Page 12 of Reaper

“Even so, we need to know how she happened to get run off the road right in front of you. I don’t believe in coincidences,” Matrix says.

“Looks like I’ve got a new mission,” I declare, pocketing the keycard.

“Be careful, brother,” Scar warns. “You don’t know what you’re stepping into.”

“Never do,” I answer with a grim smile. “But that’s never stopped me before.”

“Good. Church is over.” Scar slams the gavel, dismissing us.

With a nod to my brothers, I stand, feeling the familiar pull of adrenaline. The meetingis over, but the hunt is just beginning. And whatever lies at the end of this road, whether it’s heartache or bloodshed, I’ll ride into it head-on. I hope Lexi’s not a spy sent by Blackstone, because if she is, she’s a dead woman. I’ll put a bullet in her myself. But something tells me there’s more going on, and until I can get to the truth, I’m going to keep her close.

Very, very close.

Chapter 4: Lexi

The moment Doc’s footsteps fade down the hall, a wave of relief washes over me. I look down at Ace, my little boy, clutching his teddy bear. We’re huddled together in a bedroom that shares a wall with Reaper’s—his presence is so large it feels like he could seep through the plaster.

“Momma,” Ace whispers, his eyes drooping, “I’m glad Mr. Snuffles is here.”

“Me too, baby.” I brush his hair back from his forehead, the soft curls tangling around my fingers. “Mr. Snuffles is going to watch over us tonight.”

Ace manages a tired smile before he yawns, his small chest rising and falling with the effort. “I’m really sleepy.”

“Then close your eyes and drift off,” I tell him gently, tucking a thick blue and white blanket around his shoulders. “Dream of open roads and sunshine, okay?”

He nods, snuggling deeper into the pillow, and within minutes, his breathing deepens. The sight of him, so peaceful amid chaos, ignites a fierce determination within me. We can’t stayhere—not in the clubhouse with the very man I’ve spent years avoiding.

I rise carefully, making sure not to disturb Ace. My mind races with thoughts of escape, but the reality is as stark as the fluorescent lights above. I’ve got no transportation, no plan, and no energy left in my reserves. Leaving now would be reckless, dangerous even, and I can’t—I won’t—put Ace in more jeopardy than I already have.

So, we’ll wait. We’ll bide our time until the opportunity presents itself. Until then, I have to play the part. I’ll be polite and cooperative, anything to keep Reaper at arm’s length unless absolutely necessary. It’s a delicate dance on a razor’s edge, and one misstep could mean disaster. But for now, I’ll cloak myself in civility and hope it shields us both from whatever Reaper and the others might be planning.

I let out a breath, disturbing the silence. The tension in my shoulders eases just a fraction. Tomorrow will come with its own set of challenges, but tonight, I have to believe we’re safe. I’ll stand guard over my son and pray that dawn brings us closer to freedom.

As the sun descends over the mountains, I watch Ace’s chest rise and fall. Reddish light from the sunset seeps through a gap in the curtains, casting a glow over the room. Ace is asleep, clutching his teddy bear—Mr. Snuffles—like a lifeline. I can’t help but smile, relieved he didn’t fight me on his age when Doc waschecking him over. The lie sits uneasily on my conscience, but it’s a necessary shield. Reaper bought the story without question, his face slack with what I swear was relief when I lied about Ace being six. In all the time we were together, Reaper never once mentioned wanting to be a father. It’s better that he never finds out the truth.

It’s like walking a tightrope, this game I’m playing. Each word measured; each glance calculated. I remember the way Reaper’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly when I spoke to Doc, as if searching for something hidden beneath my words. But all he found was the mirage I conjured—a scared mother with her young son, nothing more.

“Mommy?” Ace’s sleepy mumble pulls me back to the present. I lean down, brushing hair from his forehead.

“Shh, baby, go back to sleep,” I whisper, kissing his temple lightly. “Everything’s okay.”

He’s out again in seconds, but I’m wide awake, haunted by the ghost of Reaper’s intense gaze. I can’t trust him, a man who deals in death like it’s a currency. My heart hammers with the knowledge of what he’s capable of, what he’s done. And yet, part of me aches because the secret I’m keeping is burning a hole in my soul—the truth about Ace.

But no. That door must remain closed, barred shut with an iron will. Reaper cannever know. He’s dangerous, a storm of violence waiting to be unleashed. And I won’t let my son be caught in the crossfire. No matter the connection we once shared, no matter the way my skin tingles at the memory of his touch, it’s all smoke and mirrors. A facade that hides the monster within.

Ace stirs again, and my protective instincts surge, drowning out the siren call of the past. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep him safe, even if it means lying to Reaper’s face. Even if it means locking away the truth until I can get us far, far away from Reaper and his deadly world.

“Stay asleep, little one,” I murmur against the softness of Ace’s hair. “Dream of places where the only monsters are those in storybooks, and men like Reaper are just bad dreams that fade with the morning light.”

The silence of the clubhouse is unnerving. I heard the others leave over an hour ago, but Reaper hasn’t been back to see us. I don’t even know if he’s still in the building. Every creak of the old building’s bones sets my nerves on edge, every whisper of wind against the windowpanes feels like a potential threat. But there’s another sound, softer and more deliberate. It’s a knock at the door.

“Lexi?” Reaper’s voice, low and rough as gravel, trickles through the wood. “You guys hungry?”

“No. Ace is asleep,” I call back, my voicebarely above a whisper. Hunger gnaws at my stomach, but I stifle it with a lie. “I’m not hungry either.”

“Can you come out? We need to talk.” Although his tone is neutral, with Reaper, everything feels like an order.

I hesitate, caught between the urge to go to Reaper and the knowledge that any sudden movements might wake Ace. After a moment that stretches too long, I push myself up. My back protests, but I do my best to ignore it. I slip out of the room, leaving the door ajar so I can hear Ace if he wakes up.

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