Page 63 of Reaper Flame

“Ready for your second helicopter ride, C?” Rocky asked as we returned to solid ground.

“Do we all have to go in one?” Mieko asked, overhearing our conversation. “I thought some of us would be going back by car.”

“Come on!” Rocky laughed, nudging her shoulder playfully. “You’re not scared of heights, are you?”

Her paling face answered his question before her mouth had a chance to move.

“I don’t think helicopters crash that often,” he teased. “Not unless you count—”

Vixen sent him a threatening glare and made a cutting motion with her hand across her neck behind Mieko’s back.

“It’ll be fine,” I reassured her, linking my arm through hers.

The journey home wouldn’t be as terrifying as what lay in wait for us on the other side…

* * *

“Finally!” Vixen declared as the neon lights came into view.

“You’re telling me,” I muttered.

Mieko rolled her eyes, but I sensed she was relieved to be getting out of the cramped space too. After a helicopter ride, we had to drive for hours back to Port Valentine in a black bulletproof mini-bus. It was okay for Zander and West, who were sitting up front, but I’d have thrown Vixen and Rocky’s bodies down a ditch off the highway if I had to sit behind them for another hour. They were worse than kids asking ‘are we there yet?’ every ten miles. Next time, I’d insist we travel in separate cars or bring them a fucking coloring book to pass the time.

From the outside, Lapland looked no different. The familiarness of its seedy exterior and flickering pink light were almost comforting. This is where it had all begun. I hadn’t known it then, but stepping my heels over the threshold changed the course of my entire life.

Outside Lapland’s entrance, a group of the Sevens’ best security guys lined up shoulder-to-shoulder like soldiers expecting our arrival.

“Home sweet home,” West murmured as we parked up.

He got out and handed the keys to one of our men. Who needs to park their own car when you have a freaking entourage to do it for you? That kind of luxury is something I’d never get used to.

“Glad to be back, Candy?” Mieko asked as I followed her out and filed into the club after the others.

“It’s like I’ve never been away,” I said.

Nothing had changed inside. It had the same sparkly floor, dim lighting and sticky velvet booths crawling with clients hoping to cop a feel. The dancers were already in full swing. Long legs, swinging hair, and perky tits filled the club from wall to wall.

Every head turned to look at us. After twelve hours of traveling, the Sevens were officially back in town and ready to take their rightful throne.A glass slipped through one of the dancers fingers and landed with a smash. Her face paled like she’d seen a ghost…oh, shit.

I nudged Rocky in the ribs. “You know you’re supposed to be dead, right?”

“Oh, that!” He chuckled and shrugged, then made a comical bow to our staring audience. “Turns out the coroner didn’t check my pulse properly.”

There were a few nervous laughs as people were unsure how to act. What was the point in forcing Rocky into hiding now I’d returned to the Sevens? Hiram would find out sooner or later. Besides, no one would be brave enough to probe him on his miraculous resurrection.

“What’re you staring at, huh?” Vixen snarled, pointing at the ogling group of shot girls. “Get back to fucking work!”

The girls squeaked in response, more terrified of Vixen than being faced with a supposed dead man. Taking less than two seconds to fall back into control freak bitch mode must be a new world record. Vixen may come across as a tough boss, but she did try to look out for the girls and wouldn’t let anyone touch a single hair on their heads. Although, not many dancers met her high standards.

“Do you see this?” Vixen asked. She picked up three discarded glasses, and her eyes darted around the room to track down the dancer who’d been brave enough to stand in during our absence.“Have they forgotten our fucking standards?!”

“Maybe we should have a drink first?” Mieko suggested.For someone who used to be scared of Vixen, she now seemed immune from her explosive outbursts.A cheeky grin spread over Mieko’s face. “We should celebrate Rocky coming back to life.”

Before Vixen got the chance to respond, a man approached us.

“Are you Zander Briarly?” he asked.

From his clipped tone, ironed shirt, the clear liquid in his glass and the way he didn’t eyeball the topless women handing out drinks, he could either be gay or a cop. Or both.

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