Page 2 of Reaper
“Hey!” I shout when he twists to go after her.
He halts and slowly turns to face me again. I have no time to move before he lifts the gun, squeezes the trigger, and a bullet tears through my chest.
Pain like I’ve never felt spreads through my body, but it isn’t more than a few seconds before I go numb and the world around me fades to black. When I’m able to open my eyes again, the dark has become a bright white, and I’m no longer lying in the dirty alley.
Turning in a slow circle, I take in my surroundings, confusion marring my every thought.
“What the fu?—”
“Welcome to Valhalla.”
1
Kyra
PRESENT DAY…
“Ican’t stay past eight tonight.”
I stare at Megan incredulously. She’s the only babysitter I’ve found who Heidi and Hunter don’t hate and who doesn’t mind my very chaotic schedule. I’ve always been able to count on her if I have to stay late at the diner, but I guess that’s changing.
“It’s Thursday,” I remind her. “You know I work late on Thursdays.”
It didn’t used to be this difficult. When I opened the diner with my ex, Jason, we both pulled our weight. But then the twins came along, and the fucker bolted.
“I’m sorry, Ms. Thomas,” she says. “But I’ve got a final tomorrow, and I have to study.”
This is what I get for relying on a college student.
“Right, um…” I shake my head. My problems are not her problems. “I’ll figure it out.”
Megan fidgets. “I can bring them to the diner before I have to go if that would help.”
“Okay.” I rub my temples, a headache forming. “Yeah, that’ll work. I can set them up in my office with a movie or something.”
Hunter and Heidi are six and full of mischief. I doubt a movie will hold their attention, but maybe I’ll get lucky, and they’ll be tired enough to cooperate.
“Thanks,” she says, her shoulders slumping with relief. “If I don’t pass this final, I’ll have to take the class over, and I really don’t want to do that.”
Before I can say anything, Heidi comes barreling into the living room with Hunter hot on her heels. “Mommy, Hunter’s being mean.”
“Am not,” my son says.
“Are too.”
“Hey, guys,” Megan says, jumping into action. “Why don’t you go get a game for us to play? Mommy’s gotta get to work.”
Her suggestion effectively stops the arguing, and they turn around to rush to the room they share.
“Love you!” I call after them, but they either don’t hear me or don’t care because they don’t say it back. Guilt settles in my chest, and I take a deep breath. “Thanks, Megan. I’ll see you later at the diner.”
She looks at me with sympathy in her eyes. “You know they love you, Ms. Thomas. They’re just…”
I sigh. “Yeah, I know.”
Not wanting to feed into the negative emotions swirling through me, I head out to my car. The drive to the diner goes by in a blur, as does most of the evening.
I don’t have a moment of downtime, and right at eight, the bell above the door jingles. Megan enters with the twins, and unfortunately, they don’t appear the least bit tired.
