Page 33 of A Reaper's Devotion
This was a shock.
“I made it to the city, working on jobs, cash in hand, that kind of thing.Got here and found a gym not too far from here.Told the owner, Jim, that I had to work on myself.He didn’t believe me, but I think he had some kind of bet going or something.Next thing you know, a year had passed, I’d lost a lot of weight, and gained muscle.”
“Some things haven’t changed, you still tell a good fucking story,” Cyrus said.
Ray burst out laughing.“I’m filling you in on my last year.You want to tell me what you’re up to?What brings you to me, because it won’t be for Reaper stuff.I didn’t make it, remember?”
“Yeah, I remember.You think you’d make it now?”Cyrus asked.
“Don’t know.I can take a beating, trust me.I help Jim out when his guys are sparring.He has some fighters he likes to train.Hardcore motherfuckers as well.”Ray shrugged.“I’m no longer afraid of a punch.”
“Do you miss Lost Creek?”Cyrus asked.
“You’re asking me all these questions, and I’ve asked you what has happened in the last year.”Ray laughed.“I’m making a salad with steak.You want some?”
Cyrus had already called Willow and let her know he’d be back late.He wanted to ask her to move in with him.
“Bethany Evans passed away,” Cyrus said.
“Fuck me, seriously?Damn, that woman...”Ray shook his head.“She was a good woman.Even put up with my sorry ass complaining.How’s Willow?”
“She’s mine,” Cyrus said.
Ray smiled.“About damn time.I always used to see you watching her.”
“What?”Cyrus asked.
Ray rolled his eyes.“I did do my job from time to time, and I saw the way you were always looking in her direction.You’ve always had a thing for Willow Evans.About time you acted on it.What else?”
“Willow got your job.She caught a girl giving that hand signal.”Cyrus flashed his hand.“Turns out the guy had kidnapped two additional women.”He gave him the details as he knew them.
“Wow,” Ray said.
Cyrus looked at his brother.Willow had been right.He didn’t realize how much he had missed his brother, but he saw it was also for the best.Ray had changed, a lot.
“Do you want me to give you a twirl?”Ray asked.
“I’m sorry.You look great.”
“Yeah, I’ve still got a lot of work to do.It does take a smack in the face at times to wake you the fuck up,” Ray said.
“And you miss home?”
“Yeah, the city life is fine, but it’s not home.It’s not Lost Creek.Besides, I owe Daniel and Amy for ...taking that thousand bucks.”Ray shook his head.He closed his fridge and moved across the floor, disappearing into the far room.
Cyrus waited, and seconds later, Ray came out.
“Could you give this to Daniel and Amy.Tell them I’m sorry.”
He took the envelope Ray offered and looked inside, shocked to see the money.There was close to five thousand.
“Ray, what the fuck?”Cyrus asked.“How did you get this?”
“I entered a few fights.Won them all and got the money.I’m collecting it so I can give it to Amy and Daniel for what happened to her café.That shit shouldn’t have happened.I’m learning.I’m accepting responsibility and I’m growing up.It’s what I’ve got to do.”
Cyrus was shocked.“No,” he said.
“Dude, come on.You’re going back to town.”
