Page 35 of Reaper Released

“I know, right? That’s why you love me!”

Coming up to me, she hugs me. “I do love you. You're right!”

I kiss her on the head. “Last one in the pool’s a dickhead!” And I run off and dive bomb into the pool, followed by squeals from Demi, then Tali, Scar, then next, Viking and Steel are whooping as they jump in. We all look back at Carmen.

“Nope! I am the leader of one of the biggest cartels in the States. I am not doing that!” Pointing at us all in disgust, the next thing we know, she’s squealing as Viking has climbed out of the pool and is sweeping her out of her chair into his arms.

“Have a little fun, babe,” he purrs at her, and she leans in and kisses him. Then he walks to the pool, and she squeals again as he jumps in with her in his arms. She comes up spluttering and punches him in the arm, to which he replies with a massive belly laugh.

Turning to Steel, I mouth, “Babe?” He just shrugs, so we spend the next hour hanging off the boys trying to dunk them and splashing. We only come out when food starts arriving.

After packing our bags, we stand at the door, waiting to leave. Carmen has asked Viking to stay for the week. She said they had some business to discuss. No one argues, and we leave him behind as I go to climb into the van.

Tali comes running out to me, throwing her arms around me. “Will I see you again?”

“Hey, of course. Why don’t you get your mum to bring you to the club for a visit sometime?”

“I can come to the club?”

“Of course, you can!” I raise my hand, pointing to the scar that’s healing on my hand. “Forever and always, kiddo!”

Smiling up at me, she taps her own. “Forever and always.”

I give her a kiss and a hug, and we jump in the van and head back home. Jesus, home…? That says a lot! Pulling out of the gate, I ask, “Scar, Demi. Come up here. We need to talk.”

“What’s up?”

“What’s happening with you and Boyband, and you and Bran?”

They both exchanged glances. “What’s happening between you and my brother?”

“I asked about my brother first.”

“Oh my god.” Scar barks out a laugh. “You’re both brotherfuckers!”

And we all burst out laughing. “Seriously, guys, what the fuck are we doing here with these guys? What about our tour of the States? What about going back to the UK?”

Scar shakes her head. “Do you even have to ask? You said let’s go home, and then you’re talking about going back to the UK. You didn’t say back home. You see the club as home now, don’t you?”

“I think so. Fuck!”

“Me too. I wanna be with Ares!”

“I wanna be with Bran, but I wanna move closer to you all. Maybe Ravenswood? Maybe Bran would want to live with me.”

“Holy shit, you guys wanna move in together? I can’t believe it, one of my best friends and my brother. Jesus, we’re really building a family. What about you and Ares? What's gonna happen when our visas run out?”

“I've been speaking to Dad, and while you’ve been at work, I’ve been looking for premises to branch out here. There are a couple of places in Ravenswood that are suitable, and Ares would have us on retainer, so we already have one client.

“Dad seems to think it’s a good move as he’s thinking he might move here too, so he can be close to us.”

“Wow, shit. You really are serious about this guy.”

“What, and you’re not serious about Steel?”

“I don’t know what me and Steel are. I have no fucking idea.”

“My brother is crazy about you, even I can see that, and now I know he’s part of the MC, and that’s why he always stayed away. I'm hoping I can get to spend more time with him, and all that’s because of you. If he hadn’t met you, I still wouldn’t have much of a relationship with him!”

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