Demons (Death by Reaper MC, #3)

by Esther E. Schmidt

  Vike keeps murmuring for me to relax and to enjoy myself because tomorrow morning will be rough and hard on all of us. And he’s right. Though I won’t be able to relax until everything is handled.

  It’s scary how a man can walk into your life and rip out your heart without even realizing he was meant to have it all along. And to be honest? Maybe I willingly let him because in that moment...I ripped out his to claim it as mine in return.

  Yes. This whole thing with Vapula needs to be handled so we can put it behind us and explore our lives without the threat of having it end before we have a chance to start our future together.

  Chapter Five

  ***Vike***

  “Get up.” Those two words are spoken with a snap and meant to shake me from my sleep but I’m not ready yet.

  Damn. “You know one of the benefits of having an Old Lady is to wake up with her delicious body draped over me.”

  “Well, then you need to clean up your act and wake up early,” Tria snickers, clearly stating she’s a ray of sunshine as soon as her eyes pop open at the crack of dawn.

  “Or you could sleep in a bit, it’s called a compromise,” I mutter while trying to drag my tired ass out of bed.

  I was set to only spend a few hours with the guys at the clubhouse before swinging by to see Tria’s siblings, but time slipped away and it was past midnight when I noticed how late it was. I guess I suck at making appointments since I texted Alastair to set up a meeting at eleven last night and never even showed up.

  Let’s see if I can do better with a second attempt. It’s not like I owe these guys shit. They all bailed on us when we needed them the most. But I owe it to Tria to hear them out, and for the sake of keeping eyes and ears open to benefit all options at hand.

  I grab my phone from the bedside table and notice a text from Alastair. There’s only one line stating “Wanna try that again?” And it actually makes me chuckle. I thumb off a reply with only the time; eleven AM. This gives me a little over an hour to get ready.

  There’s a very angry Fae standing in front of me. Arms crossed, foot tapping, eyes narrowed and how can I be so turned on by her whole appearance? Pretty damn sure I can’t throw her on the bed and ravish her the way I want to. ‘Cause a sixty-minute deadline is cutting it way too close with her hot as sin body taunting me at every angle.

  “One hour,” I tell her. “Then it’s family meeting time.”

  “Good,” she snaps, but it doesn’t soothe her over, if anything she’s still mad as hell.

  Instead of guessing, I figure I’d better ask since clearly I’m the one who missed the memo on why the hell she’s angry.

  “Okay, what did I do?” I sigh and grab some jeans, a black tank, and my cut, to throw them on the bed so I can dress after I’ve had a shower.

  “You’re not gonna add underwear?” she squeaks.

  My eyebrows scrunch up. Underwear? “Why the hell would I bother with underwear?”

  “Figures,” she mutters. “Hence the reason mine is nonexistent too I’m guessing?”

  My head tips back and laughter rips out. I shake my head and connect our gaze; she’s still glaring at me.

  “Sweetness,” I tell her all husky while stepping closer, her body tight as a string. “You don’t think I’ll ever allow you to cover up something as precious as the spot between your legs with two barriers; one barrier is enough. It’s mine and I need it available to me at all times without fussing with tight panties.”

  Her jaw ticks. “So, you’re okay with me sitting down during the meeting later today in this.” She waves down her body where the long split shows her legs so when she sits down...

  “Motherfucker,” I growl.

  Her smile is a brilliant beam of light as she pats my cheek. “Good to see we agree. Now get me some damn panties.”

  I grab some money out of my jeans and it only takes a breath or two for me to pop in and out before I return with my arms full of different lace panties in all different colors.

  “I’m gonna take a shower,” I croak when Tria picks up a thong and dangles it on one finger. Fucking tease.

  I have to step away or we’d miss another meeting with her siblings. And I might be a dick and not care, but this is something where respect goes a long way, even if they’ve failed me in the past it’s not something I want to lower my own standard with.

  I take my time showering since we don’t have to fuss with transportation. It’s literally popping in and out for all of us so it gives us enough time to meet up with Gunnar and Dio. I need my brother with me and though we talked things through last night, it doesn’t compare with the time we’ve lost when he was cursed.

  He was in the damn basement—close at all times—and yet so far away. My mind is still spinning over how things turned around. All because of Dio. If she wouldn’t have been captured and placed in a room right above Gunnar, I don’t think I’d have my brother back right now.

  I owe her. I owe her a lot. Even if Gunnar is her mate and the both of them look consumed with one another, I’m still very fucking thankful to have kept her hostage. Even if it all started because I wanted to capture an Angel while she interfered and ended up killing a few of my guys before she was captured. Starting over means smoothing out issues of the past, right?

  “Ready?” Gunnar shoots me an all-knowing smile.

  He knows very well I hate this shit. I don’t like working together due to what happened, and most of all? Tria’s siblings, their husbands, her friend Nixie, they have their clubhouse warded against Demons. Need I mention this was set in place to keep me out? And they say I have trust issues.

  Yet now it’s pretty nifty to keep Vapula out but it also keeps me and Gunnar out. This shit ain’t helping my nerves calm the fuck down since Tria and Dio are able to walk inside while I can’t do shit if something would happen in there. Like for instance, they’d keep her from me...or she might stay and chose not to come home with me.

  Yeah, plenty of reasons not to be happy about this meeting. But it’s needed. Mostly for the woman who’s staring at me from across the room while she’s trying to listen to her sister rambling.

  I shoot her a wink and watch as her face flushes red. I hold out my hand and without another word she leaves her sister and strolls over. I wrap her in a tight embrace and take her lips in a quick and rough kiss.

  Her eyes are still closed and her lips all puffy and thoroughly used when I pull back and murmur, “Ready?”

  She connects her gaze with mine and breathes breathlessly, “Yeah.”

  “Remember,” I tell her but glance at Dio who’s in my brother’s embrace. “If you’re standing outside with us...stay close. The house is warded so we can’t enter but in return the safest for you two is to be in there. No need to mention what happened the last time Tria slipped outside.”

  The memory is still vivid in my brain how I arrived at the Vampires’ clubhouse to find Vapula holding Tria upside down by her ankle. Thank fuck he didn’t know she was part Fae so she could flash out of his grip. He won’t be fooled a second time though. Reason enough for all of us to be on our toes.

  Dio nods and I connect my gaze with Gunnar to indicate it’s time to go. All of us materialize in front of the Death by Reaper MC, Vampires Charter, clubhouse. The door swings open instantly and squealing sounds from inside. Jagger, the Prez of the Vampires Charter, is standing in the doorway, Alastair, Prez of the Hellhounds Charter, right behind him.

  “Go on inside and take Dio with you,” I tell Tria while I keep my gaze connected with Alastair.

  Tria grabs my head, going on her tip toes while dragging me down for a kiss. Fuck, I love it when she does that. I wrap my arm around her waist to close the distance and take my time before I reluctantly pull away. I smack her ass to get her to speed up and get herself and her sister into the clubhouse so she’s safe in case Vapula appears.

  The corner of my mouth twitches when I see both Jagger and Alastair stare at me with wide eyes. “Our mates.” I nod at
the Fae twins who just slipped inside. “So, think twice how you handle things ‘cause me and my brother would hate hurting all the in-laws. But make no mistake, we will do so without a second thought.”

  “Noted,” Alastair snaps. He clears his throat and holds out his hand. “Thanks for coming.”

  Anger surges up and everything in me wants to deny shaking his fucking hand. Asshole. He wouldn’t lift a finger to help me save my brother, why in the hell is he offering me his hand? As if we’re best fucking buddies all of a sudden.

  Gunnar steps around me and takes Alastair’s hand. “Good to see you, man.”

  “Fuckin’ hell, it’s really you? How did you break the curse? I can’t believe you’re standing here,” Alastair says in awe.

  “No thanks to you,” I grumble, earning me a death glare from my twin.

  I shrug it off. No need to explain myself, holding a grudge keeps me on my toes not to make the same mistake twice.

  “Dio is my mate. I can’t explain it any other way than to guess she cured me through our bond.” Gunnar shakes his head. “If she wasn’t held captive in the room above mine, and was determined enough to get to me by burning straight through the ceiling, I would still be locked inside my head, held captive by the darkness I couldn’t get away from.”

  “Both mated to half Guardians too. I’ll be damned,” Jagger quips.

  “Okay, it’s nice standing here on your doorstep and all...pretty sure our women like to hang together and chitchat for the hell of it. Though I, on the other hand, can’t get away from here quick enough so start fucking talking instead of this useless chatter,” I snap, my anger getting the better of me.

  Alastair’s head whips to me. “As you know, the sisters are linked through their father. Dedrick Megalos.”

  I give a tight nod because I’ve been told he has been putting daughters on this earth for his own personal gain. Some kind of vendetta to go up against The Orderly because his mate was killed in the line of duty. Twisted form of grief, but there you go.

  Even if my anger toward The Orderly is massive—along with the Charters—they did stand by their decision and the Charters followed their orders. The whole ‘everything happens for a reason’ might bring perspective but it also gives me the sense to know when to give someone the finger and cut shit out of my life.

  Come to think of it...if Dedrick would have done the same thing, my mate and her siblings wouldn’t exist, so in some twisted form I have to thank the fucker for his twisted grief filled revenge. Yeah, no. I don’t thank anyone, certainly not a fucker with a twisted view on life-altering shit for personal gain.

  “You also know, and saw for yourself, what happens when the women join forces to face something together.”

  Alastair doesn’t have to remind me how they all held hands and then suddenly Tess, Jagger’s mate, zapped Vapula to fuck knows where. Tess is part Angel. Angels are Elite and only come down to earth for extreme special cases or when an apocalypse is near. They are the last line of defense so to say.

  Guess the odds are in our favor having someone who’s part Angel in our midst. Yet I’d rather witness her killing Vapula instead of zapping the fucker away since I missed my chance to take him out once and for all and she’s to fucking blame for screwing up.

  “It’s all we’re offering; our help. My Old Lady was concerned when you took both Dio and Tria. You didn’t want to discuss anything nor did you give us any reason to believe your intentions were righteous. You took them. Both,” Jagger snaps.

  The fucker makes my upper lip twitch in anger. Asshole. “You wanna turn this all on me? Fine, we’re done here. Good talk. My woman can flash home—where she belongs—at any given time,” I growl.

  I’m about to get myself the hell away from these fuckers when Gunnar grabs my arm. “Calm down, they’re allowed to make their point. You hear it, you flip it off if you like, and continue the conversation.”

  I shoot a glare at every single one surrounding me. “Well, let’s make it a one-sided conversation since I’m fresh out of fucking useful words.”

  Jagger nods at Alastair, annoyance written all over the Hellhound’s face, yet he lifts his chin and clears his throat. “The women haven’t stopped with investigating and exploring. Nixie is one hell of a witch and when Vapula was here the last time she was able to track down some of his blood. This will allow her to pinpoint his location. We haven’t used it yet because we wanted to discuss things with you so we could unite and face this head on...together.”

  Both adrenaline and anger mixes and cause an unexpected high slamming through me. They know how to pinpoint the fucker I’ve been after for years on end?

  “Be ready when I’m ready,” I snap before I raise my voice. “Tria, I’m leaving. Stay inside the protection of this clubhouse and come home when you’re ready.”

  Jagger and Alastair’s eyes bulge as if they expect me to drag my woman away instead of giving her a fucking choice. See how their judgmental predictions aggravate me? Fuckers.

  Instead of showing anger, I smirk at them. “My Old Lady...the only person on this planet who has some good influence on me.”

  Jagger and Alastair both bark out a laugh.

  Alastair leans in closer. “More like have us by the balls while they lead our fucking lives and the club’s.”

  Jagger smacks my upper arm as if we’re all buddies all of a sudden. “Remember that, ‘cause Azrael clearly said all sisters were part of the legend. If you don’t trust us, have faith in that.”

  I’m about to fire off about the fact I don’t have faith in anything but Tria pushes her way through to get to me. Have faith...I lost it when everything fell apart and landed solely on my shoulders when my brother was cursed. Now I’m standing here, on the doorstep of these fuckers who mention the sisters are part of the legend.

  “What do you know about the legend?” I ask in an ice-cold voice as I pull Tria close to me.

  Meanwhile, I revel in the way she came to me while I told her to stay with her sisters for a little while longer if she wanted to.

  “Nothing,” Jagger sighs. “There was nothing to be found in any books. We only knew about it when Azrael mentioned it to Tess. His exact words were ‘There is a legend unraveling that needs to be seen through, Tria and her sisters are a part of this.’”

  My body locks tight. I’ve been handling everything myself for years on end. There’s still anger running through me and I know very well I’m still standing here while I was set to leave a moment ago. Soft brushes over my abs cause a ripple of serenity to flow through my body. I glance down to lock into my mate’s eyes. Fuck. I adore those deep blue eyes, even though they twinkle with a hint of mischief.

  “Lower level Demons taking the world by force using any means necessary. I’ve hunted down most who were clearly linked with Vapula when he cursed Gunnar. I know for a fact there is still a large portion of lower level Demons supporting his mindset. Hell, I might even have a few rats in my MC who are solely there to get intel to him so he knows my every damn move. And it might also add to the reason why I don’t trust anyone.” I want to add the rest of the legend but I can’t. Not while I’m holding on to the woman who might not have the happy ending she wants and needs for the two of us.

  Chapter Six

  ***Tria***

  The way his body is strung as tight as a string and how he just pulled me closer...I know there’s something he’s not mentioning about the legend. But with what he just said it’s understandable because he confessed plain and simple why he doesn’t trust anyone.

  Well, besides the fact he was let down when The Orderly didn’t let anyone have his back when Vapula cursed Gunnar. Yup. Issues. We’ve all got them but his involves raining down an apocalypse that can end the world.

  “Why don’t we all let this stuff sink in and throw ideas around before we meet up at a later time this week to discuss and share our findings and options?” I offer, because I don’t like the way Vike’s body locks down.

 
; I feel him place a kiss on the top of my head and his chest rumbles from the words he throws out. “You heard my Old Lady.”

  Next thing I know, we’re standing in the Demon Charter’s clubhouse. Okay, I might need to start calling it home but it takes some getting used to the idea. Another thing I want to change is to earn Vike’s trust. I know the whole eternal mate thing connects us on a deep and thorough level but the things he went through left scars.

  And in some way, mating is a love at first sight thing, but it doesn’t entail every fiber of your being surrendering to the other person fully so you’re brainwashed into his la-la-land. It doesn’t work that way. You can tell because I’ve also fought our connection from the start so there is a matter of self-control in all of it, even if the bond is rooted into our DNA.

  Vike is straightforward, intriguing, fierce, hot as sin, and a whole lot more I’m bound to explore further. Point is, I’m fully invested. And the way my sister and Gunnar appear next to us while absorbed in a captivating kiss...I’d say my sister already surrendered fully. Another thing to be thankful for, finding our mates together so my sister and I get to live close by and not ripped apart.

  “Are you okay?” Vike questions as he cups my head.

  Demon or not, this man is sweet. Or at least he is to me. “I could ask you the same question.”

  He closes his eyes for a moment and gives his head a tiny shake before he leans in to feather his lips against mine. When he pulls back there’s worry swirling in his eyes.

  “I need to head into Church and talk some things through. Wait for me here or are you going to our room?” He brushes his thumb along my cheek while waiting for me to answer.

  I lean into his touch. The man doesn’t even realize he’s slipping into giving me choices instead of orders and expecting me to follow them. “Depends how long you’re gonna be gone. I’ll stay here with Dio and talk some, okay?”