Page 77 of Reaper

Talon, Nitro, Scar, and Matrix say their goodbyes to Lexi and me. The other members leave to go to their respective homes, leaving Lexi, Ace, and me alone in the clubhouse. Prospects stand guard outside, but inside, the place is all ours.

As I look at Lexi and Ace, my heart swells with pride and gratitude. The love I feel for them is overwhelming, but it’s mixed with a sense of responsibility. It’s my job to protect them, and I’ll be damned if I let anything get between us ever again.

“Reaper?” Lexi’s voice jolts me from my thoughts, her eyes searching mine for reassurance. “We’re really safe now, right?”

I pull her close, feeling the warmth of her body against mine, and whisper, “Yeah, babe. We’re safe. Blackstone’s dead, and we’ve got the club behind us. Nothing can hurt us now.”

Ace yawns loudly, his little body finally giving in to exhaustion. I glance at Lexi and see the fatigue etched on her face as well.

“Time for bed, buddy,” I tell Ace, scooping him up into my arms. He clings to me, his small fingers gripping my leather vest tightly. Lexi follows close behind as we make our way to the bedroom beside mine.

“Good night, Daddy,” Ace mumbles, his eyes already half-closed. I can’t help but smile at the sound of that word—“Daddy”—but my heartclenches with worry for what he’s been through. Hopefully, there won’t be any lasting effects. Being taken by a monster and caged would give anyone nightmares, so I plan on keeping a close eye on him in case he needs some help.

“Good night, son,” I whisper, helping him change into his pajamas and tucking him into bed.

“Night, baby.” Lexi leans over to plant a gentle kiss on his forehead, her love for him shining in her eyes.

We stand in the doorway, watching him drift off to sleep, our hands intertwined. The weight of the day’s events finally sucks the last bit of energy from my limbs.

“Let’s go to bed too,” I suggest, leading Lexi into our bedroom.

“Reaper,” she starts hesitantly, “do you think Ace understands what he saw when you … brought me back?”

I pause, considering her question. “Honestly, I don’t know.”

“Should we talk to him about it?” she asks, her voice tight with concern.

“Maybe not yet,” I say thoughtfully. “He hasn’t asked about it, so let’s just let it go for now. We’ll cross that bridge if we need to.”

She gives me a small nod, accepting my answer. We both know there will be more questions and struggles in the future, but for tonight, we choose to let them rest. At thismoment, our family is whole again, and that’s all that matters.

The soft glow of the bedside lamp casts a warm light over Lexi’s face as she reaches for the hem of my shirt. Her fingers are gentle, almost reverent, as she lifts the fabric. I raise my arms to let her remove it completely. She folds the shirt neatly and places it on the chair next to the bed before turning her attention to my jeans.

“Babe,” I murmur, feeling vulnerable as she carefully undoes the button and zipper. “You don’t have to—”

“Let me,” she says softly, looking up at me with those soulful hazel eyes that always seem to see right through me.

I nod, allowing her to continue. As she slides the jeans down my legs, I can’t help but think about how we’ve come full circle. We started out hot and heavy all those years ago, and now, we’re right back to the same place. I want her more than I can express, but I’m also so tired I’m about to faceplant onto the mattress.

Once I’m in my boxers, she helps me into bed, then crawls in beside me. The warmth of her body against mine is comforting, familiar. She rests her head on my chest, her hand splayed across my heart.

“I can’t thank you enough for what you did today,” she whispers, her voice thick with emotion. “You saved Ace from that monster.”

“I’d die for our son,” I say simply.

“I can’t imagine how hard it was to stand up to the man who tortured you. Are you okay?”

Her words stir something in me. Blackstone held power over me for far too long, poisoning my mind with thoughts of vengeance and keeping me from fully embracing the family I’d found in Lexi and Ace. But he’s gone now, and it’s time for me to set things right.

Chapter 29: Reaper

“Lexi,” I begin, my voice trembling slightly as I search for the right words, “there’s something I need to say.”

She looks up at me expectantly, her eyes glistening in the low light.

“During all this time, I’ve been such a fool,” I admit, dropping my chin. “I let Blackstone and my need for vengeance cloud my judgment and push you and Ace away. But he’s dead now, and I want you to know I love you. I love you both so much.”

Her breath hitches, and she reaches up to cup my face in her hands. “Oh, Reaper,” she murmurs. “We love you too. We always have.”

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