Page 54 of X's and O's
Fang shook his head, studying my swollen face. “Hope that fucking hurts.”
“It does.”
“Good.” He sighed. “You want a beer?”
And just like that, all the years I’d ignored him disappeared. He handed me a drink, and we sank down onto a couch. War and Hawk joined us, and as the rest of the group lost interest and drifted away, it was just me and the men I’d once called my brothers.
War pointed down the hallway. “There’s been a lot of new additions since you were last here, but your old room is currently empty. It’s all yours.”
I nodded at him. “Thank you.”
“Food in the kitchen. Hawk’s partner, Hayden, is an A-plus chef. He keeps the place pretty well-stocked with leftovers from his restaurant, so there should be something you’ll like in there.”
I blinked at Hawk. “You’re with a guy? War said you had kids.”
To my surprise, all the brothers around me laughed.
Fang explained. “None of us are much good at just picking one partner.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
War clinked his beer bottle against mine. “Polyamory, my friend. You should try it.”
They toasted to that, but there was only one person I was interested in.
And I’d already fucked up any chance I had with her.
War finished off his beer and set it down on the coffee table. “I should get home. You need anything else, Reaper?”
It had been so long since anyone had called me by my road name, but I didn’t correct any of them. To them, I was Reaper. Taker of souls. The club’s enforcer. Not Levi.
War had already given me a lot tonight, but there was something else I needed. “A job. I need a fucking job. I can’t just do nothing. I need to make some money.”
He didn’t need to know why. He didn’t need to know I was still secretly hoping I could get everything I needed for Violet and then go crawling back to her on my hands and knees and beg for a second chance.
War’s brow creased. “What do you want to do?”
The words came out too fast. “Give me my old job back.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Your old…Reaper. Come on, man. You just got out. You really want to walk back into that?”
I knew Fang would have been doing the job while I was gone. It was how Fang and I had become friends in the first place. I’d taught him everything he knew. He’d basically been my apprentice.
But Fang had taken up the position out of loyalty to the club.
I wanted it back for a very different reason, and I knew War could see it in my face.
“You’re triggered,” he said flatly.
“I’m fine.”
But I wasn’t. My emotions were wildly out of control, and the only way I knew of taming that feeling was to let some blood run.
Surely the club had someone who needed taking out.
War didn’t seem to agree. “Let’s just see how you go. In the meantime, you can come work at the club my partner owns. We need extra staff over there for Friday night’s party.”
I shook my head. “I don’t need a party.”
