Page 3 of Reaper

“T-That’s really not necessary, Lark. Please put the gun down,” he pleads, but I cock my eyebrow in reply.

“Oh, I think it’s quite necessary until I get the information I want. How long has this been going on for?” Again, I’m surprised that I’m able to keep my voice as level as I am.

A guilty look crosses his face as he looks down.

“How long?” I demand again.

A prim little huff has my gaze sliding over to Kelly and my stomach rolls at the smug look on her face. “Since last May.”

My knees wobble and they threaten to buckle, but I force myself to stay exactly how I am. My gaze flicks back to Aiden and his face pales at the betrayal and fury that he’s no doubt seeing on my face.

A year.

He’s been fucking her behind my back for ayear?

Numbness seeps in even further as I realize how close I came to marrying someone who doesn’t love or care about me.

“You never cared about me, did you? You’re just like your father. All you wanted was my land.”

His gaze lowers to the floor, and a shudder runs through me. I almost married a man who didn’t care one iota about me.

This time, a very un-prim scoff has my attention snapping to Kelly as she rolls her eyes and lets the covers drop as she crosses her arms under her bare breasts. “Oh please, what do you even have to offer him? You’re boring as fuck. All you care about is your family’s supper club and keeping your family’s legacy alive.”

Anger surges through me as I turn my glare on her. “We’ve been best friends since you moved here. I know you’ve always been competitive with me, for some stupid reason, but to steal my fiancé? That’s beyond low. Why’d you do it?”

Her lip curls in disgust as her gaze roams over me and I bristle at the emptiness in her eyes. It’s like I don’t even know the person in front of me anymore. When did she become like this? Has she always hated me?

Her sneer deepens as she waves a hand up and down, gesturing at me. “Why would he want to be with you? I mean look at you. You’re an overweight pig that still lives with your parents and grandparents.” She pauses before she smirks. “I mean your mom. Your own dad couldn’t stand the thought of living with you, so why would any other guy?”

Chapter 2

Lark

Kelly’swordssendmereeling as my mind goes back to the day Dad left when I was twelve years old.

Walking down the steps of my school bus, my feet start running down our driveway as soon as they land on the ground. Pappy and Grandpa George told me last night that they had a surprise for me and since hunting season is coming up, I’m hoping it’s a new bow. They’d been teaching me how to shoot one since I was ten, but so far, the only bows I’ve used have been ones that my cousins have grown out of. I’ve never had one of my own before. At first, I think they showed me just to satisfy my curiosity. However, I quickly took to it and Grandpa George told me I was a natural. Soon after, both of them started giving me more lessons.

Running up the front steps of our house, I turn the door handle and burst into our living room, only to come to a halt just inside the room. My shoulders slump and my excitementfades when I hear Ma and Dad yelling at each other from somewhere upstairs.

Again.

Worry has me stepping over to the sofa and quietly setting down my backpack. I’m about to head into the kitchen to hide when I hear heavy footsteps on the stairs. Turning, I see Dad carrying a backpack as well as a couple of suitcases.

All of them are overstuffed.

My chest feels tight, almost like someone’s sitting on it, and I rub it with my hand, hoping to ease the pain.

“This is the last straw, Emma. I’m done. You’re too fucking dense to see reason and I’m tired of trying to get through to you. We could have had it all, but no, legacy is more important to you than supporting your family. We’re through,” he yells over his shoulder as he descends to the landing.

He pauses and looks back up the stairs, most likely at Ma, his eyes cold and hard. Colder and harder than I’ve ever seen them before. Dad has always been distant, especially with me, but he’s still my dad and I love him despite that distance.

“You should have accepted the fucking offer, but no, you rejected it without even hearing all the details or discussing it with theentirefamily, not just your fucking parents. We could have been set for life instead of just barely scraping by. Not anymore. Not for me.” He takes a step forward but then looks back up the stairs. “And when the supper club crashes and burns and you have no money, don’t come crawling back to me because all you’ll get is a door in your face.”

Hesitantly, I reach out as he passes me, but he doesn’t even acknowledge me or look down at me as he walks out of the house.

Trailing behind him, I grip the frame of the front door, my chest hurting even more as he descends the porch stairs.

Doesn’t he want me?