Page 49 of Reaper

“Is that why you were so tired after the accident?”

“Yes.”

“Because I was dead, and you brought me back.”

“I couldn’t leave Ace without a mother. He’d end up in foster care if he didn’t have a father in the picture. I don’t know what came over me. I didn’t even realize it was you until after. I just knew I couldn’t put that kid through what I went through. Couldn’t risk it happening to him.”

“You’re amazing,” I say softly. Hiscompassion for Ace prompted him to risk his own life to save someone he didn’t realize he knew. “Was that why it worked? Because we knew each other?”

“I’m not sure. It works on animals that I don’t have a connection with, so maybe it’s a size thing? Or maybe humans have a different kind of soul. Animals are pure while humans can be full of evil. That could be why. I don’t know.”

“I don’t understand it all either, not yet.” I breathe out, turning my face to press a kiss into his palm. “But I’m here, with you, because you fought for me. You have love in your heart. I know you do.”

“Maybe.” He pulls me into a tight embrace, silencing me.

As I lay in his arms, the warmth in my heart swells. He doesn’t realize how good he is. All he can see is his darkness. I need to find a way to show him who he truly is inside. I have no idea how to make that happen, but I’m going to figure I out. I won’t let his fear tear us apart. We belong together, and it’s only a matter of time before he realizes it too.

Chapter 19: Reaper

The heavy air in the conference room is thick with the scent of oil and leather, a constant reminder of who we are—brothers bound by the road and the code. Scar’s at the head of the table, his presence commanding as ever. He nods at me, and I nod back, our silent greeting cut through by the business at hand.

“Church is called to order.” Scar’s voice is authority incarnate. “Nitro, what’s the word on the custody case?”

“Court date’s two weeks out,” Nitro replies without missing a beat, his normally easygoing face set in lines of concern. “Spoke to the mom. She’s holding up about as good as you’d expect.”

“She still staying with her sister?” Talon asks.

“Yeah, and the kids are safe at Nina’s.”

“Good.” Scar’s eyes scan over us like he’s plotting a ride route on a map. “We’ll ride to the courthouse when it’s time and stand with them. Those kids and their mom aren’t alone in thisfight, and I want her piece of shit soon-to-be ex to realize it.”

“He won’t fuck with her if he knows he’s fucking with us,” Nitro says.

“Exactly.” Scar smirks.

“Damn right,” I mutter under my breath. There’s a collective murmur of agreement from around the table.

“Hope she gets full custody,” Nitro adds.

“We’ll make sure she’s got more than hope on her side,” Talon declares.

“Matrix, update on the keycard?” Scar shifts focus, his question aimed at the club’s resident tech whiz.

I see Matrix open his mouth to speak, but something dark and venomous crawls up my throat, spilling out before I can stop it. “Got any other DNA tests you wanna share, Matrix? Find any other kids you want to test behind my back?”

There’s a tension in the room, thick as the exhaust fumes on a hot run. Matrix looks taken aback, and I don’t miss the flicker of guilt in his eyes.

“Reaper, I—” Matrix starts, but I’m already on my feet, the chair clattering behind me.

“Save it!” The words come out like gunfire, each one loaded with betrayal and fury. My hands are clenched, every muscle coiled tight as a wound spring.

“Sit the fuck down, Reaper,” Scar’s nonnegotiable command slices through the air.

But I’m past listening, past caring. I step toward Matrix, ready to let my fists talk since words are failing me. This isn’t about some damn keycard; this is about trust, about brotherhood.

“Reaper!” It’s Scar’s voice again, pulling me back from the edge. I turn, glaring at him, my chest heaving with pent-up rage.

“Sit. Down.”

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