Page 210 of Reaper

“Cox. It all leads back to Cox. Kelly found out about Darren’s plan and offered our services. She knew Richard had been getting antsier since his attempts to get his hands illegally on the Thompson land kept getting rebuked or rejected. When Kelly informed Cox of the deal, he ordered us to do it and bring the money to him.”

“Then what?”

“We scoped her out and followed her. Elijah and Rocky took care of your Prospects—knocking them out so that we could get Lark easier. I gave her the drugs Darren had procured for us. It’s not our usual go to, but it worked. Well, sort of.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “What do you mean ‘sort of’?”

He hesitates and I uncross my arms, ready to shock him again if need be. His eyes widen at the gesture and he shakes his head.

“Apparently it was supposed to make her extremely horny as well as making her more fertile.”

Ice slides down my spine as I march over to Darren, squeezing the wound Lark put on his leg with the bone saw. It’s stitched shut but is still fairly fresh. His eyes widen with shock before hecries out in pain, his body thrashing against the restraints that keep him strapped to the table.

“What exactly did you drug her with?” I damn near growl at him.

“I-I don’t know exactly. I b-bought it off a contact Kelly p-put me in touch with.”

Fucking Kelly. Of course.

“Who was your contact?”

He shakes his head. “I-I don’t know his name—he n-never gave it and when I a-asked, he ignored my question.”

“Describe him then.”

“Hispanic with d-dark tan skin. Bald with a bl-back goatee and brown eyes. A bit h-heavy, but not overweight. He’s c-covered in tattoos. I thought for s-sure he’d be some sleazy g-guy but he was s-sharply dressed.”

Numbness slowly flows through my veins. No. Please no.

“What kind of tattoos?”

“Most of them looked like tribal tattoos. But the weird one was of a snake on his neck with its fangs barred.”

“Lark’s fine,”Python’s voice comes over the earpiece that I only just now realized I never took off yet.“She’s over at the townhouse with Mama Astrid and Sara. As soon as Smoke and Timber started hearing the description, they both headed out along with Axe, Patch, and Doc. They’ve got her while Doc does his thing testing her blood. No one is getting our Queen.”

Taking a deep breath, I try to calm my nerves as I look around at my brothers, needing to confirm Smoke, Timber, Axe, and Patch really did step out. I must have been so focused on Darren and my anger that I didn’t realize they’d left.

Each one of my brothers dips their chins at me, their eyes blazing with anger at what he’s done to Lark. A surge of warmth fills me, not of anger this time, but of thanks and respect for my brothers.

This.

This is one of the things most people don’t understand about MCs.

We’re family.

Family that always has each other’s backs.

Family that will die if necessary to protect others.

Though I know all of us hope that doesn’t happen, but being in an MC is dangerous.

Another knot loosens from my chest at their actions. If X really is after Lark, each and every one of them will be there to protect her.

Wait.

The drugs Michael and Carter gave Mae never made her horny. Unless she just didn’t reveal that tidbit, but I don’t think that’s the case. Has X and Oasis altered the drug? What did they call it? Aphrodite’s Kiss?

“What did Kelly and your dealer tell you the drug was supposed to do?”