Page 31 of Reaper

I frown, confused. “I thought the kids Nina was watching belonged to the mom and dad in the custody case.”

“Reaper,” Matrix sighs, his eyes apologetic. “I’m talking about Ace.”

My blood runs cold, my heart hammering in my chest. “Why are you testing Ace’s DNA?”

“Lexi lied about his age.” Matrix hesitates, then blurts it out like ripping off a Band-Aid. “I found Ace’s birth certificate. He’s turning eight, not seven. He was born on September 25th, 2017, not 2018. Reaper … Ace could be your son.”

The room spins, my head swimming with disbelief and anger. What the fuck? How could Lexi lie to me like that? What kind of game is she playing?

“Are you sure?” I demand. “Maybe you got the wrong birth certificate.”

“I’m positive,” Matrix confirms, his expression grim. “I’m sorry, brother.”

My hands tremble at my sides, fists clenched in a desperate attempt to control my rage.

“You tested Ace’s DNA? Behind my back?” I snarl, glaring at Matrix.

“Reaper, listen—” Matrix starts, but I cut him off.

“Answer me!” I demand. “When and how did you get his DNA?”

Matrix sighs, running a hand through his hair. “I asked Nina to have Ace drink out of a glass, then set it aside, so I could take a swab.”

The memory of Matrix whispering with Nina the day before comes rushing back, and I narrow my eyes. “That’s what you were talking to her about yesterday.”

“Yeah,” Matrix admits, looking uncomfortable. “Look, Reaper, I know it’s not ideal, but we had to know. You deserve to know if he’s your son.”

“Without my consent?” I growl, my anger boiling over as I rise from my chair, ready to pound him into a wall. “You had no right!”

“Sit down and shut up, Reaper!” Scar barks, his authority ringing through the room. “You’re pissed. We get it. But don’t you want to know if you’ve got a kid or not?”

I hesitate as Scar’s question cuts through my fury. I’m torn between wanting to throttle Matrix for his betrayal and needing to know if Ace is truly mine.

“Of course I want to know,” I say through gritted teeth. “But this … this should have been my choice, not yours.”

“Sometimes we don’t get a choice, brother,” Scar replies softly, his stern gaze softening slightly. “We do what we need to for family.”

“Family,” I echo, the word heavy on my tongue. If Ace ismy son, everything changes. My loyalty to the club and our mission against Blackstone will never waver, but the stakes become even higher—not just for me but for a child who might be mine.

“All right,” I concede, sitting back down slowly. “When will we know?”

“Results should be in soon,” Matrix says quietly. “I’ll let you know as soon as I do.”

“Fine.” My voice is cold, my anger still simmering beneath the surface.

“Don’t get mad about it,” Nitro says, throwing fuel back on the fire. “It was the right thing to do, and you know it.”

“Shut the fuck up,” Talon snaps. “Give the man a fucking minute to process this shit. If youjust found out you had a kid you didn’t know about, you’d freak out too.”

“I’m not freaking out!” I yell before I storm out, slamming the door behind me with enough force to rattle the hinges.

The sound echoes as I make a beeline to the front door. Anger courses through my veins, filling me with the need to be anywhere but here. I can’t talk to Lexi like this. The buzzing sound in my head makes it impossible to think straight.

“Reaper!” Scar calls after me, but I don’t turn back. I don’t want to hear his excuses or explanations—not now, not ever.

My bike waits for me, a sleek black beast that hums under my touch like it understands my fury. I swing my leg over the seat and start the engine, the roar drowning out any pleas from my brothers.

“Damn them,” I mutter, gripping the handlebars until my knuckles turn white. “And damn Lexi, too.”

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