Page 68 of Reaper Razed

“You’re getting married?” Demi looks confused. “When? To who? How?”

“Not sure yet. Soon, though, to Tank, he asked. I said yes, it was wonderful.”

“But… but… you’re … what? You’re nineteen, and he’s… Jesus.”

“Ah, yeah, you missed the big reveal. Skye’s twenty-four, she lied, and it’s new, but they’re head over heels, and he’s thirty.” I laugh

“Really? He’s only thirty? You sure?”

“Kinda getting off track, ladies.” Skye butts in.

“Damn, sorry, Skye, I would love to.”

“Sit down with Demi and go through what you want. I’m paying, so whatever it takes, Demi, let me know what help you need. If you need a catering company or waitresses, whatever, I’ll drop you my card off tomorrow so you can start getting what you need. We will have a date by then for you, okay?”

“Oh my god, this is so exciting. I need to call Tank.” Skye grabs her phone out of her pocket, and as soon as Tank answers, she starts animatedly telling him everything, throwing her arms around, describing every detail in this place, then asks him if she can have the reception here. Then she pauses and bites her lip, pulling it between her teeth as she nods while she walks back and forth across the floor. Me and Demi just stare, grinning at her. “Uh-huh, K, love you.” She hangs up, turns to face us and screams. “He says I can have anything I want, whatever makes me happy. And he says two weeks at the latest, so however quick you can make it happen.” She jumps up and down, then screams, “This is gonna be the best day ever.”

After Demi and Skye review all their options, we leave together. Demi's heading up to the lodge she and Bran have moved into. Bran’s doing it up at the minute, but I think he’s avoiding everyone.

“Hey, Demi, before you go, how is he?”

She shakes her head. “I don’t know, Ray, he’s so on edge and grumpy all the time, he won’t talk to me, and when we do, we just fight. I’m hoping it’s just stress from the renovations.”

“Hey, it’ll be fine. How about me and Dane pop up later to see if we can’t help out a bit?”

“Ray, will you? That would be amazing, thanks.”

I nod, give her a hug and head back up to the apartment with Skye. “So you all set for tonight?”

“Yeah, I’m really nervous but excited!”

“You got this. Just remember to lay him down on the bed, don’t kneel in front of him. You'll feel less dominated that way. Just take your time and breathe, okay?” She nods as I head inside.

Steel heads over to the bar, and me and Dane take a few bottles of tequila to Bran’s lodge. Well, four. We take four bottles.

As we get towards the lodge, we can hear yelling from Bran and pleading from Demi. I take off running and shove my way through the door as Bran is towering over Demi, screaming in her face about god knows what.

“Back the fuck up, dickhead!” I slam the bottles down on the kitchen worktops and step in between them both, putting my hands on Bran’s chest and pushing him back a few steps. “Take a fucking walk, Bran. Dane!” I bark at them and nod towards the patio doors.

“Demi…” he gasps as Dane pushes him through the doors.

Fair play to her. She waits till he leaves before she breaks down into tears. “What’s happening, Ray? It’s like he’s a totally different person. I don’t think I can do this anymore.”

“Hey, don’t say that. Don’t give up on him. He needs you more than ever. We went through some stuff while we were away that’s just gonna take some time, okay? But leave it with me for a couple of days. Why don’t you go stay at ours? You can have Dane’s room, and we’ll stay here and try and figure this shitshow out, okay?”

I fire a quick text off to Steel to tell him Demi’s coming to the bar to him and to take her back to ours later. That should give Tank and Skye some time before they end up with the house full again. Fuck’s sake, it’s like a juggling act around here. I might need to have that revolving door fitted after all.

“Grab a few bits for a few days and meet Steel at the bar. Go get shit-faced with your brother and let me deal with mine, okay?”

She grabs a bag and loads it up just as Bran and Dane walk back in the door.

“I’m sorry, beautiful. I’m just… wait, you’re leaving me? Demi, please.”

“I’m just gonna stay with Steel for a few days while Ray and Dane stay with you. I’m only down the road. Remember I love you, okay? Please come back to me!” She sniffles as she wipes her eyes, and he pulls her in for a hug

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, beautiful.”

He kisses the top of her head, and she turns and leaves.

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