Reaper: Devil's Mayhem MC Romance

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Reaper: Devil's Mayhem MC Romance Page 10

by Mary Potter


  “What do you want?” I ask shortly.

  “I was just coming to see how you were,” Mandy replies with a short shrug, crossing her arms. “What has your panties in a twist? Are you that salty about being left behind?”

  I grit my teeth and turn away. “I’m making tea,” I huff, ignoring the question. “Do you want any?”

  “Because I wouldn’t blame you if you were,” Mandy continues, her voice dropping. “I know I’d feel the same.”

  I pause in the act of pulling mugs from the cupboard and turn my head. Mandy hasn’t moved from the doorway. Her intent gaze is still spearing into me. Something in her words sends an odd thrill in me.

  “Fury does it all the fucking time, you know,” the other woman adds, pushing herself off the doorway and heading inside. “He tells me he’s heading to church, that there’s something important going on, but he never tells me what. Then he calls and tells me I need to be here to look after some stripper that got herself taken—no offense—and can’t even be bothered to explain anything.”

  Huh. I would never have expected that Mandy would actually be in the same boat as me in all this. I turn fully toward her.

  “Would it kill them to give us just a few more facts before rushing off?” Mandy finishes dryly.

  “That might be too much for their egos,” I snort.

  Mandy grins, large and wild. When I first met her, she’d seemed cold and unapproachable. That’s gone now, and all I can see is sympathy and warmth.

  “So, talk to me, then,” Mandy offers, waving to the table.

  I glance at the unboiled kettle and then abandon it. I don’t really feel like tea. I was only making a cup for something to do. This seems far more interesting.

  “I’m frustrated,” I say, slumping in a seat. “This affects me the most, and Reaper doesn’t want to tell me anything.”

  “In his eyes, you’re a liability,” Mandy returns immediately, dropping into the chair opposite me. “He took you along to investigate last night, and you ended up in trouble. On top of that, you’re the target.”

  “That isn’t fair, though,” I protest. “I know more about this than anyone. I’ve been inside that place, and I know the people behind it. Fine, it didn’t go well last night, but we still know more than we did!”

  “It ended up with someone killed,” Mandy counters, and my heart drops. “Sorry to be blunt. That’s what Reaper has in his mind. Last night, it was one of the assholes who are after you. Next time, it could be one of his guys.”

  I scowl, burning with indignation. Jessica’s death had not been my fault.

  “If I went to the club, I’d get more information in a heartbeat,” I say, tossing my head. “Jessica might have been dirty, but not everyone is. The bartender last night was trying to help. Some of the other girls must have overheard some things. I’d have this solved in minutes.”

  “Yeah?” Mandy leaned forward, propping her chin on her hand. “Let’s go, then.”

  I blink, thrown. “What?”

  “Let’s go,” Mandy repeats. “If you think you can get more info than Reaper and his boys, then let’s get it and shove it in their faces.”

  Slowly, my anger fades a little. Yes, I’d been complaining about being left behind, but I hadn’t intended to do anything about it until Reaper returned. When he comes back from his church, or the club meeting, or whatever the hell it was, I can work on him, then convince him to take me along. As much as I hate to admit it, it’s probably safer to stay with him.

  “I want to,” I reply slowly. “But Reaper will be back soon. I’ll argue with him then.”

  Mandy snorts and leans back.

  “Girl, he ain’t coming back,” she retorts. “Are you that naïve to think that he’s out at some meeting about the club? No, they’re already on their way out to take down Chains and his group of assholes.”

  I stare. Reaper wouldn’t do that, right? Then again, I barely know the guy. I don’t even know his real name. It shouldn’t be so shocking that he would feel comfortable going behind my back like this.

  “How do you know that?” I ask, my mouth dry.

  “Two reasons,” Mandy says. “First, I’m not an idiot, whatever my stupid brother thinks. I’ve been around this place as long as he has, and I know how these things work. Reaper flat out lied to you to make you stay here. Secondly, one of the sisters told me that they were meeting. If it was a true church, the whole club would be there, not just the wonder team.”

  I sit back, stunned. Reaper lied to me. He wanted me to stay here, so he told me what I wanted to hear and then left me behind while he went to deal with Chains and Night Pleasures. I was pissed off before. Now I’m furious.

  “That… fucker,” I hiss, shoving my chair back and standing, the legs scraping along the ground.

  “So, up for a ride, then?” Mandy asks slyly. “Your babysitter is already here with your daughter, so she’s safe. We can go to Night Pleasures and be back before Reaper knows what happened.”

  The idea is so incredibly tempting.

  “Why the hell would he do this?” I demand.

  “Well, there’s one thing I can think of,” Mandy muses. “Did he tell you about Lacey?”

  “Lacey?” I ask, surprised by the change in subject. “No. Who is she?”

  “Reaper’s old girlfriend,” Mandy says with a shrug. “She was killed some months ago, and Reaper went off the rails. Left for a long time, and when he came back, he wasn’t the same. He was possessive and power-hungry. He’d always said he didn’t want to control the club, but he took the reins as soon as it was offered.”

  “What does that have to do with me?” I demand.

  “You remind me of Lacey,” Mandy replies bluntly. “Headstrong and willful. He probably sees you as another Lacey. He wants you here, to himself, where no one else can get you. As soon as he returns from dealing with Night Pleasures, he’ll tell you that the club is closed, so you don’t need to strip anymore.”

  “What does my job have to do with this?” I ask furiously.

  “You’re a stripper, on display for everyone.” Mandy rolls her eyes. “It doesn’t take a genius to know that Reaper wouldn’t like that very much.”

  Reaper hadn’t said anything about my occupation so far. Had he been watching me since we met, judging what I do? Admittedly, I’m not overly proud of it. It’s a job that pays the bills, and that’s all. But I’m not ashamed of my body.

  What Mandy is saying is horrifying.

  “How long have you known Reaper?” I ask softly.

  “Ten years, around,” Mandy replies.

  Ten years. She would know him far better than I would. I look up at the ceiling, thinking about Emma, who is upstairs.

  “Okay,” I decide. “Let’s head to the club. I’m just going to let Emma and Carla know we’re going.”

  “That’s the spirit,” Mandy says with a smirk.

  I rush from the room and up the stairs, taking them two at a time. My head is pounding, swirling with all this new information. Had I accidentally jumped from a frying pan and into the fire when I got in with Reaper? I should have known that a motorcycle club was bad news. I’ve already seen the problems that Chains and his lot have caused.

  I shouldn’t have trusted Reaper.

  Carla and Emma are in the study, Emma on the computer that Reaper had allowed her to use, and Carla relaxing in an armchair nearby. They both look up as I enter, Emma slipping her earphones out.

  “Mom!” she says with a grin. “Are you coming to join us?”

  “Not right now,” I return with a smile, crossing the room to drop a kiss on her forehead. “Actually, I came to tell the two of you that Mandy and I are going out for a little while.”

  Emma stiffens.

  “Where?” Carla asks warily, sitting up. “Reaper said we shouldn’t leave.”

  “It’s fine,” I assure her, trying to keep any bite out of my voice at the mention of Reaper. “Mandy is going with me, and the two of you will be
safe here. I promise we won’t be long.”

  “You definitely promise?” Emma demands. “Because Reaper told Carla that it was dangerous. So you need to be careful.”

  “I will, I swear,” I reply, smoothing her hair back from her forehead. What had Reaper been telling my daughter to make her so worked up about this? “I’ll call you when I’m on my way home, alright?”

  “Okay,” she says, frowning at me. “Don’t be long.”

  Walking out of the room, with both Emma and Carla watching me in worry, was incredibly hard, and it reminded me of what had happened up until now. Maybe Reaper was right. Maybe I would be safer here.

  Then I shake my head. It doesn’t matter if I would be safer here right now. My job is to end this as soon as possible so that my daughter and I can both safely return home. Reaper is going around in circles, so I’ll get him the information he needs and then cut ties with him. Everything can go back to normal.

  As I follow Mandy outside, I feel the slightest twinge of guilt as I look back at the manor. Reaper had opened his home to me, and regardless of why, he had kept me safe up until now. Part of me doesn’t want to betray him like this.

  But he’s already betrayed me. So, stamping the guilt away, I follow Mandy to her bike.

  It’s time to end this.

  Chapter Fifteen: Reaper

  I barely take two steps into headquarters when I’m confronted with the person I least want to see right now. I pause for a split second in my surprise, which is all Richard Griffin needs to approach me, hand outstretched with a wide, friendly smile stitched on his face.

  “Hello,” he says, and something about his demeanor sends a shiver down my spine. I glance at his outstretched hand and simply stare at it until he lowers it. He doesn’t seem bothered in the slightest. “Sorry to turn up like this, but I’ve come to ask for a moment of your time.”

  “I don’t have time,” I reply shortly, moving to step around him.

  Smoothly, he moves into my path.

  “I must insist,” he tries again, smiling unwaveringly. There’s something chilling about it. “There have been some problems that have come up regarding ownership of this land. If you don’t resolve this now, you could very well lose it.”

  I stop.

  “What problems?” I growl. “If this is just another fucking trick of yours, then take it somewhere else.”

  “No trick,” Griffin replies smoothly. “I’m not sure if you’re aware, but your father remains the owner of these lands.”

  “Yes,” I say slowly.

  “However, there were several stipulations on his ownership,” Griffin continues, not perturbed at all by my glare. “We will need to go through them because he’s failed to adhere to some of these stipulations recently.”

  “He’s in the city,” I say bluntly.

  “Yes, I’m aware,” Griffin says.

  My phone, which was in my hand when I entered, vibrates. I glance at the message that comes up from Viper. It’s just a question mark, likely asking me what the hold up is. The other guys must have already gathered.

  Uncaring how rude it seems, I unlock my phone and type out a message in reply.

  “Griffin here. Talking shit about ownership. Need to see what it is, just in case.”

  I don’t know for certain that Griffin is telling the truth, of course, but, in the unlikely chance that he is, I can’t ignore it. I refuse to lose this land, which we’ve been fighting so hard to keep over a stupid technicality.

  “Fine,” I growl. “Talk.”

  “Do you have somewhere private to go?” Griffin asks, a sickly sweet smile on his face. “I’m sure you wouldn’t want the world to know your business.”

  It’s on the tip of my tongue to refuse. Anything I say here could be heard by the rest of the guys. Then, with a sinking heart, I remember that isn’t true right now. Ever since I returned, the entire club had been divided between Chains and me, especially with all the changes I’ve been looking to make. We’ve already lost a few members, and I know we’ll lose more before long. I know it isn’t a bad thing—a lot of those who are gone are the assholes who thought Chains was someone to look up to—but it still doesn’t feel great to let a rift this deep form among us.

  It also means that I can only trust a few people around here.

  Without a word, not wanting to give this fucker the satisfaction of an answer, I spin on my heel and stalk away. Griffin follows, and I can almost feel his sly smile on my back. It makes me slam open the door of a nearby room a little harder than necessary, making him jump.

  “In here,” I grunt.

  I see the exact moment that it occurs to him that he’d just asked to be shut in a room with me. He visibly swallows, but to his credit, he lifts his head and walks inside.

  “No need to look so nervous,” I scoff, kicking the door shut behind us. I pull a chair out and slump in it. “What’s so important that you have to speak to me today?”

  “As I said, the last thing I’m sure you want is for any issues to arise over your ownership of this area,” Griffin simpers.

  “Cut the crap, Griffin,” I say with a roll of my eyes. “You’ve been trying to get us to sell forever. Why the hell are you concerned about us losing the land now?”

  “Real estate,” Griffin replies. “I don’t want anyone else to buy it, and you being forced to put it on the market could push the price higher than I want.”

  I scowl. He’s still talking as if we’ll sell to him one day.

  “Whatever,” I return. I’m bored with this already. “Tell me what’s wrong.”

  “Your father bought this land on certain provisions, many years ago.” Griffin’s entire demeanor seems to shift as he straightens, suddenly looking far more serious. “Many of these provisions have to do with the development of the land itself.”

  I scowl. “Aren’t you the one who wants to develop it?” I shoot at him.

  “Yes,” he replies calmly. “However, that is not the sort of development I’m speaking of. Your father originally negotiated the price of this land due to certain mining privileges and the fact that he claimed he would be sustaining jobs that would give back to the community.

  I stare. What the fuck?

  “Mining?” I ask incredulously. “There are no fucking mines here. Someone is bullshitting with you.”

  “I’m afraid not. It’s all here in black and white.”

  Griffin opens his briefcase and extracts several papers, sliding them over to me. I almost don’t want to pick them up, but I pull them closer, my eyes scanning the aged document.

  And he’s right. The stipulation is right here, clear as day. Due to the fact that the council never made any money off us, anyone with the right know-how could come around and declare our ownership null and void.

  Did my father not read the fine print? I know he was a stupid, irresponsible bastard when he was younger, but this really takes the cake. Or did he agree to it, knowing it was a lie but wanting the land regardless, and simply forgot after all these years? I itch to call him and find out, but I don’t. I’m not giving Griffin the satisfaction of watching me run to my father for help.

  “This contract is old,” I argue. “With the ownership transferring to me recently, doesn’t that mean we can renegotiate?”

  “I was hoping you would ask,” Griffin says, and there’s a gleam in his eyes that I truly don’t like. “I can do it right here with you if you wish.”

  This puts me on edge immediately. First, I wouldn’t trust this asshole further than I could throw him. Secondly, I might not know much about real estate, but I’m certain there’s far more involved in the renegotiation of a land contract. At the very least, my father needs to be here for the official transfer.

  “No,” I reply, sitting up. “We’ll have to book a day to do it when everyone can be present. This isn’t just my decision.”

  “Ah, but it might have to be,” Griffin returns smugly. “After all, the renegotiation of a contract must be done in
a specific amount of time, time that you’ve run out of.”

  I eye him. I can’t tell if he’s telling the truth. He’s tried every dirty trick in the book to get this land off us, including working with Chains while everything was in turmoil. On top of that, Kyra had also named him as being involved in sex trafficking, though I’m unsure how.

  No. I don’t trust him one bit. I have no intention of playing this game any longer. I stand.

  “We’ll discuss a day and contact you tonight,” I decide.

  Griffin stands too. He’s still smiling, but something about him seems tense now. He’s nowhere near as tall as me, but he shifts ever so slightly so that he’s between me and the door.

  “I must insist,” he says.

  Now I’m suspicious. This whole thing had seemed weird from the start. Was the contract even real? I didn’t know anymore. It’s something I’ll have to look at when I quick this bastard off my property.

  “Leave the paperwork. I’ll look at it tonight,” I growl. “And get out.”

  “You must understand…” Griffin tries.

  “Out!”

  He twitches but doesn’t jump at my shout. After a moment, he sighs and rolls his eyes skyward.

  “Very well,” he says, primly dropping a file on the table. “I’ll see myself out. Let me know when you’ve reached a decision. Hopefully, it isn’t too late.”

  He stalks from the room, and the door swings closed behind him. Despite being rid of him, he leaves an uneasy feeling in his wake, as though I’ve missed something. I glance at the file. I’ll have to look at them later and determine the truth of them. For now, I just need to get to the meeting and figure out how we’re going to take down Chains.

  I have my phone in my hand, typing a message to Viper when it rings. It startles me, and I frown when I see that it’s an unfamiliar number.

  “Hello?” I ask, raising the phone to my ear.

  “Reaper!” a young voice replies, and it takes me a moment to place Emma. “Thank you for picking up.”

  A tendril of unease creeps up my spine. “Is everything okay?” I ask.

  “Um, maybe,” Emma says, though she sounds cautious. “I don’t know if I should tell you since Mom will be mad, but I’m worried.”

 

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