Page 35

Reaper

“It’s mine!”

Groaning, I grabbed my pillow and covered my head.

I’d been on this damn couch for over a fucking week now and not one fucking morning had I woken up to silence.

Oh, fuck that.

Apparently, every fucking kid living at the compound gravitated over to my damn house first thing in the morning, followed closely by their mothers, then eventually their husbands. Even my fucking single brothers found themselves sitting at my motherfucking kitchen table gabbing like clucking hens while my wife fucking fed, laughed, and joked around with them.

Fucking traitors.

“Give it back, Jesse. Now.”

“But, Mom!”

Growling, I threw my pillow on the floor. Sitting up, I placed my bare feet on the cold hardwood floor and rested my head in my hands. My poor fucking back couldn’t take much more of this uncomfortable couch. As soon as my ass was back in my bed, I was burning this bitch to ashes.

Before I could utter a fucking word, my son screeched, “DAD!”

Looking up, I saw Sandman holding my son damn near six feet off the ground while he growled at the brat.

“Not yours.”

Jesse gulped and said nothing.

Smart boy.

“Solomon, let Jesse go, now,” Remi huffed, walking over as I quickly added, “Do not drop him!”

Sandman growled, lowering my son gently to the floor.

Bending my finger toward the instigator, I grabbed his shirt the second he was close enough and hauled his ass toward me until we were nose to nose.

“Listen to your mother and live. Understand?”

My son nodded when I let him go.

“Was that necessary?”

Standing up, I stretched my back, ignoring all the aches and pains as I yawned. “Yes.”

God help me.

That fucking couch was going to kill me faster than my wife.

“He’s only a little boy.”

“He’s a fucking terror on wheels and you know it. I either stop the madness now, or he’s going to grow up like me. Is that what you want?”

My woman fumed but said nothing as she did an about-face and marched her cute little ass back toward the kitchen. Grinning, I headed upstairs for a fucking shower and prayed there was still enough hot water left.

“So, what’s going on in the underworld?” I asked, sitting in church drinking a cup of coffee as everyone around me lazed about like they didn’t have a care in the world. It was odd seeing my brothers relaxed, happy even.

I didn’t like it.

“Well, for starters, the Wraith Warriors finally got the permits to build. So, they will need our help soon. Already called Luc, and he said he would send some men up this way when they were ready to break ground,” Player informed.

“Massacre, get a group together. Only five men.”

“Gonna need Smoke.”

“Fine,” I growled, then added, seeing the VP seat empty, “And take Bullseye with you. Fucker can’t be bothered to show up for church, then he can help build a damn clubhouse. What else?”

“Just a small inconvenience. Miguel Chavarria is running cocaine and heroin up the coast into Oregon. Fucker’s been moving his product up and down the coast since we left.”

Rolling my eyes, I groaned.

“Didn’t we take care of that pussy years ago?” Matrix asked.

“Sure did.” Mass grinned. “Fucker cried like a little bitch too. What’s the matter, Reggie? Shit for brains need another spanking?”

Player sighed. “It’s more than that. After the Golden Wedding, Miguel wasted no time taking claim of Northern California. His product is everywhere. To make matters worse, he infiltrated the Disturbed strip club. Let’s just say Luc wasn’t fucking happy.”

Miguel Chavarria, the president of Los Santanas .The fucker was a middle-aged, overweight, sick son of a bitch who only cared about one fucking thing. Money. Asshole didn’t give a damn about the source or who he had to betray to get it. The more he got, the greedier he became. He was dangerous if left unchecked, and I was in no mood to deal with his fucking greedy ass.

“Mass, call over to Disturbed and see what they have planned. Offer our assistance only if they need it. Not gonna piss in Luc’s backyard if I’m not wanted. Got enough shit to deal with already.”

Ink leaned forward in his chair and said, “You may have to, Reaper. As you know, Daphne got her old job back at the library. But since she’s been back, there’s been talk, and what I mean by that is, residents are whispering their concerns to my wife. They are scared. Shit is going on in Purgatory and for once, it has nothing to do with us.”

“Daphne say what it was?” I carefully asked, already knowing what Ink would say.

“Yeah. Miguel’s drug mules are distributing their drugs around town. Reaper, a kid has already overdosed because of that shit.”

Shaking my head, I slowly rubbed my temple. There was always going to be some fucknut that thought they could do whatever they wanted. Well, not in my fucking town.

“Call the sheriff and set up a meeting. Today. I want to know what he’s doing about this. Massacre, set up two-man teams. I want our presence to be known in that town at all times. Eight-hour rotations, starting today. Fat fucker thinks he can sell that shit in my fucking town, then he’s got another think coming.”

“What else?”

“Stitch arrived early this morning. He’s in the infirmary making sure he has everything he needs. Aunt Maria is almost done with the packing. As soon as the movers show, she and Axel will be on their way.”

“Still nothing from my cousin or Bayou?” Smoke asked.

Player shook his head. “No. Juju sent out the word, but so far nothing.”

“What about the fucking Soulless Sinners?” I asked. Matrix flinched; Player stiffened, while Massacre happily grinned.

“You will be happy to know that those pussies are none the wiser.”

I smirked. “My secret is still safe?”

Massacre nodded. “Yep. In fact, I’ve been told they didn’t even investigate. Just wiped Shame’s death under the rug and moved on.”

“That’s gonna cost them,” Matrix snarked, shaking his head. “Wait till they learn the truth about the guy. Montana’s gonna blow a fucking fuse.”

“And Sypher?”

Matrix smirked. “He said he needs a few more weeks to get everything set up. He’s close, but not there yet.”

“Tell him to take all the time he needs,” I said, sitting up. “Anything else?”

When no one spoke up, I banged the gavel on the table and ended church.

Walking out of church, I went in search of my wife and eventually found her upstairs in the clubhouse, in what was supposed to be our room.

Standing there in the bare room, she looked around saying nothing.

“What are you doing up here, baby?”

“Why is there no furniture in here?”

“Because I don’t live here. I live with you,” I said, leaning against the doorjamb. “I promised myself when I returned and saw the kids, that I would never live under another roof again. I belong with them. With you.”

“Wish you’d realized that sooner.”

“Never said I was smart, baby.”

Remi slowly turned and smirked. “You are too fucking smart for your own good. So, what are you planning to do with this room?”

I shrugged, stepping into the large room. “Don’t know. What did you have in mind?”

She looked around, saying nothing before she tentatively asked, “How was church?”

“Same old shit.”

“Anything I need to know about?”

“Got a drug problem in town that will need my attention sooner rather than later.”

She nodded. “I know. Daphne told me. She’s worried.”

“You can tell her I’ll personally take care of it.”

“Anything about the other thing?”

“No. Sypher still needs more time.”

“Why did you tell him to tell me?”

I stepped forward, reaching for her hand. “How do you know it was me?”

She looked up at me and smirked. “Because you knew the only way I was coming home was if I knew everything. Gotta say, that was pretty ballsy on your part. I don’t know a single MC President that would let his better half know the score.”

Carefully wrapping my arms around her, I whispered, “What can I say? I’ve learned from my mistakes.”

“Have you?”

“I’m sorry, baby. Please don’t make me sleep on that couch anymore. I won’t do it again. I promise.”

Sighing, my woman removed herself from my arms and stepped back. “I’m not done being mad at you. In the meantime, I’ve ordered a nice big comfy bed for this room. It will be here tomorrow.”

“I won’t sleep in it.”

Remi chuckled as she walked toward the door, only to stop and turn. “Then I hope you enjoy the couch.”

Watching her walk away, I frowned.

She was holding back. Pretending. Going through the motions. The woman I knew would have ripped my ass a new one for touching her before she was ready, yet she didn’t stop me.

Following her, she didn’t stand straight. She looked lost in thought, and it was at that moment I knew she was second-guessing her return, but the second she took a seat at the bar, I knew the time had come and what happened next would not be pretty.