Page 3 of Reaper's Rage

I shake my mind free of Renee. If the Demons haven’t taken care of her by now, I will when I get out. So, I need to get out of here. There is no reason I can’t help myself, even though I know Reaper and the Demons will come for me. I yank the mattress off the frame and flip the frame over. I yank on piece after piece, but nothing gives. My frustration level rises until I finally find a loose screw. Using my fingers, I work it until it falls into my hand. I right the bed and tuck the screw between my fingers just as the door opens again. Deion strides back in with another man at his side.

Deion still wears his stony expression, but the second guy doesn’t hide his feelings. His eyes are hungry as he roams every inch of my body. I feel dirty and violated just from his gaze. I shudder at the thought of him touching me. When he comes over and grabs my arm, I can’t stop myself from jerking away. He raises his hand to backhand me, but Deion stops him.

“Don’t. If Randall sees bruises, he’ll kick your ass and I’ll let him. If he doesn’t hold up his end of the bargain, then I don’t care what you do to her.” He shifts his attention to me. “This is Trask, my second in command. Don’t try anything. If you do, I won’t stop him again.” Deion says before turning around. “Let’s go and you better hope your boyfriend follows instructions better than you.”

Deion grabs my arm to keep me from moving past him. Although, I want to fight him; Deion doesn’t frighten me as much as Trask does. I let him lead me through a crowded room. Half a dozen men watch us walk by. This must be their clubhouse. It isn’t as comfortable or inviting as the Demon Dawg clubhouse. Each man stares at me like a starving lion watching an injured lamb. The shudder that shoots through me is impossible to stop. I hear Trask’s dark chuckle behind me, and I know he notices my fear. I really hope Reaper doesn’t come alone and the other Demons take out these guys. Starting with Trask.

CHAPTER THREE: REAPER

Flame lands a few solid punches before Dante and Chaos pull him off me. I didn’t fight back, I couldn’t. I knew when Flame found out about Ashlyn and me, he wouldn’t be happy. But finding out about us and learning that I’m the reason they kidnapped her made things that much worse. The thought of Deion getting his hands on my beautiful Ashlyn makes me wish Flame had finished me.

“Knock it off!” Dante shouts. “We don’t have time for this bullshit.”

I take Grimm’s hand so he can pull me up off the floor.

“He’s the reason my sister is in danger.” Flame bellows.

“He’s the one who kidnapped Ashlyn?” Dante snaps back. “Or is he the one holding her captive?”

“No, but…” Flame sputters.

“I’d be very careful with your next words.” Dante says, getting in his face. When Flame says nothing, only giving Dante a nod to show he’s done, Dante places his hand on Flame’s shoulder. “We’re getting her back. But the only way we can do that is by working together. Right?”

Flame nods again. I want to say something, but I know right now, I’m not the friend he needs. I glance at Ghost, who gives me a nod before punching Flame’s arm lightly and pushing him toward the door. “We’ll go outside and cool down.” Ghost tells Dante.

Dante turns to me. “My office.”

Chaos and Grimm follow us. Dante takes his seat behind the desk, while Grimm sits across from him and Chaos stands against the door. I stay standing in the middle of the room.

“Deion Jones?” Dante queries.

“He’s the leader of the Spades. He goes by the title King of Spades, or King.” I explain.

“Do you know how to reach him?” Grimm asks.

I pull out my phone and nod. “I can call him.”

“In a minute.” Dante says. “Give us the background. I know you ran with the Spades until you prospected with us. How did you get mixed up with them?”

I huff out a sigh because I really hate talking about that time in my life. I was not in a good headspace back then and did not make the best decisions.

“Sit down.” Grimm orders, so I take the seat next to him.

“You know my parents live in Carmel Mountain.” Dante nods when I mention the high-end community, while both Chaos and Grimm simply raise their eyebrows. “When I was fifteen, my parents went on vacation. I took a walk one night to visit a friend. A couple of cops spotted me and decided that since I was black in a mostly white upperclass neighborhood, that I was looking for trouble. They shot me with a taser before throwing me in jail. I guess I should consider myself lucky that they didn’t kill me. My luck held because Puma was playing the Lakers so he was in Los Angeles. I called him and he came to bail me out. The entire experience pissed me off. Angry at the injustice, I decided that if I was going to be treated like a criminal…”

“You’d become one.” Dante finishes and I nod.

“A child’s reaction.” I admit.

“So you joined the Spades?” Grimm asks.

“I did. Most gangs have an initiation, some are violent, but Deion only resorts to violence as a last resort. Their initiation is more mercurial. I was told to break into a house and steal something valuable. I cheated. Puma used to have an apartment near my parents’ house where he’d stay when he came to visit. I had a key to his place. So, I took one of his practice balls, signed it, and used one of his display cases to make it look like a signed game ball. A collectible.”

“And they bought it?” Dante asks.

“Part of the initiation is that you have to make a recording of the theft. After setting everything up, I recorded my breaking in and taking the ball.” I explain. “I handed the recording and the ball over and I was in. He told me I was in the club for good. That if I ever turned my back on the club, the recording would make its way to the cops.”

“But you left?” Dante presses. “Why?”

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