Page 153 of Reaper's Claim

My stomach clenched tightly, and tears slowly coated my eyes.

I wrapped my arms around me and let my eyes fall to the ground, staring down at the patterned carpet.

I wished Dad was awake.

I walked around Reaper, and my hand landed on the handle of the door. I slipped back into the room, and by what I caught of Kim and Trigger, I had walked in on a moment.

But I didn’t care.

I couldn’t stay one more moment near Reaper.

I sat in the plastic chair and went back to holding Dad’s hand. If he was awake right now, he would have given Reaper a straight punch to the face for talking to me like that. I wiped away an angry tear and kept my eyes planted on Dad.

I never thought Reaper would speak to me like that. Sure, I had heard him speak to others like that, harshly, his words as sharp as knives. But I hadn’t ever expected him to speak to me like that.

Guess I was as stupid as he made me out to be.

“You ok?” Kim asked.

I didn’t pull my eyes away from Dad. “Fine.”

“You’re crying.”

“I just want Dad to wake up.”

Trigger moved from Kim’s side and whispered something before leaving the room quietly.

“He’ll wake up, Abby; he’s strong, and he won’t let a heart attack take him out.”

I nodded my head, pretending the tears that slid down my cheeks were for Dad and not out of embarrassment.

~

Kim had drifted off to sleep; how, I didn’t know. I still hadn’t been able to take my eyes off Dad. I watched intently, waiting for his chest to rise each time. I knew the next twenty-four hours were important; the doctor had made that part crystal clear.

I just wanted him to wake up.

The door opened quietly.

I squeezed my eyes shut tightly.Please don’t be Reaper.

A hand fell on my shoulder, and my body stiffened immediately.

“You ok?”

I relaxed. It was only Brad. “Yeah, I’m fine.” I twisted to look up at him. “Didn’t think you were still here.”

“I gave Reaper a spray for talking to you like that.” He dropped to his knees beside me. His voice deepened as he tried to speak quietly.

“I don’t care.” I cared a fucking lot.

“Shouldn’t have gone down like that.”

“I don’t care.” I kept my eyes on Dad’s rising chest.

“Abby,” his voice softened, and he gently turned my head to look at him. “I care, and I’m sure as hell your old man would have cared.”

I stared back at him, keeping my eyes empty of emotion. “I don’t care.”