Page 12 of Reaper's Revenge
I turn around, striding toward the register, when there’s a loud thump, making me jump. Spinning to face the windows, my eyes scan over the entrance door first, then move on to check each large window. Eventually, I pause on a bloody mark smeared down the glass where I’d momentarily seen the beautiful woman earlier. My feet are moving on their own accord, before I realize it, carrying me to the same table the older ladies were at. It’s still dirty with their coffee cups as my knee lands on the booth seat. I lean over enough to stare outside, my eyes following the trail of dark blood. On the ground lies a large, dead black bird.
“What the heck?” I whisper to myself. Chills creep over me as my skin suddenly feels tight, and my hands move to rub my arms, making the sensation fade away. If I thought earlier was strange, it has my weird meter notching way up with this latest development.
A loud knock draws my attention away, my gaze shooting to the long window inside the front door. Reaper’s large presence looms there, standing outside, dressed in all black. His attire and presence remind me of his namesake, but I swear I’ve never been this glad to see a big biker before.
I rush back over to the door, twisting the lock on the door and pulling it open, letting him slip inside. Jimmy's in the back, but he won’t care if I have someone inside waiting for me. I secure the door once again, twisting the deadbolt, then I spin toward the intimidating, muscular man. My arms shoot around his middle, and then I’m hugging him, tucking my head to his chest.
The woman was weird, sure, but the dead bird has successfully freaked me out. I’m glad someone is here with me up front, and especially a strong someone.
One of his arms wraps around me as he rests the palm of his free hand on my hair, holding me to him. “What is it, Athena? Are you okay?”
Shaking my head, still planted against him, I admit, “It’s been a strange night, and I’m glad you’re here.” I’ve been jumpy all day. Almost like I’ve had too much adrenaline pumping through my system. Add it to the other stuff that’s just happened, and I feel like I might have a heart attack on the spot.
“I’ll be here any time you need me.”
“Thank you. It’s just a dark night; the moon is practically nonexistent out there. I think it’s making my eyes play tricks on me, and it’s all working to creep me out. I need to stay away from the scary movies and tune into Hallmark, I suppose.”
“Play tricks on you how?” He pulls back enough to gaze down at me, and I find myself becoming lost in his presence as I always seem to do whenever he’s near me. His eyes are more silver tonight, it’s weird, and I try to think back to what they were last night and the time before. Dark red? That can’t be right, though.
“Your eyes, they’re silver.”
He blinks, glancing up at the ceiling light before meeting my gaze, “It’s the lighting in here, makes them look strange.”
“They were honey and red-ish the last time you were here.”
He shrugs. “They change based on my mood sometimes.”
“And tonight? How are you feeling?”
“Hungry,” he admits lowly before backtracking to reply louder, “I’m just pleased to see you, and it could be because of the moon. Maybe it being so dark out mixed with the lights in here makes them look different to you.”
Something tells me he’s lying, but I won’t call him out on it. If he wanted me to know, he’d tell me. He’s a biker, I’m not ignorant enough to believe he’ll let me in on every aspect of his life. Hopefully, though, he’ll at least include me in on the important parts. “No biker friends with you tonight? I get you all to myself?”
He smirks, “Your first ride will be mine and mine alone. They can wait for the opportunity to have you on a midnight ride.”
I glance at the clock, cocking my brow. “Midnight? It’s nine p.m..”
“We call night rides midnight rides because by the time everyone has their shit together enough to make it to the bikes, it ends up being closer to midnight.”
“Oh,” I laugh. “Makes sense. You had me worried for a minute that you were going to make me wait three hours for a ride home.”
“Not at all. Are you ready?”
I nod. “Just about. Let me wipe this table really quick and let my boss know.”
“I’ll tell him while you finish up.”
I offer him a pleased smile as his thoughtfulness makes me feel all warm inside. “Thanks.”
He disappears through the swinging door to the back, making me think he’s been back there before, since he didn’t ask where he needed to go. I wonder how Reaper and his club know Jimmy, and obviously well enough, they’ve been here more than once, after closing time. I hope my boss hasn’t gotten into any trouble with them or anything. Though if it were the case, I doubt his club would be so cordial.
Grabbing the used coffee cups, I use a wet towel to wipe down the surface and sanitize it. I shift my cleaning to the booth, wiping the seats down next, and can’t help but glance at the ground where the bird was.
It’s gone.
Only a bit of blood remains in its place.
Chapter Ten
