Page 36 of Reaper Released

“You think he’s changed since meeting me?”

“Totally, Ray. It’s like you bring some of your light to all his dark. He’s not so standoffish and moody anymore. Apparently, he closed down after his mum and our dad died. Mum was still pregnant with me when everything went down, so they never told me what happened. He was sixish. My mum said he was there when it happened, but she wouldn’t give me the details!

“He was always getting in trouble after that and ended up in juvie for a while when he was sixteen. He was nearly eighteen when he came out, and then he moved out and stopped showing up. When Mum fell ill, he helped me out and came to see me a little more, but still not very often. Now, I feel like we could actually have a relationship. I want what you, Bran and Dane have!”

“Well, fuck!” I breathe.

“Just please give him a shot. You could be great for each other!”

“But how would that even work? It's not like I have a law degree and can move here to work. I'm gonna have to go back to the UK soon, and then what?”

“We’ll figure it out. Dad’s been looking at ways to sort it. He just needs more time!”

“So, we’re staying?”

“Yeah, we’re staying.”

“Yay, you're both staying!”

As we pull up at Demi’s to drop her back, we promise to go have a look at some properties at the weekend in Ravenswood. She will make some appointments for the morning, and Scar will book some for the premises in the afternoon. I need to talk to Dozer and see if there’s a job for me. I need to know if I can stay here for myself, not just for Steel.

I need my own thing. I just hope that the MC can be it for me, too, even if things go south with Steel. Pulling back up at the MC, Steel’s already back and in the bar. We head in, and Scar runs straight up to Ares, wrapping her legs around him and kissing him like she hasn’t seen him in far too long.

“Fuck, princess, I missed you!” He kisses her back, then he walks through to his room, kissing her while she hangs off him like a fucking spider monkey. Shaking my head, I walk over to Steel at the bar.

“Hey, you!”

“Hey yourself.” I lean in and kiss him just because I feel like it, and he turns on his stool and pulls me in between his legs and wraps his arms around me and kisses me back.

“I could get used to this,” he murmurs against my lips.

“Wanna try?” I smirk at him and kiss him again.

“Fuck yeah!” He grins, there’s an almighty roar and I spin around in time to see Tank flying at me. He grabs me out of Steel’s arms and spins me around.

“This place ain’t the same without you!” Looking over his shoulder, the rest of the gang’s there. “Come to play, Ray?” Priest asks. I look around at Steel. He smiles and nods.

“I’ve got some stuff to sort out. You should go hang out, and I will see you later, okay?”

“Okay.”

“Dice? Can you help me with some shit?”

“Yeah, sure, Steel. What ya need?” Steel nods in the direction of the corridor, and they both head off, so I stay with Priest, Blade and Tank and play doubles at pool. By the time I’m ready to go, Steel still hasn't come back, so I head to the van. I need to be up for work at stupid o'clock.

Ray

After speaking to Dozer and making up as we left things pretty shitty between us, he says he would be happy to offer me a permanent position. It's what he has wanted all along. Apparently, it’s me that needs to get my head out of my arse and stop being a little bitch and realise this is where I belong. I mean, rude, but totally fair!

He wants me to commit right now as he has work coming out of his ears, and Beauty loves me being around as she actually gets to spend time with Dozer. She must have a screw loose if she wants to spend more time with his miserable arse, but each to their own and all that shit. The lodge is coming together since I’d finished most of it before I was rudely interrupted. They are gonna move in soon, so if I stay, that will be sooner.

I just need to figure out how to do it all legally. I don't need the money as I have an income from the Adventure Centre and the family businesses. Shit, the Adventure Centre. How can I walk away from my family? My pas, Cade, Steven and John. I need to speak to them too.

Finishing up for the day, I head back to the van. Texting Roach, I tell him to meet me at the gym in an hour and a half. I sit down to FaceTime with my pas. It’s morning there. As their faces appear on the screen, my eyes well up, and the first thing I say is, “Fuck, I miss you guys!”

“Miss you too, Squirt.” They all sing out together, grinning at me.

“It’s too fucking quiet around here without you! Hey, you have a tan!” Cade laughs out.

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