Page 75 of Reaper's Claim

“Nothing you girls ever did was acceptable. Thanks for the apology, sweetheart.”

“Why are you hiding in here?” When there was a party in full swing outside, the version of my dad that I knew wouldn’t be hiding in a dark bar.

His eyes dropped to the shot glass in front of him. “Doesn’t matter. Why are you here, sweetheart?” He threw back his shot and then poured another. “Kim here too?”

“Yeah, she is.”

“Why?”

Well, Dad, you see, Kim has a hard crush on Trigger, and she convinced me to drag her down here. “No real reason. Just wanted to come home.”

The corner of his lips twitched. “Never were a good liar, Abby.”

He had a point. “Whatever you say, Dad.”

“Get sick of the party, darlin’?” His face soured from the bit of the shot he just swallowed. “Or are you looking for someone?”

“I just needed to get some fresh air.”

“From inside?”

I wasn’t enjoying the way he made all my actions sound stupid. “I guess.” I rolled my eyes. “Why are you hiding in here, Dad?”

His face hardened. “Trying to come to grips with some shit.”

I reached for the vodka bottle. “Like taking Reaper back? Or,” I leaned over, scooping up a glass, “having Trigger back?”

Dad’s eyes froze on mine for a moment. “You knew about Trigger?”

Shrugging my shoulders, “Found out when I got here.”

“Heard you were sharing a house with Reaper and his brother.”

I left the vodka lid off after pouring myself a shot. I had a feeling I was going to be in need of a refill. “Yeah, I had been. Drake and I are good mates. Didn’t know about Reaper being his brother, though.”

Dad’s chest rumbled from a bitter laugh. “You always had a habit of missing the obvious.”

“Don’t see how Reaper and Drake being brothers was obvious.”

“Not that.” Dad shook his head, “Reaper moving in; you didn’t put two and two together.”

I frowned, “What are you implying?”

“Reaper and I had a fight; it was about Drake. Reaper did something behind the club’s back to save his brother’s arse. Always is cleaning up after him.” Dad rolled the glass around with his fingers. “Reaper took his cut off but soon realized it was a mistake. But by then, he had reached out to Drake, and I heard about you moving in with him so...”

“So you got Reaper to move in with us?” His motives snapped into place. “To what, keep an eye on me?”

“You were off the rails, Abby. You needed someone to watch your back.”

“Why are you telling me this now?”

Dad’s lips twitched into a smile. “Making sure you got a clear picture and didn’t come back here because you were following someone.”

God, he jumped to conclusions. “I thought Reaper was in deep with the Vikings. Had no idea he was heading back here.” To be honest, if anyone was following someone, it was Reaper following me.

“Then,” He placed his glass down and walked around the bar. He opened his arms. “It’s good to have you back, darling. Welcome home.”

And what a welcome it was.