Page 85 of Reaper Razed

“So, basically, she’s her father’s daughter?”

“Yep. That about sums it up!”

Once we’re all adequately shit-faced and the Mexican standoff has gone on long enough, we decide to head home. As we get dropped off, I head to the bar. I'm still in my clothes from the funeral, but I rip my tie off and my jacket off and open the top few buttons on my shirt, rolling up the sleeves. I’m three sheets to the wind as I push through the doors.

Before I make it to the bar, I hear someone shout my name, and as I turn round, Johnny storms through the doors and throws his arms around me. Johnny must have been driving the car that brought Scar, Bran and Demi back, as Scar’s just walking in behind him with Ray and Steel.

I’ve known Johnny for years from the base; he’s always nice, and we often have a chat. I’ve spent a lot of time there learning security systems and computers, and he would often drive me home if I spent a little too long in the bar. He’s generally a really nice guy.

Wrapping his arm around me, he pulls me into a hug and whispers into my ear. “Fuck Dane, I’m so sorry to hear about JJ and Steven. If you need anything, you have my number, okay?”

I pull back and look at him and smile. “Thanks, man, I really appreciate that, it's been a while. We should have a catch-up at some point.”

“Yeah, I'd like that.” He puts his hand against my cheek and smiles, then pulls me in for another hug.

“Are you fucking shitting me right now?” there's a roar from the corridor, and a stool comes hurtling by me. I mean, I’m drunk, so it feels like it nearly takes my head off, but in reality, fuck knows where it’s thrown from or where it ends up.

Johnny pulls back, then steps back, looking towards a pissed-off Dice stomping across the bar. “I’ll erm… see you soon, Dane.” He scurries past Dice. Dice doesn't even spare a second glance at him. He takes a one-way ticket to chew me out, and he's almost arrived at his destination.

“What the fuck do you think your fucking doing?” He spits at me as he shoves me in the shoulder, making me stumble back a few steps.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” I push him back.

“Are you fucking kidding me? I walk into my club to find you all over someone, rubbing my fucking face in it!” He shoves me again.

“What the hell are you on about!”

“You!” He jabs me in the chest, and I rock back again. “Fucking showing off your new boyfriend! No one gives a fuck, Dane!”

“Fuck you!” I punch him in the jaw, and his head spins to the side. When his gaze flicks back to me, he rubs his jaw.

“You motherfucking piece of shit!” he roars at me, slamming both his hands into my chest and knocking me back even further. I’m at the far end of the bar right now, and everyone is just staring. “I should fucking kill you!” he spits, and the venom in his voice makes it ring out hoarser.

“Fuck you, Dice!” I go to storm past him with a shoulder barge, but I’m still reeling and still pissed, so my movements are a little more sluggish than normal. That’s when he grabs me around the throat and shoves me back a few steps, slamming my back into the wall between the back door and the fireplace.

“I’m still fucking talking to you!” he screams in my face, and the rage just hits me. As the rage washes over me, I feel a steady sense of calm flood my senses, and I raise up slightly and push my neck into his hand.

“Don’t fucking start something you can’t finish! I will fucking end you!” I push against his hand with my neck, forcing him back a step.

His gaze widens a fraction before he tenses up and takes in my face. I've felt my muscles tighten, and my grimace turns to a full-on snarl, and the venom I spit at him clearly brings with it a second of realisation. He glances down at my lips as I snarl at him, and in that split second, he grabs my hip with his other hand and steps forward with all his weight, forcing me back into the wall. When I gasp at the impact, that's when it happens. He slams his body against me and his lips against mine, and it takes a second for me to realise he’s kissing me. My chest is pounding from the altercation, and my breaths are coming in ragged.

I reach one hand up to the back of his neck and the other to his waist and drag him as close as I can get. There's a battle going on, but I'm not totally sure if we’re on separate sides or the same one.

There’s a metallic tang as the collision has split one of our lips, but I don’t know whose. I don’t care. I kiss him back like my life depends on it. His grip on my throat tightens and rips a feral growl out of me as I pull him against me, grinding our bodies together.

“Wait? Dane’s gay too?” I hear the voice cut through our moment, and Dice freezes against me, pulling back slightly and then taking a step back. He relaxes his grip slightly before slamming me back against the wall. The hard edge to his features that has just dissipated returns with a vengeance, and he snarls as he storms out of the back door without looking back. I slide down the wall panting till I'm on my arse with one knee up and one leg stretched out. I drop my head onto my forearm, resting on my knee while trying to regain my breath. He fucking does this every time, pulls me in, then rips my heart out again.

“Dane?” Ray’s in front of me, reaching down and pulling me up. I take in the look on her face and shake my head as I push past her. I push past them all, walk straight out of the front door, and head home. What the fuck is wrong with him?

Dice

“Wait? Dane’s gay too?” I hear the voice cut through our moment. Fuck, they know, and I freeze. I’m so lost in him being here, being so close and with him, whoever the fuck that guy was, I just lost it. Pulling back slightly, then taking a step back, I relax my grip slightly before slamming him back against the wall. I feel the tension ready to erupt. I'm about to snap. I snarl as I turn and storm out of the back door without looking back.

“What the fuck was that?” I spin around, and Ray’s standing there with what looks like rage spilling from her.

“Ray, don’t please… I can’t deal right now, and I don’t need you taking sides. I know he’s your brother, but he pushes my fucking buttons!”

“Is this what you think this is? Me taking sides?” She shakes her head. “Dice, I love you, but what you just did in there was so fucked up! Do you know where we were today?” she huffs out and turns to walk away.

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