Page 21 of Reaper's Ride
My sister was attacked one night on her way home from class. She’d been sliced up, but thankfully not sexually assaulted. The experience still traumatized her. It took a fuck ton of therapy to help Lizzie cope with what happened.
It was why I never strayed far in case she needed me. As a nomad, I could ride to her place and reach her within a day from almost anywhere in California or Nevada. I was the one whotaught her how to shoot a gun, and she always carried a weapon with her now for protection.
Someday, I wanted Lizzie and Lainey to meet. Hopefully, it wouldn’t be long before that happened.
“No,” I growled in answer.
“A familiar theme. Yes?”
He meant the hit and run. “How the fuck do you know about all this?”
A devilish twist of his lips preceded a quick poof of air before his entire expression changed. No longer human, his features had twisted into a bony visage, his eyes glowing a deep red.
“Fuck!” I nearly stumbled as I backed up, moving away as he snickered.
“You scare so easily. It’s almost insulting.”
“Who, no,whatare you?”
He rolled those crimson eyes like I was some annoying kid pestering him with useless questions. “Lucifer Morningstar.” He paused and waited like I was supposed to have another reaction. When I didn’t, he pouted. His lower lip jutted out and drooped as the flesh reformed on his face. “I really need to speak to Grim. The lack of recognition from new recruits is really depressing.”
The devil? Is that what he meant?
He slapped a hand over his face. “Hell’s bells. Yes. I’m the devil. Satan. Lucifer. The great trickster. And so on.”
“Uh. Okay?”
He frowned. “You don’t believe me?”
I really didn’t need a demonstration beyond what he had already shown me. “I do.”
“Good. It simplifies things.” He clapped his hands together, and I noticed his blood-red nails. “Aren’t they pretty?”
“Sure.”
He placed a hand on his hip, giving me a devious smile. “You bikers. Always so masculine, sticking to common stereotypesand rigid labels. Go fuck a man for once. Paint your nails. Wear a fucking dress. Challenge the norm.”
I didn’t have a problem with what he was saying, but I didn’t feel the urge to do any of that. I just wanted to fuck Lainey and become a member of the Tonopah Graven Bastards.
He sighed. “So predictable.”
“Am I going to be a member or not? I kinda feel like you’re doing some kind of fucked up interview,” I admitted, folding my arms as I ticked my chin toward him. “I passed. Right?”
“Your arrogance is part of your charm.” He winked. “Sure. There’s just one little thing.”
“Yeah? What’s that?”
“I need you to sign my contract.”
A contract?
“In blood,” he clarified. “Yourblood.”
“I take it Grim, Rael, and the others have all signed it.”
“The have,” he confirmed. “It’s simple. Mutually beneficial.”
“What do I have to do for you?” It couldn’t be that easy. There was always a catch. After all, he was the devil. Nothing was ever free.
