Page 7 of Reaper

“Oh. Thanks.” She reached for it, brushing his fingers briefly as she took it.

Reaper’s gaze stayed on her, his sharp eyes studying her face, then drifting lower—lower than she realized, because his expression shifted into something unreadable. It was then she realized her mistake.

The gun. She was still holding it. Her face warmed, but she didn’t lower it immediately. His eyes lingered on the weapon in her hand, his jaw tightening as a muscle ticked.

“Expecting company?” he asked, his tone sharp, almost possessive.

Savannah shivered at the sound, though she told herself it was just the cool air from the open door.

Reaper wasn’t the kind of man you ignored easily. With his ink-covered arms, his broad shoulders, and that perpetually serious expression, he looked like he could break someone in two without a second thought. But even now, standing in front of him with a gun in her hand, she wasn’t afraid. She never had been—not of him.

“Never hurts to be careful,” she answered lightly, though her voice came out a little breathless.

She set the gun down on the small table near the door, careful not to meet his eyes as she did.

“And thanks for bringing this back. I didn’t even realize I left it,” she added.

Reaper nodded, his expression softening slightly, though he didn’t step back.“It was on the bench. Figured it might be important.”

“It is.” Savannah ran her fingers over the bracelet, the familiar leather grounding her. “But, uh … how did you know where I live?”

Her question came out sharper than she intended, and she mentally cursed herself for sounding suspicious. She could tell by the slight arch of Reaper’s brow that he’d picked up on it.

“It’s on the order forms you filled out,” he said, his tone casual, though his gaze was still keen, watching her closely.

“Oh. Right.” She relaxed slightly, though she still felt a little embarrassed by her reaction.

She wasn’t used to people knowing where to find her—or caring enough to bring something back, for that matter.

Reaper’s eyes dropped to her again, lingering a little too long for her comfort. Or maybe not her comfort exactly, because she felt anything but uncomfortable under his scrutiny. It was … different.

He met her gaze again, his voice quieter this time.“You all right, Savannah?”

The way he said her name sent a strange warmth through her. It was so simple, but it carried weight, like he wasn’t just asking out of politeness. He genuinely wanted to know.

“I’m fine,” she said quickly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “Just … long day. That’s all.”

Reaper didn’t look convinced, but he didn’t press. Instead, he nodded, stepping back slightly. “All right. I’ll let you get some rest. Just thought you’d want this back,” he said.

“Thanks,” she said again, her voice softer this time. She hesitated, not wanting to close the door just yet.“Good night, Reaper.”

“You have a good night too, Savannah,” he said, his tone lingering in the way that made her stomach flip.

She shut the door and leaned against it, her heart racing for reasons that had nothing to do with fear this time. Reaper’s presence always had a way of making her feel both on edge and strangely secure. He was rough around the edges, sure, but there was something about him—something steady, protective, and entirely too tempting.

Savannah fingered the bracelet in her hand, her thoughts swirling. She still wasn’t sure if staying here was the smart thing to do. But moments like this made her want to reconsider.

She shook her head, pushing herself off the door and heading back toward her bedroom. She wasn’t ready to figure that out tonight.

For now, she’d just hold onto the bracelet and try to ignore the way Reaper’s gaze seemed to silently devour her, how his voice lingered in her ears, tempting her to believe there might be something between them.

Chapter Four

Reaper stood outside the Iron Sentinels’ clubhouse. He crossed his arms as he surveyed the yard.

The night was quiet, the cool air a rare relief after a long day. Most of the brothers had turned in or were gathered inside, shooting pool and knocking back beers.

He’d joined them earlier, but the noise felt too suffocating tonight. He scanned the lot, thinking of his interaction with Savannah three nights ago. When he returned her bracelet he’d been surprised to see she owned a gun. He hadn’t pressed her then, but he’d gotten even more intrigued with her. She had secrets. He could see it in her eyes, hear it in her voice whenever she dodged a question. And damn it if those secrets didn’t make him more curious.

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