Page 37 of Reaper

“Reaper …” Her voice trails off as she turns her gaze toward the yard, where Ace is playing. His grin stabs me straight in the heart. Fuck. I can’t believe he’s mine.

“You wanna give it a try?” Nina asks softly, nodding toward my son.

“Give what a try?”

“Being a dad.”

A lump lodges itself in my throat. Deep down, I know Matrix didn’t fuck up, and Ace is mine. It’s starting to hit me. I’m staring down a whole new road—one I never planned to travel. The deck creaks as I take a step closer, watching Ace laugh. His happiness is so foreign to me that I can’t even begin to understand it. I don’t think I’ve ever been that lighthearted and fun-loving. How can I interact with something I’ve never experienced? I never got the chance to be a kid, so how do I relate to that? I can’t.

“Not yet,” I murmur, more to myself than to Nina.

“Okay,” she says gently, laying a hand on my shoulder. “When you’re ready.”

I give Ace one last glance, forcing a semblance of a smile that doesn’t quite reach my eyes. The kid’s laughter is a balm I don’t deserve,not yet. Maybe not ever.

“Take care, Nina.” My raspy voice does little to conceal my emotion.

“Always do,” she replies with a small, knowing smile.

I walk back to my bike. Swinging my leg over the seat, I fire up the engine, and the familiar rumble calms the cacophony in my mind. I kick up dust as I ride away from the ranch, leaving a cloud of uncertainty in my wake. Behind me, I leave a son I’m not ready to claim, and ahead of me, the specter of Blackstone looms—my own personal demon waiting to be slain.

I don’t look back. I can’t. Because right now, all I’ve got is the open road and a promise that feels like a noose tightening around my neck.

Chapter 15: Lexi

The sizzle of the onions in the pan is barely audible over the chatter of the prospects lounging around the clubhouse’s kitchen like it’s their own. I’m seasoning the chicken when the clubhouse door slams open with a force that rattles the windows. Every conversation stops as Reaper strides in. He’s just as angry as when he left earlier, maybe even madder than before.

“Out,” he growls at the prospects, his voice low and dangerous.

It’s not a request; it’s an order. They grumble, shooting hungry glances at the half-cooked meal, but they know better than to argue. They shuffle out, leaving me alone with Reaper.

“Are you just going to bang doors all day, or are you going to talk to me like an adult?” Despite my bluster, my heart beats erratically as I wipe my hands on a dish towel. Turning to face him fully, I steel my spine. It’s time to put an end to his passive-aggressive crap.

“I know about Ace,my son.” Reaper’s eyeslock onto mine while the floor drops out from underneath me.

“Wh-what?” I stammer, shocked. “How did you find out?”

“Matrix and Daisy have connections at the FBI crime lab.”

“How’s that possible?”

“Daisy was an undercover agent sent to infiltrate the club. Matrix infiltrated her instead.” Reaper smirks before resuming his scowl.

“Wow. She must have a set of balls on her. I’d like to meet her sometime.”

“Why didn’t you tell me about my son?”

I swallow hard, my mouth suddenly dry. The memory of that night flashes before me—the blood, the fear, the desperation. What choice did I have? I had to run to protect my baby.

“Was it because you saw me kill someone?” Reaper asks, interrupting my thoughts.

“Y-yes,” I admit, avoiding his eyes. “I mean, no, I didn’t see you kill anyone directly, but … that night, Valentine’s Day, I saw you carrying a dead body out of the basement.” I tremble as I remember the bloody mess of a man in his arms, looking like he’d been mauled.

“You saw that?” Reaper chuckles darkly. There’s something unnerving about the amusement in his tone.

“Yes,” I confirm, meeting his gaze now. “The night I left, I saw too much.”

His laughter is gone as quickly as itappeared, replaced by a cold seriousness that chills the air between us.

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