Page 170 of Reaper

For years, Chris has wanted to work on motorcycles and old classic cars. He collected miniatures of all his favorites which lined multiple shelves in his room. There were shelves lined with books on engines that he used to pour over until he damn near had everything memorized. Pictures of schematics used to decorated his walls. On one of the walls, he had a bunch of pictures of me and the club with him, Julie, my parents, and even my grandparents.

Now?

Everything is in ruins.

Every miniature is broken into pieces. Pictures have been torn apart, the glass lies in broken shards on the floor. His bed and bedding have been slashed apart. His desk, bookshelves, chair, bedframe, even his fucking TV, lay in ruins. Clothes have been ripped to shreds. Books ripped apart. All of it, gone.

Chris wheels back into the hallway without a word, though I can see the tears he’s desperately trying to hide. He quietly maneuvers his way up the ladder and into the attic. Once he disappears from sight, my brother’s gazes all bore into mine and I know we’ll be setting everything right.

With a curt nod, I follow Chris upstairs and while Smithy works to unbar the other doors, Punisher, Loki, and Razor gointo Chris’ room, looking for anything that might be salvageable and most likely to take pictures of what he had.

Reaching the top of the stairs, I go to pull the chain for the light bulb, but nothing happens.

“He broke it last winter. During one of his drunken rages, he decreed that my punishment should be to stay up here in the cold and the dark. I couldn’t fix it without him knowing so I rigged something else.”

A moment later, a soft glow illuminates the space off to the left and it’s then that I notice the blankets strung up along the rafters. Behind them, I can see piles of boxes he must have lined up as a barrier of sorts against the cold.

“It’s not much, but the blankets keep it a bit warmer up here. Normally, I keep the flap into my sleeping area closed to help keep in the heat. One year after Christmas, I actually managed to hide the money I got from Gram and Gramps from Roger. I bought a couple of sleeping bags rated down to zero along with two of those survival blankets with money I got from Grams and Gramps. Sway and Trevor helped me get everything up here when no one was home.”

I’m going to bet that Trevor kid was the one that helped him place his cameras, because Sway is barely five foot tall if that. Then my gut clenches as his words register.

Sleeping bags rated down to zero.

Survival blankets.

Money he managed to hide.

Taking a deep breath, I force myself to let it out slow and measured.

“I’m sorry,” Chris whispers and my head whips up to find he’s curled in on himself. “I knew I should have told you, but then Roger found out about Sway, and said if I ever told anyone about what was going on at home, then she’d be the one to pay. She’s my best friend. I couldn’t let her get hurt.” He pauses as heswallows thickly, and judging on how that asshole was acting a bit ago when he saw her, I bet the fucker described in detail what he’d do to Sway as a way to control Chris.

Twisting, I sit down on the floor and carefully scoot over by the area Chris claimed as his own so that I don’t bang my head on the rafters. I rest my hand on his arm and squeeze it gently.

“You did the right thing protecting Sway. And just to be clear, I’m not mad at you in the slightest. It’s your mom and Roger, though mostly Roger, that I’m pissed at. But that’s something you won’t have to worry about going forward. Tonight, you guys can crash at our place and tomorrow after school, we’ll get you set up at the Thompsons’ house and take things from there. Okay?”

He looks up at me, still hesitant, but slowly he nods. “Okay.”

“Let’s get your stuff packed.”

Chapter 63

Lark

It’sonlybeenacouple of days since Chris and Sway started living at my family’s house, but already, you can see the differences. The color has returned to their skin now that they’re getting regular, nutritious meals. The dark circles from under their eyes have started to fade, and they aren’t moving around like there’s a weight on their shoulders anymore. They’re behaving just like teenagers should be.

Carefree and happy.

Today after school got out, I took both Chris and Sway with me to get the last of the things they needed and stalked up on groceries for Ma and Granny. They love having the kids there with them, and honestly, it seems to have lifted a cloud I hadn’t realized was hanging over them.

After learning everything the other day, the club has also been helping Lenny, Sway’s mom, deal with her ex-boyfriend. They called in a tip about her ex violating his restraining order and he was carted off to jail. While we wait to hear what the outcomeof his violation will be, the club offered Lenny one of their low-income apartments for her to rent. It’s a secured building so if her ex manages to get free, it will be harder for him to get to her. If he does manage to force his way in, the club also outfitted her apartment with a couple of panic buttons that will let Python know if she needs help. I also gave both Chris and Sway modified versions of Levi’s paracord bracelets. They don’t have the hidden blades in them like ours, but they do have the trackers.

Python was able to figure out what Roger meant the other day about Chris when he said Chris should have died in the accident and saved Roger the hassle. That Roger would then be set for life. Turns out, when Roger proposed to Julie two months before the accident, he also took an insurance policy for Chris. The accident was Roger’s hope at making a quick buck. Python had given all the information to Riggs at Anthony’s request and asked that he talk to Julie since she was still avoiding Anthony. To say she didn’t take the news well would be an understatement.

She left, clutching the papers as she stormed off, but Riggs followed her to make sure she was okay. He saw her confront Roger, who at first denied everything, but when she showed him the documents, the truth eventually came out. Roger had targeted her because of her association with the club which he hates because his request to prospect with them was turned down. At first, he had his sights set solely on hurting Julie. However, when he saw how much the club loved and cared for Chris, he changed his focus to Chris and decided to try and make some money in the process.

Riggs recorded the whole conversation once he realized Roger was on the verge of cracking and he turned the recording over to the police. The case surrounding Chris’ accident was reopened and now there’s a warrant out for Roger’s arrest. Something that his judge father is absolutely livid about. I have no doubts thathe’ll try to get it all swept under the rug again, but hopefully, justice will prevail this time.

Shaking off those thoughts, I put the last grocery bag in the van and shut the door. Grabbing the cart, I return it to the nearby corral. A second later, I feel a presence behind me and then the bite of metal that’s shoved into my back. Instantly, I realize it’s a gun. I freeze, frantically looking around for Drake and Nathan, the Prospects that came with us today, but I can’t find them anywhere. Where did they go? Fuck. Are they okay? Did they get hurt? My gaze snaps to Chris and Sway, but both of them are chatting away inside the van still.