Page 101 of Reaper's Claim

“But you have such strong ties to it.” I looked at her, puzzled. How could she live and breath this way of living if she wasn’t born into it? You didn’t just adopt this lifestyle; you wereborninto it.

“I was in a different crowd, a gang actually. Though to me, it felt like family.” She shook her head. “I suppose I was stupid and young and thought that was what it felt like to have a family. My dad,” Her tone weakened, and she swallowed sharply. “My dad was a busy man.”

“Surely not too busy to notice what a great daughter he had.”

Shrugging her shoulders “I don’t know, but I wasn’t bringing this up to talk about dad or the gang. I’m bringing it up because I know what it is like to have a connection with someone early in life. Hell, I met Jax in high school.” A full smile took her lips, and she turned her head to look at me. “Do you love Reaper?”

Deep deep down, I knew what my answer was. Still, I had never voiced it.

“I don’t really know what love is,” I whispered.

“There are different types of love. But love isn’t something you find, or know. Love is the reaction that consumes you when you’re with your other half. It is blinding, it is selfless. I would die for Jackson because the pain of losing him would surely rip apart my heart.”

“Is love really that intense?”

Shrugging her shoulders, she gave me an honest smile. “I don’t know. All I do know is if you want to really be by Reaper’s side, you need it to be that strong to survive.”

“What if his love for me isn’t as strong as the love I have for him?”

“I’ll tell you something, but you can’t repeat it,” I could hear the importance and nodded my head.

“Reaper is ruthless, heartless, and I’ve seen him do things that no man should be capable of. Yet, he has only been driven to that point because of his respect for the brotherhood. I don’t know if he loves. Hell, I questioned if the man had a heart once. But if he does truly love you, he will stop at nothing until you’re his.”

I felt terrified and excited all at once. How was it possible for her words to make me want to be closer to him than ever before but yet terrified me to the point I was ready to run?

“He’s kind. He does have a softer side,” I mumbled. “And I can handle myself. I know my broken wrist doesn’t give me much credit, but I would never let anyone rule me.”

“Of course not. It’s not in our blood.” She winked, standing up. What did she mean our blood?

“Can I ask you something, Amber?”

“Sure, why not? It’s not like I can be anymore softer.”

“How did you handle the other women? Do you just turn a blind eye?” I knew what club life meant. I knew that they would always be around. That temptation for him. I wasn’t stupid; I had seen how wives and marriages were looked upon in this type of life.

Hell, it was like the biker had a wife and mistresses, just like Kings once did.

“Jackson slept with another woman,” she spluttered out, causing me to just stare at her. What the hell do I say to that?

“I um... well.... umm.”

“You can stop.” She wiped away the awkwardness. “I’m only telling you this because all couples go through rough periods. But at the end of the day, if he loves you and you love him, you’ll work it out.”

I nodded my head. “Life just keeps throwing me in his way.”

“Maybe life keeps placing you in his path because clearly he is meant to be sharing that path with you.”

I had never looked at it like that.

Chapter 38

Abby

There are some decisions that make themselves; then there are others that require more thought. Then, of course, there were those decisions that were impossible to make.

Like right now. As I stared across the common room from behind the bar, cleaning glasses, leaning back on the chair, smoke in one hand, beer in the other was the man that was slowly driving me crazy.

After that conversation with Amber, it had caused me to rethink what I was doing with Reaper. I knew he would never change. He would always be that scarred, scary, and loyal guy to the club.