Page 4 of Reaping Havoc (Royal Bastards MC Tonopah, NV #21)

I peeked through the blinds, watching as my brother finished his coffee.

He stood beside the top of the stairs, staring out into the neighborhood.

Judging by his expression, he had a lot on his mind.

I could relate to that, but it didn’t change our balloon war.

I grew bored as I tapped my boot on the floor, hoping he would ride off soon.

He had to leave the porch within the next few minutes because Grim ordered church at noon.

“Daddy?”

“Yeah?” I asked, still watching Chrome.

“Are you gonna throw water balloons at Uncle Noah?”

“Yep.”

Both boys began tugging on my cut. I knew what they were going to ask. “You want to help?”

Two squeals of joy erupted from their little mouths.

Chrome placed his empty coffee mug on the porch railing and stepped toward the stairs—time to move.

“Let’s go. Stay quiet and low. Just like we practiced.”

I slowly opened the door, and the boys crept behind me, sinking low as I shut the door. I pushed the bucket of water balloons outside when I got up before Chrome exited his house. He wouldn’t expect me to ambush him with two little helpers.

Excellent Reapers in training , my Reaper informed me.

I snorted. “Not yet.”

“Yes,” he growled, taking control of my voice, so I said the words aloud. “Good little Reapers.”

Frowning, I shoved on him, but he persisted, lifting his fist to bump each one of the boys like I hadn’t just had an internal battle of wills.

“Hi, Scythe,” the boys greeted him in unison.

I finally succeeded in pushing the Reaper’s presence back, annoyed that he liked to fuck with me. He knew it irritated me when he fought for control... and won. Asshole.

His dark chuckle filled my head.

Once, quite a few years ago, Nylah asked me if I ever thought about how it looked to talk to the Reaper out loud, since it might appear to those who didn’t know me that I had split personalities—never bothered me any.

People could think whatever the fuck they wanted.

Besides, every brother in the club experienced something similar.

We could all relate since each of us had bull-headed demons inside us.

Nothing about the Tonopah GBMC was normal.

I gestured to the full bucket outside the door, and each of the boys picked up a balloon.

I gathered about five in my arms and stayed crouched, inching forward until I reached the end of the deck.

Staying out of view, I nearly snickered when I saw Chrome polishing his bike in the Nevada sunshine.

Oh, he wasn’t going to like getting his clothes and his baby dirty.

I glanced at the boys. “Ready?”

Gavin nodded. Gage bit his lip to keep from giggling.

I swear, they seemed older than three sometimes.

“Now!”

We all popped up and began tossing the balloons, pelting Chrome and his Harley as he shouted, “Hey!”

The boys screeched and ran back to the tub, picking up more balloons and tossing them at their uncle. They hit the target with surprising ease and accuracy. Of course, it wasn’t far. As my brother moved in our direction, the distance quickly shortened.

Chrome charged toward us with dripping hair and big wet spots on his clothing. I chortled with glee as he entered our yard and the boys picked up more balloons. “Ian,” he warned.

“Boys, put them back,” I ordered. “We got him!”

Gavin and Gage whooped for joy and then rushed their uncle. “We got you! We got you, Uncle Noah!”

Since the boys couldn’t quite say it right, it sounded more like uhn-ka .

Chrome laughed as he gathered the twins into his arms and shook the water from his hair. Little droplets landed on Gavin and Gage’s faces as they squirmed. “I love you boys.”

They didn’t hesitate to say it back.

My heart warmed as I saw their interaction, grateful to have him back in my life after all these years we spent apart.

He thought we didn’t want him. We didn’t know he was alive.

That fucking doctor’s lies cost our family too much, but it was the black market and the Russians that devised the plan to steal Boone’s child.

Who knows what would have happened to my brother if the doctor hadn’t grown a conscience?

Chrome released the boys, and they scampered back inside, calling for Nylah as I heard her ask them if they wanted a snack. My boys never turned down food. I smirked as I listened to a chair topple over in their haste to get to the table.

Chrome folded his arms over his chest. “You fucker.”

“Hey, you got me last time. I’m just paying you back.”

“I need to fucking change. We’ve got church.” He didn’t seem pissed, just a little put out.

“What about your precious baby? She’s all wet.”

“Fuck off, Rael.”

Ha. I guess I got under his skin on that one. “You sure you can pass up the opportunity since she’s primed and ready?”

He took a swing at me, and I ducked, lifting my hands as I laughed. “You’re an asshole.”

“But you still love me,” I reminded him with a grin.

“Fuck. I do.” He slung an arm around my shoulders. “Give me five minutes.”

“One minute to change and four to polish your bike before we leave?”

His smirk confirmed I was right. “Something like that.”

While he made himself and his bike pretty, I entered the house to let Nylah know I was leaving.

The boys waved as I entered, enjoying a healthy lunch containing tuna salad sandwiches, pretzels, sliced apples, and milk.

For dessert, each boy had a stack of three mini chocolate chip cookies.

Nylah made them homemade and small so the boys could have multiple without consuming too much sugar.

Our beloved is an excellent mother , my Reaper informed me.

I already knew that.

We need to keep her pregnant. She glows , he added.

The fuck? “Glows?” I asked, keeping my voice low.

Beautiful. Sweet, sexy, and fierce. A goddess.

I waited for my Berserker to show up and smack the Reaper for daring to use his nickname for Nylah, but the Berserker said nothing. He slumbered peacefully deep inside, staying dormant until if or when he was needed.

My focus turned to my ol’ lady, and I smiled. She truly radiated happiness, health, and contentment. My chest swelled with pride as the Reaper felt as proud and protective of our woman as I did.

“I’m heading to The Crossroads for church.”

“Okay. I’m making pot roast for dinner. Bring home your appetite and kisses.”

She winked at me, and I couldn’t resist squeezing her ass as I kissed her pillow-soft lips. “I always do.”

The boys slid from their seats and gave me a hug before I left. My lips twitched with humor when I saw Chrome running his polishing cloth over his bike.

“What?” He asked when he caught me staring.

“Nothing.”

“Whatever. Let’s get to church before Grim loses his shit.”

I hid my smile as I hopped on my bike and joined him on the road. One of my favorite things since Chrome moved next door was riding to the clubhouse together. I decided not to piss him off this time.

“ANY OTHER CLUB BUSINESS ?” Grim asked, briefly making eye contact with everyone before he ended the meeting.

“Yeah,” Chrome answered. “Some spooky shit with Rael.”

Grim snorted. “Shit is always spooky with Rael.”

Half the brothers at the table laughed. It was fucking true. I couldn’t deny it.

“What happened?” Mammoth, our VP, asked to silence the room.

“I took Nylah out to breakfast Wednesday morning,” I began.

“At Millie’s?”

“No,” I admitted, avoiding eye contact. He wouldn’t like it. As co-owner, he wanted my business, and he usually had it.

“Why the fuck not?”

Yeah. He was gonna get pissy. “Mammoth, Nylah is nine months pregnant, and the diner was fucking packed. I wasn’t making her stand around and wait with swollen ankles. She would’ve kicked my ass.”

I could admit my ol’ lady was fierce. Didn’t make me any less of a badass motherfucker.

He nodded, but I could tell her didn’t like the excuse. “Next time, bring her in. We’ll make her comfortable. Millie won’t take no for an answer when she finds out.”

“Yeah. I’ll let Nylah know.”

That appeased Mammoth.

Grim’s lips twitched with amusement. “Get on with it, Rael.”

Right. Like I was the one steering the conversation in another direction.

“I took Nylah to the pancake house down on Main.”

Mammoth groaned. Grim shot him a look.

“Food was shit, and the service sucked. So stop getting butt hurt, Mammoth.”

He flipped me off as chuckles erupted around the room.

“Nylah had to use the restroom, and when she walked out, some asshole almost let the door slam against her stomach.”

My brothers were pissed. I could tell. Our Reapers sensed the reactions and emotions of one another.

“I set his ass straight,” I growled.

A few fists pounded the table in support.

Grim’s lip curled into a sneer. “Good. The asshole better hope he never runs into the rest of us.”

They didn’t need to know his name or see his face. Our Reapers would react—a benefit of their shared connection.

“None of that matters. It’s the fucker I saw watching us from across the street, staring at me and Nylah, that got my Reaper agitated. Don’t know how long he was there or why, but it was fucking weird.”

Grim frowned. “You sure he was watching you?”

“Yeah. He wore the same face makeup as me.”

My brothers were surprised. A few inhales could be heard. More than one cursed.

“It fucking spooked me, and you know it takes a lot for that to happen.”

Bodie gripped my shoulder. “I get it.”

Chrome slammed his fist on the table. “I think we need to investigate this, Pres.”

Grim agreed. “Xenon? Dig into this. Check cams. See what you can find.”

“You got it, Pres.”

Xenon always had his laptop with him, and I heard him clicking on the keys, already researching what I described.

“Just to clarify, this wasn’t any of you, right? Nobody fucking with me like Christmas?”

Bodie and Wraith grinned.

Grim slapped a palm on the table. “Speak up if you did. No harm comes to an ol’ lady or a member’s family.”

The room went silent as a tomb.

None of my club brothers was responsible for what happened. I knew that now that my Reaper could discern it from his proximity to the others.

He didn’t sense danger, and I decided to wait on Xenon before I did anything about it.

Grim already knew my thoughts. “Don’t do shit without me, Rael. Wait on Xenon. No rogue shit.”

I almost snickered because I would if I sensed my ol’ lady or babies could be targets. “I’ll wait, Pres,” I agreed.

He knew I couldn’t promise more than that. Since he had an ol’ lady and kids, he wasn’t a fucking hypocrite about it.

Grim dismissed church, and the room emptied. I stood and stretched, waiting until everyone had gone except for Mammoth. I turned to my pres, catching his attention. “I didn’t bring this up in front of all the members, but I talked to Chrome first. We’re both worried this could be Gorbachev.”

Mammoth narrowed his eyes. “That black market shit and the Russians? Again?”

“We’ve taken almost all their high-ranking guys out. They fucking hate us,” Grim reminded him. “The only loose end is Gorbachev. He probably feels the same about Rael and Chrome.”

“I don’t like it,” Mammoth growled.

“No one does.” I speared a hand through my hair, already agitated that I brought up that fucking Russian trafficker’s name. “We need to be prepared in case it’s him.”

Grim didn’t look happy. I sensed his concern. “He’s taking his time. That’s what I don’t like. It’s been years. Why come after you and Chrome now?”

“I don’t think he is.” I sighed, hating that I might be the only target. “Might just be me, Pres.”

“Fuck,” Mammoth mumbled.

“Then we put shit in motion to be prepared. Mammoth, get with the prospects. Rael, watch over your family. See anything odd or that guy shows up, I want to know right away.”

“And the rest of the club?” I asked, wondering how long we would wait to let them know.

“Next week in church.”

Unless something happened before then. He didn’t have to say it; I already figured it out.

“Alright.”

I left the chapel and headed outdoors, not wasting any time before I rode home. Until I knew what was happening, I planned to stay close.