Page 201 of Reaper

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Devil’s head whip towards me, and after a minute, relief fills his face before he dips his chin in thanks which I return. Going up on my toes, I kiss Anthony one more time.

“Keep me posted. Stay safe and come back home to me.”

“Will do, Darlin’. Need you to stay safe, too.”

“I will. Now, I’ll let you go so you can talk to Devil and then you guys can head out.”

On my way out, I give Devil’s shoulder a squeeze. If this Sara person is important to him, then we’ll make sure everything’s ready so that she feels welcome because I have a sneaky suspicion that she’ll be coming back with Devil.

Chapter 74

Reaper

IwatchasLarkleaves Church, torn about the decision I just made. While I want her by my side so I can make sure nothing happens to her, I also know that here at the clubhouse is the safest place for her right now.

When the door clicks shut behind her, I turn to Devil, waiting expectantly for him to explain his connection to Sara. If she’s important to him, we’ll protect her, but if she’s just an acquaintance or even an ex, I need to know about it.

His eyes take on a vacant look as he stares down at his clenched fists.

“I met her at a dive bar, but she wasn’t living in Fox River at the time, she was living in Iowa. I met her when I was helping the Oak Ridge chapter out with a run. One thing led to another and I took her back to my hotel room. We just clicked, almost instantly. Spent every free minute with her for two weeks, and then bam. I can’t find her anywhere. Checked her apartment multiple times. Finally, right before I had toleave, the old lady that was her neighbor and the manager of the building apparently, took pity on me. Told me there was a family emergency and she was needed back home. Her brother came to pack up her apartment and turned in her key. Never heard from her again even though she has my number. Every message I sent said it wouldn’t go through. Neither would my calls, they just went to voicemail. And here I thought she might be the one.”

He pauses and shakes his head.

“I’d thought about asking Python to look for her, but each time I chickened out. I figured if she left like that, maybe she didn’t feel the connection like I did. Now though… Now with this information and seeing how Justin was treating her makes me wish I would have had him look into her.”

I swallow thickly. The way my best friend looks now is eerily similar to how he looked after finding out the truth behind Becky’s disappearance our senior year. Becky and a few of her girlfriends hung out with our crowd a lot in high school. It started mainly with Devil, Punisher, Becky, her girlfriends and myself. During our junior year, Beast and Python joined our group. I know they both liked her as well, but as far as I knew, Becky only had a thing for Devil. Shortly after we started our senior year, Becky and Devil finally gave in and started seeing each other. After a couple of months, suddenly Becky was gone.

It took a while to dig up the truth, but it turns out Becky’s dad, Mike Lannister, didn’t like that his little girl was slumming it with Devil. It’s not like Devil’s family was from the wrong side of the tracks, his mom runs her own store and his stepdad has his own garage. They make good money and have a nice acreage outside of town. No, Mike’s problem was that he’s a pretentious dick, just like his daddy before him, and his daddy before him. Devil didn’t come from old money, not that there was much left in the Lannister accounts with how Mike was spending money left and right. But as soon as Mike found out about Becky andDevil’s relationship, he yanked her out of school. His excuse was that he shipped her off boarding school but really, he married her off to one of his business partners.

However, that devastation pales in comparison to how distraught and panicked Devil is right now.

“Isaac,” I start, and wait for him to look at me. “I need to know that you’ll be able to keep your head when you leave this room. If Sara is now happily married, I need you to let that go. To let her go. Find a way to get her fucking brother and those other three out of there, but make sure she doesn’t say a word about it edgewise. From the sound of things, I don’t think she’d be too upset to have Justin out of her life. But,” I say, pausing purposefully again. “But, if she is in need of an escape route, she has our protection.”

Devil’s shoulders tense even more for a moment before they loosen slightly and he dips his chin in thanks.

“If she does come back here, I need you to remember something, Isaac.”

“What?” he asks me hesitantly.

“We don’t know what all went down after she disappeared. We don’t know what she’s had to endure. If she really is the one for you, then you need to take everything at her pace. Don’t rush her.”

He gives me an incredulous look as if to say he would never and I shake my head.

“You forget that I know you, Isaac. You have a tendency to steam roll things when people you care about are in danger. It’s not always a bad trait, but you need to be careful otherwise you could very well end up pushing Sara away. And keep in mind, depending on what all Sara sees you guys do, she may still decide to walk away.”

His shoulders slump and I can tell he wants to drag her back here where she’ll be safe, but if what I think may have happenedis true, then it’s time for Sara to take the reins back in her own life. Even if that means I have to help my best friend while his broken heart heals again.

“I hear ya, Tony.”

“Good. Now go grab your gear. Be safe and keep me posted.”

I walk over to him as he stands and clasp his shoulder, hoping that he’ll get his chance either for closure or at a second chance with Sara.

Walking out into the main room, I cross the room but stop when Odin steps up and clasps my shoulder. He tilts his chin toward Devil and the look he gives me has me dipping my chin in silent thanks.

He’ll have Devil’s back for me since I’ll be chasing my own vengeance.

With that thought in mind, I take the stairs up to my room and dig out both of my go bags. Between the two of them, I’ll have everything I need for about a week in case this takes longer than tonight. I double check my weapons and throw in an extra box of ammo. We have no idea what kind of a wild goose chase Zac will lead us on or how long it will take. I also have no idea what we’ll find when we catch up with Zac, but I’d rather be prepared.