassy one. Does he know how loyal you are to him? Is he as loyal to you?”

“Absolutely.” I say without a doubt.

“Hmmm. I guess we’ll see.” Deion says as he grabs me the back of my neck and leans so close I can smell the beer on his breath. “Would you be so loyal if you knew your beloved Reaper shot an unarmed kid in the back?”

I glare at him, never taking my eyes off his, so he knows I’m telling the truth. “I know he would never do such a thing.”

“I have a witness.” Deion says with an evil grin.

“This witness wouldn’t be the same guy who lied to you about where he found me, would it?” I counter. “Or maybe all your guys lie to you. Because Reaper would never do what you just said. You obviously don’t know Reaper very well.”

Deion raises his arm back as if to hit me, but his phone chimes, distracting him. I scramble up on the bed so I’m standing with my back to the wall and as far away from him as I can get in the tiny room. He watches me but doesn’t make a move toward me.

“Randall, nice of you to call.” Deion says, locking eyes with me. “I was just getting to know your girl. She’s a feisty one. Surprised you like the type. Figured you preferred your women weak, like you.”

I can’t hear Reaper’s response. One thing I love about Reaper is that he rarely loses his temper. When he does, it’s terrifying. Although I know he’d never hurt me. I also know he’d have no problem releasing that rage on someone who hurt anyone he cared about. Right now, I kind of wish he was shouting so I could hear what he’s saying. Deion’s face lacks emotion, so I’m not getting information from him either.

“I haven’t touched her. Yet.” Deion says, watching me. “What I want is for you to come here alone. You come and I let her go. You know where to find me.”

He lets Reaper talk again before he shoves the phone in my direction. “Just tell him you’re alive.” He orders me. I reach for the phone, but he pulls it back. “Just talk.”

“Reaper. I’m here. I’m ok. He hasn’t touched me. What about the others? Are they….” I yell out, but Randall pulls the phone away and holds it to his ear.

“Your woman doesn’t listen to instructions very well.” I watch Deion smirk at whatever Reaper says to him. “Just get here. And Reaper, if you don’t come, I’ll send you a video of her death along with her body.”

When he closes the door, my legs give out and I fall onto the bed. How the hell did I get into this mess? I went to a party at a friend’s house. I snort. Some friend. Renee has to be part of this. She drugged me. I think about the other women at the party and my heart hurts. Did Renee drug them, too? She had to have done. Or how else how did she get me out of the apartment without them stopping her? What a bitch. I can’t believe I trusted that woman.

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