Page 52 of Reaper
“Does the name Sonny Harris really mean nothing to you?”
I wrack my brain again to place the name, but I come up empty. “It sounds familiar,” I say, settling on half of the truth.
“And your name is Craig Binder?”
“Yes,” I snarl, annoyed that he seems to be backtracking.
“Well, Craig Binder…” Without lowering his gun from Kyra’s head, he reaches into his pocket. He tosses a folded-up piece of newspaper at me. “Tell me, how are you sitting in front of me when that report says you’re dead?”
I unfold the newspaper, and my face stares back at me from the image. I read the headline, and it all comes rushing back.
Woman Alive and Harris Jailed Because of Local Hero
“Answer me,” Sonny seethes.
There’s nothing I can say or do that he’ll believe. My hands are tied. I might have saved that woman all those years ago, but I’m not going to be able to save Kyra.
Fuck you, Odin! Fuck you for sending me here and letting me hope.
He doesn’t reply. Shocker.
“I am dead,” I tell Sonny. “I know it doesn’t seem possible, but I lost my life that night.”
“See, that’s what the article says. And that’s what the lawyers and that woman said on the stand during my dad’s trial. He was sentenced to life in prison for killing you. And more time was added for the attempted murder charge.” Sonny’s eyes are wild. “I was only a baby when he was thrown in a cell. He’s rotting in that prison for your death, yet, here you are.”
“I don’t know what to tell you,” I admit. “Your father killed me, took me away from my own babies.”
“He’s telling you the truth,” Kyra says, and I level my gaze with hers. One corner of her lips tip up. “I’m sorry, Reaper. I’m sorry that I freaked out. But I know you’re a good man, alive or dead.”
“You’re both insane,” Sonny scoffs. “What you’re saying isn’t possible.”
“It doesn’t matter what we tell you,” I say, resigning myself to the fact that this is likely going to go horribly wrong.
“Tell me the truth!” he screams, spittle flying from his mouth. “Tell me you set my father up!”
Lying to him risks Kyra. He made that clear. But maybe he won’t think I’m lying because he believes it’s the truth.
“It’s okay, Reaper,” Kyra says calmly. Too calmly. “You can tell him. Tell him the truth.”
Is she giving me permission to lie, damn the consequences? She has to know that we’re in a lose-lose situation.
She’s giving you permission, Reaper.
It’s Skuld’s voice this time, serene and sweet as usual.
“Please, Reaper,” Kyra says. “Tell Sonny the truth about his father.”
“Yeah, Reaper,” Sonny mocks. “Tell me the truth!”
If it had a beat, my heart would be pounding its way out of my chest. I close my eyes and take several deep breaths before opening them and looking straight at Sonny.
“Take the gun away from her head, and I’ll tell you.”
“That’s not how this works.”
Without looking away from Sonny, I say, “I love you, Kyra.” Another deep breath. “I set your father up that night. I’m not dead. He’s rotting in prison because of a conspiracy against him.”
Bang!
