Page 168 of Reaper's Claim

“See you’re still chasing the Reaper.” Amber crossed her arms, standing next to me.

“It’s not chasing when you already have him.” I highlighted that important fact and went to sit down. “What do you have against him?”

“He’s called the Reaper for a reason. He leaves a trail of bodies behind him. He’s not the guy you cuddle up with at night. He’s the type of guy you lock the fuck out.” Her words were firm.

“He’s not like that to me.”

“Clearly, because you wouldn’t be with him if you really knew him.”

“You know Jackson has a reputation, yet you're still with him.”

“I’ve known Jackson nearly my whole life. Hell, I’ve been by his side while he built that reputation.” She scoffed and sat down beside me. “Look, if you want to chase the Reaper, by all means, don’t let me stop you but just remember, he isn’t sunshine and rainbows. He has another side to him and until you see that side, you don’t really know him.”

Was she right? Did I not really know him? I had thought I had seen it when he came home covered with all that blood. Wasn’t that another side to him? Or was she referring to him killing? I swallowed sharply. Yeah, that was something I couldn’t wrap my head around.

“Dad?”

“Umm?” He was looking down at his phone.

“Do you think I know Reaper enough to be with him?”

His eyes flashed up and locked with mine. He was silent for a while, thinking.

“He lives the life of the road; you’ll never really know the full him.” Dad put his phone down. “You’ll only know as much as he let you.”

“I’ve seen his soft side, his hard side, but what if there is another side to him that... that I can’t love?”

He huffed and straightened himself up on the bed. “I don’t want you loving any man, BUT Reaper is a straight cut man. He breathes the club, loves nothing, and leaves no weaknesses. So he bloody well must love you to let you be a weakness.”

“Great, I’m a weakness.”

“Or a strength.” Dad’s eyes zoned in on mine, and I saw a torn expression. “You be the pillar. The home he comes back to. That shit keeps a man sane. That’s what I lost when I lost your mother. But what I gained when you girls came and lived with me.”

I suppressed my smile. “So you do love us hanging around, old man?”

He grunted, and I knew that was Dad’s way of saying yes.

***

I was exhausted, hungry, and worn the fuck out.

Of course, that didn’t mean everyone else was. The club was in full swing of a welcome home party for Dad, and it was loud, so loud.

The drinks were flowing, the music was pounding, and the laughter was deafening.

Dad was on a bar stool, enjoying every minute of it.

Kim was under Trigger’s arm, and they were keeping to the shadows, whispering and stealing kisses.

I hadn’t seen Reaper once.

I wasn’t even sure if he was here.

Kim and I had brought Dad home to this massive party, and not once had I seen my boyfriend’s face.

I finished the remainder of my beer and sighed while sitting at the end of the bar, watching the party unfold. Just couldn’t find myself wanting to be a part of it.

I glanced at my watch, and it was after midnight. I was starving, and the food here wasn’t doing anything for me.