Page 95 of Reaper

My chest warms and I can’t stop my smile as I pocket the keys. “I’ll need to get you copies as well on Monday when the hardware store opens.”

It takes me a moment before I realize what I just said, and my smile widens. I never even gave Aiden a key. Whenever he came over, Ma, Granny, or Pappy was there to let him in if I couldn’t be there.

Taking my plate into the kitchen, I feel like I’m walking on a cloud. Not even the glares from the bunnies dampen my good mood.

Twenty minutes later, Mama Astrid and I are walking down the path to the houses when my phone rings. Thinking it’s Anthony asking me to get him something from the house, I answer it without even looking.

“Hello?”

Not hearing anything, I frown as I pull the phone away from my ear. It’s not a number I recognize. My frown deepens, and when I put the phone back to my ear, I hear deep breathing over the line.

“Hello?”I ask again.

The breathing picks up and chills race down my spine, giving me goosebumps that have nothing to do with the crisp October night air.

I catch a feminine voice before the line goes dead.

“Lark?” Mama Astrid asks and it’s then that I realize I’m still staring down at the phone in my hand.

“I… I think someone’s trying to prank me.”

My gut knots. The feminine voice sounded familiar, but it was muffled. Who was that?

Mama Astrid looks around and ushers me into Anthony’s house.

“Go get your sweatshirt, Sweetheart. It might be nothing, but I’d rather be prepared,” she says as she digs out her own phone and texts someone.

Prepared? Prepared for what?

Mama Astrid shoos me upstairs again, and I decide to go along with it for now. I need to talk to Anthony. Did something come up in their meeting earlier?

When I come back downstairs, I frown at seeing Anthony waiting by the door. Where did Mama Astrid go?

“Darlin’, I need to fill you in on some stuff.”

“Okay,” I drawl out.

He sighs as he takes my hand and pulls me over to the couches.

“Last night, Granny told me about Zac keeping tabs on you at work.”

My skin crawls at his name and I can’t help the shiver that runs down my spine as he repeats everything Granny told him. Most of it I’d already known, but it still gives me the creeps.

“Yeah, and it’s almost like clockwork too. About an hour after I start, he’s there. Either by himself, with his brother, his cousin, or some of his friends. I try to ignore them as much as possible and make sure he can never corner me. I don’t know why he’s so fixated on me. I mean, he’s dating my best friend!” I throw my hands up in the air and get up, needing to pace.

My gut churns as I think back to the phone call. I debate about telling him, but if this person keeps doing it, he’ll be pissed that I didn’t tell him.

“Anthony, a moment ago, I got a phone call. I think someone was pranking me because I heard heavy breathing over the line.” I hesitate as I chew nervously on my lip.

His body stills as a hard look comes over his face. “Did you hear anything else?”

I nod. “I could have sworn I heard a familiar feminine voice right before the line went dead but it was really muffled. It almost sounded like Khloe, but I can’t be sure.”

“Did you recognize the number?”

I shake my head. “No, I didn’t.” I pull my phone out of my pocket, unlock it, and hand it to him. “Do you recognize it?”

He shakes his head. “Would you be okay if Python put something on your phone that will let him trace the call if this happens again?”