Page 22 of Reaper

“Thank fuck for that,” I say under my breath, and then we both head out into the night.

I’m relieved that the fire seems small, but I know that a fire can escalate rapidly and I hope like fuck Erik’s crew can get it undercontrol quick enough. That store is my grandparents’ pride and joy and they are going to be devastated when they hear about this.

Seconds later, the roar of motorcycles fills the air and I steer myHarleytoward the gate. The lights catch on the metallic black ghost flames which has my mind going back to the accident last summer where an asshole had clipped me while my nephew, Chris, was riding behind me. We went down hard. Hard enough that I knew my bike was going to be royally fucked.

And I was right.

But that was nothing compared to when I’d looked up and knew that Chris’ life was going to forever be changed.

He was lying weirdly on the pavement, and when he finally came to, he started panicking because he couldn’t feel his legs. He ended up being paralyzed from the waist down.

To this day, my sister Julia blames me for the accident, even though I did everything in my power to stay upright and protect Chris. She’s ridden on the back of my bike since she was sixteen, so she knows that someone else’s actions can cause us accidents. Especially if they manage to clip your bike.

Python got me footage from the businesses nearby with their permission and I gave it to her so she could see I did everything I could to protect him, not to mention exactlywhohad clipped me, but I don’t think she ever watched it. It also doesn’t help that the asshole basically got a slap on the wrist. I was fucking pissed when I heard he hardly got any jail time for what he’d done to Chris.

Now, because of that fucking asshole, the only contact I have with Chris is via text because Julia has forced me to stay away from him, claiming I’m not a good role model for him anymore. Ironically, she still takes my money, since I’ve been helping support them since Chris was born and his deadbeat sperm donor up and left Julia high and dry. I just hope that when Christurns eighteen in a couple of years, that things will change and I can have my nephew back in my life.

As we get closer to the store, I shake off thoughts about Chris and focus on the plume of smoke drifting down the street. Already, I can see a firetruck parked on the side street next to Grams and Gramps’ store, and since their store is on the corner of that intersection, I’m hoping that means the firefighters have a better chance at reaching the fire quicker.

Pulling into a nearby parking space, I shut off my bike, kick down my stand before swinging my leg over my bike. As I stalk through the small crowd that has materialized, my gaze sweeps the area, trying to see the extent of the damage, but so far, everything still looks like it’s contained to the rear of the shop.

Walking around the corner, I quickly spot Riggs, the fire chief, and since I can’t see Erik, I head toward Riggs while also making sure I stay out of their way. As I walk, I look down the alley and try to see the fire through the raised dock doors, but I can’t see anything through the haze and smoke. Turning my attention back to Riggs, I notice him waving me over as he barks out a command into his radio.

“Reaper,” Riggs says when I reach him and as I clasp his outstretched hand, shaking it, we both turn toward the back of the store. “That system you had put in is top-notch. We were already on the way when we got the call from a witness. We’ve stopped it from spreading. So far, anyway.”

Thank fuck for that. “Is it just in the back storerooms? Or was it further inside?”

Riggs nods. “Yeah, it’s just the storerooms, but it was extremely close to the office back there. Hopefully, the guys can keep it contained.” His lips purse and I know I’m not going to like what he has to say next. “Reap, I can’t say for sure, but so far... This looks like it could be arson.”

I clench my jaw as I curl my hands into fists. “Is there anyone else—”

I’m cut off as his radio blares to life.

“Chief Riggs, another fire has been reported at the Thompsons’ house and the Great Bear Supper Club.”

My chest tightens as my mind whirls. Black dots dance across my vision and my gut tightens at the same time as a ball of lead forms in my stomach.

Lark.

I pivot and surprisingly, Devil’s right by my side. He places his hands on my shoulders, stopping me from heading back to my bike. He stares at me and something in his eyes keeps me from breaking free of his grasp.

“There’s nothing you can do for her right now, Reap.”

These past few months, I’ve gotten extremely close to Lark. I’ve long since given up on my worry that she wouldn’t be able to handle the bunnies, the guys, and being the Old Lady of a President of a MC chapter. I’d become fully convinced that she’d fit perfectly in my life. So much so, that I was going to ask her out this weekend.

But now there are two fires at her place. She could be hurt.

And something tells me this was no accident.

Panic hits me hard that she could get trapped. Fuck, if she dies, the whole world will burn until I catch whoever the fuck started the fire.

And then, the fucker will pay for what he or she’s done to Lark.

“Let them do their jobs andthenyou can go to her. Besides, you’re needed here right now.”

I clench my jaw, wanting to argue, but he’s right.Fuck. I turn back toward Riggs, but he’s talking to Erik and a few other guys.

“Be safe!” he calls out as Erik and the others race toward the second truck that’s parked in the street.