Page 17 of Reaper

“Wow,” she whispered, her voice barely more than a breath.

Reaper stepped beside her, his gaze fixed on the horizon. “Used to come up here when I needed to clear my head.”

She laughed softly, the sound tinged with nostalgia. “I heard this is where teenagers come to make out.”

His low chuckle rumbled through the air.“That too.”

She turned to him, her heart pounding. The moonlight carved shadows across his face, emphasizing the rugged lines and the glint of something deeper in his eyes. Standing there, she felt like a teenager again—giddy, hopeful, and a little reckless.

Reaper looked at her then, his eyes dark and intense.“Savannah...” He said her name like it meant something, like she was something precious.

She stepped closer, the distance between them shrinking until their bodies almost touched.“Yeah?”

He reached up, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. His fingers lingered on her cheek, rough and warm. The world faded away until all that existed was his touch, his breath, his eyes dropping to her lips. She closed her eyes, waiting for the kiss she’d been craving since the night they met.

But then the low, unmistakable rumble of motorcycle engines shattered the moment.

Savannah opened her eyes. Reaper dropped his hand from her face, and his body shifted in front of hers, shielding her.

His shoulders tensed, his posture hardening into pure defense. Her stomach knotted as two motorcycles pulled up, their headlights cutting through the darkness. The riders dismounted, their silhouettes illuminated just enough for her to see the patches on their leather jackets—Ravagers. Ice slid down her spine.

Reaper’s hand drifted to his belt, his fingers flexing around the grip of his gun.

“Stay behind me,” he murmured.

She nodded, her fingers trembling as they found the cold metal inside her purse. The riders walked forward, boots crunching on gravel.

The tall one had greasy blond hair, a twisted smile plastered on his face. The other was stocky, his neck covered in tattoos that looked like dark snakes under the moonlight. Then she recognized the tall one. Her heart stopped. Slim. Raker’s buddy. The last time she’d seen him, she’d been running for her life.

Slim’s lips curled into a cruel grin.“Well, well. Look what we have here.” His gaze landed on her, and his smile widened.“Been a while, Savannah.”

Her throat tightened. Memories clawed at the edges of her mind, but she shoved them down, locking them away. Reaper’s body shifted protectively in front of her, his gun steady.

“This is Iron Sentinels territory,” Reaper said, his voice cold as steel. “You’re trespassing.”

Slim’s companion laughed, the sound sharp and mocking.“Didn’t realize the Sentinels were babysitting strays.”

Anger flared inside her, momentarily overpowering the fear. Her fingers tightened around her gun. Reaper didn’t move, his stance unwavering.

“You’re outnumbered, Sentinel,” the stocky man sneered.

Without hesitation, Savannah pulled the gun from her purse and clicked off the safety. The sound was loud in the night air.

Slim’s eyes narrowed, his grin faltering.“Still full of surprises, I see,” he muttered.

“Get out of here,” Reaper warned.“Last chance.”

Slim held up his hands in mock surrender. “Relax. No harm done.” But as he turned to leave, his eyes met Savannah’s, cold and calculating. “Raker misses you.”

The words hit her like a punch to the gut. She barely registered the sound of their engines roaring away. Her arms shook, the adrenaline draining out of her, leaving her cold and hollow.

Reaper’s arm wrapped around her shoulders, pulling her into his warmth.“Hey,” he whispered, his voice gentle now.“They’re gone. It’s okay.”

She turned into him, her forehead against his chest, and let out a shaky breath. Her hands trembled, the gun forgotten now. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, the words slipping out before she could stop them.

He pulled back just enough to look into her eyes. His thumb brushed a tear from her cheek.“Don’t apologize. None of this is your fault.”

Her chest ached, but the steady warmth of his gaze anchored her. He cupped her face, his touch firm and reassuring.

---