Reaper's Justice

by Sarah McCarty

  “Maybe.”

  It wasn’t a yes, but it was a beginning.

  15

  ISAIAH LOOKED AT HIS IMAGE IN THE MIRROR. HE DIDN’T recognize the man looking back at him. His hair was slicked back. His body was incased in a black wool suit. A starched collar threatened to choke him and, failing that, was going to drive him crazy from the itching. He was from every angle a respectable member of society about to go courting the woman of his dreams.

  But until then, I’m willing to take it day by day. How about you?

  Maybe.

  For a week he’d been trying to dissuade himself from following through on that “maybe.” For a week he’d been unsuccessful. For a week he’d been caught up in the dream Addy had held out. For a week he’d been happy. And for a week he’d been waiting for the other shoe to fall. He gave the tie a tug. It fell back in the same position as before. Looking over his shoulder at Reese, who lounged in the wing-back chair by the window in Addy’s parlor, Isaiah asked, “Men court in this getup?”

  Reese, who’d designated himself his shadow since that night last week, leaned back in the chair and picked up his whiskey. “Every day of the week.”

  “Hell, all I need is a pine box and you could prop me up outside the undertaker’s.”

  Reese took a sip of his drink. “Not a bad idea. With a Reaper on display, we could make some money.”

  Isaiah tugged at the stiff collar. “I’ve got news for you. A dead Reaper looks the same as any other corpse.”

  “Now that’s a pity, considering how hard it is to kill one of you.”

  He met Reese’s gaze in the mirror. “You should know. You’ve tried.”

  Reese shrugged, not denying the second shot that night last week had been meant for Isaiah. “Not as hard as I should have.”

  Isaiah held his gaze. He wanted to know why Reese had missed that night. A Reaper wouldn’t have. “Why was that?”

  “I could say a lot of things.”

  “How about the truth?”

  “How about part?”

  Something was better than nothing, until he could get it all. “Do it.”

  “Because I’ve never seen Addy as alive as she is when she’s around you.”

  “For that you took away her protection?”

  “Nah. For that I’m risking Cole kicking my ass. He wants her safe.”

  As if he didn’t know that. “And you?”

  “I want her happy.”

  “At any cost?”

  Reese sat forward. “Pretty much.”

  Reese’s love for Addy was a weakness that could cost her life. He’d have to remember that. “I’m not staying.”

  “So you’ve said.”

  “I mean it.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “I’m a Reaper.” Reapers didn’t have homes. Didn’t wear ties. Didn’t take women to dances. He looked at his reflection. Reapers only had the illusions.

  “So you’ve said.”

  “Not to hear myself talk.”

  “I’m not the one you have to convince.” He took another swig of his whiskey. “But I’ll tell you this, if I have to put my money on Addy or your beliefs, my money’s on Addy.”

  He’d learned over the last week, when dealing with Reese, that nothing was what it seemed. “What aren’t you telling me?”

  Reese smiled. “A whole lot of shit you should know, no doubt.”

  “No doubt.” Isaiah tugged at the collar again. “Don’t you have somewhere else to be?”

  “Nope. My orders are to stick to you like a fly on shit.”

  “Cole?”

  “Yes.”

  “Does he know what a lousy chaperone you are?”

  “He might have forgotten to ask a few pertinent questions.”

  “That doesn’t sound like Cole.”

  “He was a bit aggravated at the time. I believe you’d just beat his ass.”

  Isaiah smiled with remembered satisfaction. “A fact you took advantage of.”

  “Yup.” Reese motioned with the glass. “Stop messing with that collar or you’re going to have it crumpled.”

  “I’d rather just take it off.”

  “So would every man who has ever donned one of those suits, but women love a man spiffed up, and you promised to do this courting right.”

  “Which brings up another question. Why didn’t you stop me?”

  Reese shrugged. “I didn’t get the impression at the time that anything could have stopped you.”

  Probably not, but someone should have stopped him. He wasn’t thinking straight. The beast was too strong. Addy’s allure too great. “You should have tried. We’re talking about your cousin.”

  “Being my cousin just makes her a Cameron. And when Camerons make up their minds that they want something, they get it.”

  Isaiah arched a brow at Reese. “You wanted me dead.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  Isaiah gave the tie a tug. It still listed to the right. The starch in the collar of the shirt still itched. And he still wasn’t a man who had any right to touch Addy.

  He yanked the tie off and started over. “You should have pulled the trigger.”

  Reese smiled that smile that could have meant anything from amusement to intent. “You never know. I still might.”

  The tie still listed to the right. He left it. However it was, however he was, both were going to have to do.

  “Did you get the flowers?” he asked Reese.

  “Mrs. McGillicuddy wasn’t willing to offer them up. She’s mighty particular about her first roses of the season.”

  He cocked an eyebrow at Reese. “You could have just taken them.”

  “Did I forget to mention that she’s a damn fine shot?”

  “You probably would have if you’d thought there was a chance I’d believe an old woman with a shotgun could dissuade you.”

  Reese finished his drink. The glass clinked down on the table.

  “Damn, you’re getting to know me.”

  “A casualty of you living as tight as fleas on a dog.”

  “That’ll complicate things.”

  Isaiah shot him a grin that was only half forced. Reese had a way of growing on a person. “Not if you get lost.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  Isaiah grabbed his hat off the peg by the door with a sense of finality. He was as good as he was going to get.

  “Where are you going?”

  “To get my ass shot off.” He bared his teeth at Reese in a parody of a smile. “Want to join me?”

  Reese bared his right back. “Absolutely.”

  Isaiah jammed his hat on his head. If Reese wasn’t such a pain in his ass, he could find himself liking him.

  ADDY looked like an angel standing in the doorway, dressed in a gown the color of the sky on a clear spring day. Her smile radiated happiness, her appearance elegance. Her hair was drawn up in an elaborate collection of ringlets that at once enhanced her natural grace and heightened the air of vulnerability he’d always sensed beneath her strong exterior. When she bit her lip, he realized the vulnerability wasn’t an illusion.

  “How the hell can you be anxious?”

  Addy blinked. “How can you not be? We’re going dancing!”

  Reese laughed. “Quite the ladies’ man. A week of courting and your lady is still as nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs.”

  “Shut up, Reese.”

  “Yeah,” Isaiah growled. “Shut up.”

  Reese held up his hands. “Pardon me.”

  This wasn’t the way it was supposed to go, Isaiah thought, with Reese laughing and Addy covering for him. He shoved the roses he’d stolen at her. “You look too damn beautiful to be nervous.”

  A tinge of pink dusted her cheeks. “Thank you.” She took the roses. “Where did you get these?”

  “I found them.”

  “You found roses?”

  “Yes.”

  She looked at Reese for confirmation.

  “Don’t ask,” R
eese advised.

  Addy sniffed the roses and then angled Isaiah a glance out of the corner of her eye. Her “all right” was very soft.

  From down the other side of town came the faint sounds of musicians tuning their instruments.

  “Last chance for you to come to your senses,” Isaiah advised, half serious, half joking. Looking as she did tonight reminded him how far Addy was beyond his reach. How far she could fall if he slipped.

  Addy touched the spot on her neck where he’d bitten her. He frowned. He hadn’t seen any signs of her turning, but it made him nervous that whenever he was around, she compulsively reached for that spot. Was it a new ritual or something more?

  Addy tipped the roses toward her and breathed in their scent. “I think I’ll chance it.”

  “If you go to the dance with me, your cousin Cole will know.”

  She rolled her eyes. “If I go to the dance with you, the whole town will know.”

  “Even your fiancé, Mr. Hackleberry.”

  “What?” Reese straightened. “When did you get engaged to that mama’s boy?”

  Addy’s blush deepened. “He doesn’t actually know I picked him.”

  Reese broke into laughter. “Were you going to tell him before or after the wedding? More importantly, when were you going to tell his mother?”

  She buried her face deeper in the roses. “Shut up, Reese.”

  “The widow Hackleberry is a formidable woman,” Reese informed Isaiah. “And for all the boy would have it otherwise, she’s determined that her dear son remains—how does she put it—unsullied.”

  “That’s who you wanted to marry?”

  Addy glared at her cousin. “The woman can’t live forever and Hackleberry would be manageable.”

  “I wouldn’t count on the widow dying anytime soon.”

  “It doesn’t matter now anyway, so hush.”

  No it didn’t. But Cole did. “Will Cole make trouble after I’m gone?”

  Addy’s expression closed and some of her joy in the night faded. Damn it, why the hell had he brought that up now?

  “Don’t worry, he won’t have me declared incompetent.”

  “You sure?”

  She looked out the window. “I’m sure.”

  “Look at me and say that.”

  From the glare she shot him, his courting for the evening might involve a lot of kissing ass.

  “I’m sure.”

  “I thought you promised her a courting, not a lecture,” Reese said.

  So he had. The tuning of instruments was gradually flowing into music. Isaiah motioned to the flowers. “Why don’t you put those in water and then we’ll leave.”

  “By all means, do that,” Reese urged. “Before Mrs. McGillicuddy takes a look at her rose garden.”

  Addy stopped halfway to the kitchen. “Isaiah, you didn’t!”

  He shrugged, figuring noncommittal beat admitting. He wanted her to enjoy the flowers.

  With a shake of her head, and a quick glance around, she motioned him into the foyer. “You’d better get in here. Mrs. McGillicuddy is a good shot.”

  He closed the door behind him. “So I’m told.”

  Halfway across the foyer she paused and looked back over her shoulder, that blush getting deeper, her expression softer. “You look very handsome, by the way.”

  “And you look very beautiful.”

  “Thank you.”

  He stood in the hallway, listening to her fuss with the flowers. The courting wasn’t going as well as he’d planned, but he’d managed a couple of moments when he’d pleased her.

  It took thirty seconds for Reese to poke his confidence. “It just gets worse from here on out.”

  How much worse could it get? “I’ll handle it.”

  “I’ll enjoy the show.”

  Isaiah lifted his lip in a snarl. “Don’t you have a woman of your own to court?”

  “I do my courting a bit farther from home.”

  Isaiah didn’t court at all, except for tonight. Because it was what his woman wanted. Because it would make her happy. Because when he left, he wanted to take with him at least one memory of making her happy.

  “I’m ready.”

  He opened the door. Addy just stood there, looking at him expectantly. Reese cleared his throat. Too late, he remembered to hold out his arm so she could tuck her hand in the crook.

  “Hell, man, don’t you ever court at all?”

  The growl rumbled low in his chest. “No.”

  Addy just smiled. “Go away, Reese.”

  Isaiah knew he lacked social graces. He knew what he was, and what Addy really needed, but he’d be damned if he’d have her evening ruined by her cousin’s mockery.

  “Yes, go away, Reese.” He put every ounce of persuasive power behind that command. Reese didn’t budge. Instead, he settled his hat on his head. “Now what kind of chaperone would I be if I just let you go gallivanting off to the social with no escort?”

  “A live one?”

  Reese’s hand dropped to the butt of his revolver. “Maybe.”

  His beast tossed Reese a mental snarl, but Isaiah didn’t care about the threat. He only cared about the way Addy was looking at him now. Like he was something. As illusions went, that was pretty good.

  “Ready?”

  She smiled and nodded as the fingers of her free hand touched his wrist. The satin of her glove was smooth and warm. He’d rather have the feel of her skin.

  “Still nervous?”

  “A little.”

  “Why?”

  “Because it’s my first time out. There’ll be some talk.”

  “About me.”

  She shook her head. “About my kidnapping.”

  As much as he wanted to give her the courting she desired, he didn’t want her upset.

  “We don’t have to go.”

  She looked surprised. “Oh, we have to go.”

  “We do?”

  She nodded. “Oh yes.” She squeezed his arm. “I wouldn’t for anything miss watching those jealous cats swallow their tongues when I walk in with you.”

  “Glad I can be of use.”

  Her grin widened. “Me, too.”

  HALFWAY to their destination, the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. Shit. Not now.

  Reese came up beside them and drew his revolver.

  “What is it?”

  He held up his hand and motioned Addy to be quiet. Not even a cricket chirped.

  Reaper.

  “Reaper?” Reese asked.

  Addy licked her lips. The scent of her fear tainted the air, but her voice was steady as she asked, “Friends of yours?”

  “No.”

  He pushed her back against the wall. There was an alley directly ahead. It would be a good place for an ambush. On the other side were a building and a shed. Behind them was the livery. And beyond that, another alley. At the far end of the town, light spilled from the barn that had been decorated for the dance. Isaiah judged the distance. Even if they called for help, they wouldn’t be heard.

  Reese cocked his revolver. “How many?”

  Isaiah shook his head. He didn’t know. There was no way to know. “Until they attack, that will be a mystery.”

  “Perfect. Any idea who will be attacking?”

  He wished he could say, but the energy coming toward him wasn’t familiar. Over Addy’s head he met Reese’s gaze. With a jerk of his chin, he indicated Addy. Reese nodded.

  “We’re going to miss your sorry ass.”

  “No.” Addy grabbed for his arm. “I’m coming with you.”

  From her purse, she pulled a small derringer. Isaiah took the gun from her hand. “I appreciate the thought, but no sense getting them madder than we need to with that peashooter.”

  Addy made a grab for her gun. “I wasn’t intending on missing.”

  At point-blank range that derringer wouldn’t even slow a Reaper. Isaiah tucked the gun in the back of his pants. Again he met Reese’s gaze. “I don’t intend f
or you to be a target.”

  Again Reese nodded. The quarter moon was just enough to throw shadows against the walls. Shadows in which a Reaper could hide. They had a choice. Go back or go forward. The crowd offered some protection, especially if the Reapers didn’t want to be known. With another jerk of his chin, Isaiah indicated they go forward. He tucked Addy between them.

  “I’d still feel better with my gun,” she muttered as they eased forward.

  “And I’d feel better if you were home safe, but it doesn’t look like either of us is getting our wish tonight.”

  “Amen,” Reese said.

  The beast snarled within, clawing for control.

  Quiet.

  He couldn’t listen for the Reapers and control the beast at the same time. Reese cut him a strange look. He couldn’t deal with him, either, right now. Reapers wanted his woman. Which didn’t make sense. The law said the Reaper who took up with a human woman would be hunted and killed. As an enforcer of Reaper law, it was Isaiah’s job to kill the Reapers who violated the dictate. But these Reapers didn’t want him. They wanted Addy.

  “Do you have a way to call the men Cole sent to guard the house?”

  “Yes.”

  “Do it.”

  Reese reached over and grabbed the derringer out of Isaiah’s belt. Pointing it into the air, he fired it once.

  “That’s it?”

  Reese shrugged. “Cole’s orders were, at the first sound of gunfire, to come running.” The look Reese gave Addy was disgusted. “You could have at least bought a two-shooter.”

  “Next time I will.” Her expression said the second bullet would be for Reese.

  “I’m not even sure they could hear that.”

  Reece shrugged. “I figured you wouldn’t want me wasting the bullets in my gun.”

  If they were silver bullets, he didn’t. And knowing Reese, they probably were.

  “Good point.”

  Addy dug her fingers into his hand. “What are you two not telling me?”

  Isaiah borrowed Reese’s line. “Probably a whole lot of things that you need to know.”

  “You’ve been spending too much time with Reese.”

  “Maybe.”

  Addy walked a little faster. Her gaze locked on the lights ahead as if they were a talisman. He didn’t know how to tell her that, if the Reapers wanted her, getting there wouldn’t save her.