Page 181 of Reaper

My gut twists, but I nod, already knowing this was going to be a request of hers. Leaning down, I give her another kiss.

“Wouldn’t have it any other way, Darlin’. Honestly, after Forest Creek, I’m surprised you haven’t put your name in to join.”

A blush pinkens her cheeks. “I’ve been thinking about it, to be honest, but wanted to talk to you about it first. The club is my family, and I want to protect everyone.”

Indecision once again hits me, but I stomp it down. After the attack on Forest Creek, I knew we’d benefit from having Lark be a member of the club. Yeah, there’s a risk she could get hurt, but then again, there’s already that risk with her being my Old Lady, and soon, my wife.

“I’d be honored to have you at my side and in the club, Darlin’. If that’s what you decide you want, I don’t think anyone in the club would be against you joining.”

Her blush darkens and she nods.

“It is.”

Nodding, I pull the blankets up around her and kiss her forehead. Taking her ring off the nightstand, I slide it back onto her finger where it belongs. “Then we’ll call Church after we get home, and we’ll put it to vote so it’s official. Rest now, Darlin’. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

Turning off the light near her, I walk around the room, turning off the rest of them.

Unlocking the adjoining door, I take a deep breath and open it.

My gaze immediately locks onto Darren who is hog-tied on the floor. The gag is still in his mouth.

Good.

I allow the anger and rage that’s been simmering just below my skin to rise and Darren flinches in fear. I cross the room and crouch down in front of him.

“You thought you could kidnap my Old Lady and get away with it? Well guess again, Darren. As soon as we get back to the club, you’ll feel the full wrath of our anger at trying to get your hands on my Old Lady, our Queen.” I grin darkly and his face pales so much and so quickly that I’m worried he might faint. “Personally, I’m looking forward to teaching you the error of your ways. In the meantime, you’re going to lay there like the prisoner you are, and Doc here is going to give you something to make you be more compliant. Can’t have you stirring up a ruckus and drawing attention to your little predicament, now can we?”

I stand and Darren starts shaking his head and trying to talk around his gag. His gaze is fixed on Doc as he fills a syringe with a drug that will put him to sleep. Doc steps closer and kneels in front of him, ignoring Darren’s muffled pleas as he jabs the needle in his neck and compresses the plunger. He steps back and I watch him, not wanting to leave until he is fully out.

After a few minutes, Darren’s eyes finally close and Doc reaches forward, checking his pulse. We wait a few more minutes just to make sure he’s fully out and Doc nods before standing.

“I think it’s safe to say he’s out.”

I give him a chin lift. “Someone stays on guard. We’ll rotate every hour or two so that we can all get some sleep tonight.”

Devil clasps my shoulder. “Go to Lark, Reap. We’ll make sure he stays out of it.”

I clasp his shoulder in return. “Tomorrow, I’m calling Church when we get home. One, to discuss this and what Lark learned from Darren, and two, she wants to put her name in to Prospect.”

Everyone grins at that before they proceed to clap me on the back, their eyes full of pride and respect for our Queen.

“Looking forward to our Queen officially joining the ranks,” Smithy replies with a grin, and everyone replies with something similar.

“Alright, let’s get some shut eye. Once the roads are clear, we’re heading out,” I tell them before going back into the other room.

Ruffling through the backpack Devil gave me, I pull out some shorts and quickly strip down to my boxers before pulling them on. I slide under the covers and grin when Lark rolls, scooting closer to me in her sleep. I pull her closer, wrapping my arms around her and bury my nose in her hair, breathing her in.

A tremble runs through me at what could have happened to her, but I stomp that thought down. It didn’t happen, and we got to her in time before he could do worse.

Pressing a kiss to the crown of her head, I drift off, relieved that my woman is back in my arms again.

Chapter 67

Reaper

Movementandwhisperinghaveme blinking awake and I glance at the alarm clock to see that it’s a little after eight in the morning. Lark shifts in my arms but doesn’t wake up. I catch Devil’s eye and tilt my head toward the other room. He gives me a chin lift and as they filter out, I gently slide my arm out from under Lark.

My heart squeezes when she whimpers and reaches for me. Grabbing my pillow, I slide it toward her, and she wraps her arms around it, humming softly in her sleep before she settling back down. Grabbing clean clothes, I quickly change and then cross the room to the bathroom. After taking care of my business, I check on Lark one more time before heading into the adjoining room.