Page 163 of Reaper's Claim

“You alright darling?” he asked her, taking her hand.

Abby just stood beside them, Brad’s jumper hanging down around her knees.

“They said we should go home and come back in the morning.” Her voice was weak and drained. “He’s in the best hands here, and there is nothing we can do, not while he is in the ICU anyway.”

“Well, that settles it then, you girls are coming home, eating, and getting a good’s night sleep.” Brad smiled gently at her; she attempted to smile back at him, but it didn’t light up her eyes like normal.

“Let’s go then,” I said, wanting nothing more than to get out this darn hospital and its dying patients.

Hospitals freaked me the fuck out.

Guess that didn’t help the situation now.

We all crammed into an elevator; Abby stood in front of me next to Drake. Took everything inside me not to reach out for her and pull her back towards me.

Then I thought fuck it, what was the worst she was going to do, push me away?

I threaded an arm around her waist and pulled her back against my chest. To my surprise, she didn’t fight it. Instead, she melted back into me.

The elevator door chimed, and everyone started to file out, but Abby didn’t make a move.

She turned in my arm to look up at me. “Can I ride home with you?”

She wasn’t angry with me. Her eyes didn’t hold resentment or hate towards me. It fucking shocked me to the core.

“You sure you don’t wanna go home in the van?” It was all I could string together.

“I want the fresh air.”

“It’s cold out.”

“If you don’t want me on the back of your bike, you can just say,” she said, deflated.

“Never said that, hun. Always want you on the back of my bike, you know that.”

Wasn’t romantic or anything, but it was the truth.

“Then it’s settled.” She pulled away from me, and we quickly exited the elevator before it shut, locking us back in this hellhole.

She wanted to ride with me. I stared at the back of her head. Why? Was fresh air the real reason?

By the time we caught up with the others, Kim was climbing into the back of the van, Trigger had already taken off on his Harley and Drake was in the van chatting to Brad.

“I’m going with Reaper,” Abby said, walking towards my bike.

Kim nodded her head, not arguing or questioning why, and I just followed Abby.

I straddled the bike, bracing it while she climbed on. Her slim arms wrapped around me, and I had to admit that it was the first time in days I felt calmer and not on edge.

Kicking the beast alive, I took off slowly, keeping in mind that Abby had had zero to no sleep and was in a weak condition. Still, I was taking the long way home, enjoying her clinging to me for once.

***

“You alright? You look frozen,” I questioned her while taking my helmet off.

We had taken the long way home. Still, it wasn’t enough. I wanted more time with her. When it came down to her, I was fucking greedy.

“I’m fine. Just tired.” She stared down at her feet, “Reaper, can I ask you something?”