Page 100 of Finders Reapers

I held my breath, but he didn’t elaborate.

I had no idea if it worked, but my father rubbed his arms. “Are you sure that one of you isn’t a demon? You’re making my hair stand on end.”

“Very sure,” Maddox said dryly.

My father’s eyes flicked to mine. “Drudes can possess bodies.”

“We’re Reapers,” I told him.

“The file says that your wife had breast cancer.” Maddox continued.

My father shook his head. “Maria gave birth to my daughter, and something changed in her. She started getting weaker. She’d go into remission, only to come out of it again. She wanted Valentina to remember her as she was when she was healthy. She didn’t want to die sick.”

“She took her own life?” Maddox echoed.

My father nodded.

“You sold your daughter's soul so that you could ensure your wife could get to heaven?” I said, my voice wooden. “Why didn’t you sellyoursoul.”

My father’s lips thinned. “Maria told me to do it that way.”

Hurt flashed over my face, but my father didn’t see it as he turned to the espresso machine and busied himself making the coffee.

Maddox took the small cup when my father offered it. “I understand. Your wife was very clever.”

I had no idea what he meant, but something chipped away at my heart, leaving me a little more broken than before. The ferocity was unexpected, and I struggled to conceal my facial expression. Not that it mattered, as my father studied the mug in his hand as if it was the dead sea scrolls.

My father’s lips twitched in a smile. “She was. She deserved to go to heaven after everything she did for us.”

Maddox placed his cup delicately on the counter after taking a sip. My father mirrored his action.

“Did...did you see her?” My father tucked his hands under his armpits as he crossed his arms over his chest. “My Valentina?”

Maddox exhaled and nodded.

My father’s shoulders slumped, and he sunk down until he was on his knees, sobbing like a baby. “She’s gone.” He hiccoughed.

Maddox and I looked at each other.

Someone cleared their throat behind us. Rosa.

“I think you both should leave.” She told us sternly.

I couldn’t help but agree.

As soon as we were back in the Camaro and my seat belt was fastened, I crossed my arms over my chest.

“You need to tell me what that was about,” I demanded.

Maddox took his time as he patted down his jacket for a pair of sunglasses.

I tapped my fingers against my arm as I waited for him to cede to my request. Maddox did not speak until the car roared to life, and he did a U-turn to leave the cul de sac.

“Rome told me that you’d seen the Drudes when you were at Target,” Maddox said, his attention on the road.

“What does that have to do with anything?” I blew a lock of hair out of my eyes.

Maddox shot me a look.