Page 51 of Reaper

Lark: Yup! Got the last three positions for floor staff filled yesterday, so we’re all good there. I still want to hire a manager to help me on the tavern side, but I’ve been debating on if I go with my gut or if I just post the position.

For a while now, she’s been debating asking her friend, Miracle, if she’d like to come back and work with her. From what I’ve heard, Miracle’s been unhappy lately since a new owner took over the bar that she’s been working at. Not to mention, things have been pretty rocky with her boyfriend, Grant, according toLark. I don’t know all the details, but from what I’ve overheard, I would definitely help her kick the scumbag to the curb.

Reaper: I vote for asking Miracle. You can always keep it open-ended and say she can think on it for a while. Remember, if you need help in the meantime, you can always ask. I know Nathan is taking some business management classes, so he could help you until she gives you an answer. Plus, it’d get him some real-world experience.

Lark: Hmmm... I’ll think on that, but that’s a good idea.

Lark: So, we’ve talked about me. How are you doing? And when are you going to let me talk to you on video again?

My chest squeezes at the thought of her seeing the scars on my face. The largest is a diagonal cut across my face from under my right eye, over my nose, and over part of my left cheek. There are a few other smaller cuts on my cheeks and neck, including one by my upper lip that cuts into both lips a bit, but if they scar, it’ll be minimal unlike the larger one.

As for the rest, there are twelve on my arms with one of them being pretty deep that’s on my left arm, and then there’s my chest. There alone there are twenty-three cuts, five of which are deep which includes the letters BP that they’ve carved on my left pec. Plus, there are three areas where Fang had shaved my skin off which includes my club logo on the left side of my chest that I’ll need to eventually get re-inked somewhere else on me once I heal.

Lark: I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cross a line. I won’t bring it up again.

Fuck, she thinks I’m mad at her.

Before I realize what I’m doing, I’m dialing her number. A second later her face fills the screen and I can tell she’s been worrying about my reaction.

“Oh, fuck,”she cries before clamping a hand over her mouth as she sees my face for the first time. Then her eyes harden.“Please say your club has the people responsible?”

I quirk an eyebrow at her, ignoring the sting that accompanies it from stretching the skin around my stitches. I’ve never told her how we handle situations like these, but I’m relieved that she came to that conclusion. Devil smirks and tilts his head in her direction as he steps out, giving us some privacy.

She smirks and nods, almost in unison with Devil’s, even though she can’t see him. I have to bite back a grin at their actions as pride fills me when she seems to understand how we take care of assholes in situations like this and doesn’t think differently of me.

“So, to answer your question, I’m pretty fucked up in the head with what all was done to me and to Levi.”

Her forehead crinkles in confusion so I go on to fill her in. Well, the highlights of course as well as explaining that I’d claimed Levi as my sister. By the time I’m done, tears are streaking down her cheeks as she cries.

“I’m so sorry you both had to go through that and for how badly you both were hurt.”She grabs a tissue and wipes her cheeks and nose.“If I could, I’d be right there with you, making them pay for what they did to you,”she damn near growls as her eyes harden.“They’d be pinned to the wall with my arrows and I’d make them feel every single injury you both suffered and then some.”

My eyebrows rise at that, surprised that she’d get her hands bloody on my account, but I quickly squash that thought. I don’t want her to have that tainting her soul. However, I can’t ignore how much I love her feistiness and protectiveness. My cock jumps at that, and I bite back a groan as I press the heel of my palm against the base of my cock, willing it to go down. I don’t need to be tenting the sheets and then have a nurse suddenly decide to come in.

As if summoned by my thoughts, a knock sounds at the door before Devil peeks in. “Nurse is checking in.”

“Fuck, I gotta go, Darlin’.”

She sighs but nods. “Okay. Try to get some rest and text me later.”She waves goodbye before she ends the call.

Fuck, I need to get my head on straight. Especially since it seems like my scars don’t offend her. But then again, I didn’t show her my chest, though she does know what they did.

Sighing again, I answer the nurse’s questions, hating that she interrupted us. I’ll definitely be using the journals more in an attempt to control my demons.

Chapter 22

Reaper

ThreeMonthsLater~September 7th, 2023

From my seat at the bar, I watch Mae and Timber. She’s sitting on his lap on a couch as they talk to a few of our brothers. The sight has a pain of longing shooting through my chest, but I brush it away for now. I watch her for a few minutes, trying to gauge where she is mentally after torturing and questioning Luscious, Carter Johnson, and Andrew Johnson downstairs. Not to mention reliving more of her past that she apparently repressed. Not that I blame her one bit.

Standing, I cross the room and stop when I get to the edge of the couch. Clearing my throat, Mae looks up at me and I work to keep my worry off my face.

“Lil’ Bit, is it okay if we talk for a bit?”

A slight tremble runs through her and I mentally curse myself for making her nervous. Timber picks up on my intent and he gives her a small hug and kisses her temple.

“It’s okay, Sunshine. He probably just wants to make sure you’re okay after everything,” he whispers to her, and she nods.