Page 61 of Reaper's Claim

Therefore, when I noticed Drake calling him again, I hoped there would be an answer.

Disappointment flooded through me when I heard Drake leave another voice message.

My eyes shot back to the laptop in front of me when Drake walked into the kitchen. “How is the hunt going?”

I pretended like I hadn’t been listening to him for the past ten minutes. “Um yeah, nothing yet.”

“I’m sure you will find something.” He shot me a reassuring smile.

I started to scroll through the course list again. I tried to find something that I wanted to study. Heading back to university seemed to fit with my new plan of getting myself a life. After all, it wasn’t like I could really earn good money without qualifications, and I didn’t see my career as ‘bait’ lasting long.

“I’ve got a job going at the club if you are interested,” Drake asked. “Cash in hand. It’s just bar work, nothing flashy.”

I suppressed a grin because I knew how much he didn’t want me to work in his clubs. The mere mention of me dancing in little clothing always caused an argument.

“I’ve sort of got something going on the side.”

He dragged the chair out next to me. “Really?” He had a disbelieving look on his face. “Since when?”

“It’s not anything flashy.” I threw his words back at him. “And also it isn’t any of your business.”

“Ouch.” He faked a hurt expression. “You’re not spreading your legs for a living, are you?”

I whacked his arm. “Don’t be disgusting.”

“Just checking.”

“You’re a jerk.”

The sound of the front door opening caused us both to go silent. Was it... could it...

“You home, brother?” Drake yelled out while looking at me.

“Who else would it be?” His gruff, hard voice filled the kitchen as soon as he entered.

I had been living with this stomach full of guilt for days now, so I was quick to get up. “Kade, I need to talk to you.”

“Abby, at least let the man get a beer,” Drake said, amused.

“No, Kade, I’m serious. I have to...” My words dried up, and my mouth slowly fell open as I looked at him for the first time.

It had been three days. Three days!

Kade’s eyes widened. “About?” He prompted me to continue, but I couldn’t.

It was not the fact that he had shaved his head and got rid of that six o’clock shadow on his face. No, it wasn’t his appearance. It was the colors, or more importantly, the leather club vest he was wearing.

“You joined the Vikings?” Bitterness wrapped across my face. “YOU JOINED THE VIKINGS!?”

“Wow. Abby.” Drake got up quick to block me. “Calm down.”

“Calm down?” I shouted in Drake’s face. “He’s a traitor!” I pointed an arm at Reaper. “How could you?”

Reaper didn’t even seem fussed by my reaction. He just strode past us, heading for the fridge.

“I thought you had something you needed to tell me?” Reaper grasped a beer.

Right now the last thing I felt was sorry for him. The guilt I had quickly boiled into disgust then exploded into raw anger. “You’re scum, you know that?”