SIXTEEN

DRAKE

Fuck. This isn’t going to plan, and now I’ve terrified the shit out of her.

“Listen to me, Imogen.”

She edges away from me and I detect the tremor in her voice as she gasps, “Please, Drake, open the door. I want to leave.”

“I can’t until you hear me out.”

I attempt to reassure her, but she shrinks away from me as I sigh heavily, my hand dropping to my side.

“I’m not the bad guy here, Imogen. I was sent to protect you and I’ve fucked that up big time.”

“I don’t understand.”

I take a deep breath. “I’m not a teacher, Imogen. I’m a–”

I almost can’t form the word, knowing this will blow her world apart.

“You’re a what?”

Her voice is tight, angry and determined and my mind buzzes as I lower my voice and say softly, “I’m a Reaper, baby. I work for Ryder.”

Her eyes widen and she stares at me in shock and as realization dawns, tears fill her eyes and she visibly relaxes as she slumps back in her seat.

“I don’t understand. How are you a Reaper? I’ve never seen you once at the compound.”

“You won’t. I’m a patched in member with no patch.”

I refer to the tattoo the Reapers wear for identification purposes.

“I’m an undercover operative that merely heads from one job to another.”

“Operative.”

Her eyes widen and I nod, happy to see she has calmed down and is no longer afraid. I had to reveal my identity because it was the only way she would trust me and yet I’ve opened a can of worms because now she’ll know exactly why we can never be together.

“I was an undercover operative in the military. I was good at it too and remained undetected, even to this day.”

“Until now.” She reminds me and I nod, a smile ghosting my lips. “Until you.”

She nods, a little of her animosity fading as curiosity replaces it.

“A year ago, I was called in by my commanding officer and given a choice. Continue working for the military. Nothing would change except for my missions, or work for the government in another capacity.”

“As a Reaper.”

Imogen is only too aware that the MC Club is a cover for government assassins who do the country’s dirty work when the courts will fail and I nod. “Swap my commanding officer for Ryder King and keep the country safe from the inside.”

“I don’t understand what that has to do with Rockwell, though.”

“The Serpent Society.” I note her hands trembling as she grasps the coffee and hate how she’s involved in this shit.

“Kidnap, rape murder.”

Her mouth drops as I lay out their mantra.

“I don’t understand.”

“Call it their code. In order to gain membership to the society, that is the path. First you kidnap a girl, guy, whatever. Then you rape them before killing them in cold blood.”

Tears fill Imogen’s beautiful eyes and she looks so fucking terrified I instinctively reach for her hand and whisper, “I’m here for you, baby, and I’m good at my job.”

“So, Jesse–” She gulps. “Do you think he’s going to use me to get in with that sick society?”

“It’s a possibility.”

“Fuck, Drake.”

She appears so small and defenseless and I growl, “Which is why I had to warn you. I can only protect you so far but that stunt Jesse pulled at Willow Tree House proved I can’t be there all the time.

It kind of backfired though and sent you straight into the lion’s den and now you’re under his roof. ”

“Does Cassie know about any of this?” Imogen’s voice falters and I nod.

“Of the society, yes. Of Jesse’s involvement in it, no, but she’s suspicious. They all are, which is why they engineered your involvement with him.”

“They used me.”

Her lower lip quivers and I’m guessing betrayal is a tough pill for her to swallow as she considers that possibility.

“To a degree, but not to cause you harm. If Cassie and Jack realized how deep in Jesse is with Jenna, they would never have allowed it. Nobody knows but Jesse, Jenna Sloane and now us.”

“So, what happens now?”

“I can’t do this alone, Imogen. I need eyes on the inside and you can work with me to save Jesse and allow Ryder and the Reapers to take the Serpent Society out.”

She nods, grim determination in her eyes as she whispers, “I’ll do whatever it takes.”

I heave a huge sigh of relief but add, “It has risks.”

“I don’t care.” She smiles shyly. “I’m a patched in member of your team now, Drake. We will get this mission done.”

My heart physically aches as I stare at the brave woman who looks so delicate she could break like china, but inside she is made of steel, which turns out to be a lethal combination that has already trapped my soul.

“What happens now?”

“You carry on as before, but with your newly learned information, report back on anything suspicious.”

“Carry on as before.” She slumps in her seat. “That means to act as Jesse’s girl, I’m guessing.”

“I’m sorry, baby, it’s the only way.”

“And us, Drake. Was that just to get my attention?”

The hurt filling her eyes causes me to swallow hard because fuck, she believes I’ve betrayed her, too.

“To get close to you was the plan, but to kiss you, to touch you and to want you was strictly forbidden.”

“Forbidden. Who?”

“Your father.”

I groan as her eyes widen and she whispers, “My father warned you off me?”

“Of course.” I shrug. “It didn’t work though, and I’ve crossed the line. I should have been stronger. I’ve let both of you down. I was supposed to protect you and I took advantage of that, which is why?—”

I stop because I can’t form the words and she says gently, “Why?”

“Why it can’t happen again.”

“I see.”

My words have crushed her spirit, and she sighs, glancing out at the sky, where normal life carries on around us.

“Well, you’ve got my attention.”

She laughs, but it’s a dull sound. Not the giggle I love or the innocent smile of a woman who doesn’t realize men like me exist in the world.

“If I could change things, I would.”

I want her to believe me because it’s true. If I met Imogen in normal life, she would be exactly the kind of girl I would go for. She is that girl, which is why my situation is dragging a rusty blade to my heart as I contemplate my life without her in it.

“I’m guessing my father will be pissed if he finds out.”

She sighs. “Well, he won’t hear it from me.”

“I’m not asking you to lie for me, baby.”

She turns and the sadness in her expression causes my breath to falter as she whispers, “I liked it. If it’s any consolation, you are the first guy I considered, well–”

She falters and blushes and I just can’t help myself and reach for her hand, tangling our fingers together as I nod. “I feel the same. Life sucks.”

Her smile surprises me as she chuckles, “Ryder must be losing his shit, knowing Cassie is in the thick of a mission.”

“You could say that.” I grin. “It’s the reason I’m here. He loves his daughter, and she’s happy here and if she considered for one minute he was removing her from Rockwell, he would never hear the end of it.”

“And Jack doesn’t even know? I would have thought he was your obvious choice, given he’s heading to the military and keen to prove himself. Why me? I thought I’d be your last option.”

“Don’t sell yourself short, Imogen. You are the perfect operative who will fly under the radar with no suspicion at all. Sometimes the obvious isn’t the best choice. It’s the one who has nothing to hide who makes the most difference.”

“Okay.” She smiles. “I’ll help you—whatever it takes.”

She points to her coffee. “I could use another one of these.”

“Sure. If you like, there is a diner not far from here and we could grab some food.”

“But the warehouse?”

“Was an excuse to get you alone and away from Rockwell.”

“And the prom?”

“That was true. It was the perfect cover and your idea was a good one. Ryder put Bonnie onto securing the props. She loves that shit and it will all be delivered right on time and invoiced accordingly.”

“That’s Ryder.” She rolls her eyes. “And you, is Drake Bellingham your real name, or did he fake that along with your qualifications and resume?”

She has definitely been around the Reapers too long and I wink.

“My name is Drake, but it’s Drake Fielding.”

“That’s good to know.”

I resist the urge to reach out and cup her pretty face in my hands and reassure her that I would kill for her. Nothing will stop me either because if Imogen is in the vicinity of danger, I would shred bodies to save one hair on her head.

For a moment, we share a longing look that speaks way more than any words.

This is an impossible situation but a necessary one and I have no business dragging her into my world because when this is over, I’ll be heading off on my next mission and she will be beginning her future that will ultimately be with anyone but me.