Page 206 of Reaper
He lifts one shoulder in a shrug. “Not sure why I had to come to this shit hole, but the Boss said that he’s tired of waiting around to get what he wants.”
My gaze narrows even further. He must be talking about Cox. Aside from her other stalker, Richard is the only other person I know that wants something from Lark.
“That fucker isn’t getting his hands on my woman or her properties.”
Even as I say that though, my mind is spinning. I hope Smoke or Python is listening in on this shit and someone has eyes on my woman. Shit. I don’t know how fucking far the range is on these communication devices? Can they even hear our conversation? Almost as if I’d summoned them, the earpiece crackles in my ear.
“Don’t let him get under your skin. I’m right here with Lark and Mama Astrid in the townhouse. They’re both safe. Razor’s in here with me and Cannon and Atlas are walking the perimeter. Your Queen is safe.”
The knot in my chest loosens at Smoke’s words. I’m also glad as fuck that Lark, Emma, and Granny recently changed their wills and updated the paperwork on everything. There’s no way Richard-fucking-Cox willeverget his hands on their properties.
The little fucker smirks again. “We’ll see about that.” He pauses and clears his throat, looking fucking smug as shit as he waves his hand in the air in a nonchalant way. “As for Zac, well, he’s a means to an end. We’re using him as much as he’s using us. But in regards to Lark, shewillsign over her rights to her land and properties or her, her family and friends, even your pathetic littlegangwill all pay the price. Mr. Cox always gets what he wants and he will stop at nothing to get it.”
He takes a step forward toward the door but stops when my brothers form a tighter circle around us. His gaze sweeps the room and I grin darkly at the spark of panic in his eyes that he tries to hide. I huff when his questioning gaze lands back on me and holster my gun, knowing the others have theirs all trained on him.
I step closer to him and the dark side of me is pleased when I see that panic growing in his eyes. “What, you thought we’d let you go after you gave us your pathetic little ‘message’?” I ask him as I start to walk slowly around him.
He audibly swallows as his gaze darts around, trying to find an escape route that doesn’t exist. He’s finally realizing he’s fucked.
And not in a good way.
“See, you, your cronies, Kelly, Richard, and even Zac think they can take whatever the fuck they want without consequences. You think Richard-fucking-Cox is gonna ‘save’ you? That you’re going to walk out of here scot-free and unharmed?”
I chuckle and as the others join in, beads of sweat start to form on the fucker’s forehead.
“No. Richard can’t save you here. He sent you on a suicide mission. He knew we’d never let you go. He sent you to your death.”
I stop in front of him and my dark grin widens at seeing that realization sink in. He must be pretty dumb to think he was going to get out of here unscathed. Or maybe that’s why Richard used him like this. A guinea pig. A rat. Someone to use and discard as he saw fit.
I tower over him by at least a foot and fuck do I love the sight of him scared and panicking in front of me. He deserves it and all that he has coming to him because of what him, his cronies, Kelly, and Richard have put my woman through these past few months.
“Well karmas come-a-knocking in the form of the Steel Archangels and we’ll show them the error of their ways. The error of your ways. Now, I think it’s time that we get you a bit more comfortable. After all, we have a long drive back to the clubhouse.”
Dark chuckles surround us, and this fucker’s so shocked by the turn of events that he doesn’t even fight when Punisher steps up behind him and zip ties his hands behind his back. Punisher grunts in annoyance, probably upset that the fuckerisn’tfighting back, which doesn’t bode well. I can already tell he’s itching withpent up energy. I just hope he’s able to keep his rage under control until we get the answers we need.
“What’s your name? Unless you want me to keep calling you ‘fucker’ all the time.”
He hesitates to answer me as he swallows thickly, his gaze continuing to bounce between all of us. “E-Elijah. Elijah Barnfield.”
“Got it. I’ll start digging into him,”Python says over the earpiece, and I nod.
“Well, then, Elijah. It’s time to find out just howhospitableour ‘pathetic little gang’ can be.”
An hour and a half later, we pull up to the clubhouse and the guys escort a significantly more bruised and bloodied Elijah inside. I follow behind them but then turn to Loki and tilt my head toward the stairs.
“I’m gonna check in on Lark, then I’ll be down.”
He gives me a chin lift before following after the others.
Taking the stairs two at a time, I stride down the hallway to our room and quietly unlock the door. The band that’s been squeezing my chest ever since leaving her earlier tonight lessens at the sight of her curled up in bed and hugging my pillow to her chest. I must make a noise or something, because she stirs and rubs her eyes.
“Anthony?” she asks, her voice huskier than normal with sleep.
“Hey, Darlin’.”
I sit down on the bed beside her as she sits up, still rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Her hair is tussled from sleep and fuck, do I wish I could stay here with her.
“Did you get Zac?”
