Page 64 of Reaper

“When are you due?”

She giggles softly.

“Six weeks, and I can’t wait to get this baby out.”

Suddenly, loud voices travel from upstairs, followed by heavy footsteps. I look up and see a furious glare on Nico’s face. He storms toward me.

“Bella. Now. We’re leaving. Athena, I’m sorry.”

I get up and walk over to him to ask what’s going on, when the other three come down the stairs. Bones growls, “Goddamn it, Reaper. We aren’t done.”

Nico gives him the same growl back.

“We are done. Fuck you. Fuck this family. I’m done!”

I glance at Bones, and his expression is full of pain. It’s heartbreaking, even if I don’t know what’s going on.

“I didn’t fucking know.”

Nico takes my hand in his, and tightens his hold around mine painfully, pulling me to the door as Bones’ loud voice booms through the entryway.

“I didn’t fucking know!”

Without turning around, Nico says, “I’m a Bonetti in name only. You have two brothers now. Leave me alone.”

Taking a look back, I see Athena standing with her hand over her mouth like she’s horrified, and I agree with her, although I don’t know why.

Whatever happened in there is going to change everything.

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

REAPER

Three days later…

“Do you want me to go, Nico?”

I glance up at a Bella I’ve never seen before. She still looks like the same stunning woman I’ve gotten to know, but she’s different. Unsure. I don’t have to ask why, because I already know the answer. I’ve been an asshole for the last three days. I’ve barely talked to her, and I haven’t touched her once. She was my peace. My goddamn healing source, but I pushed her away because, as usual, I can’t deal with my emotions. The voices in my head are so loud they nearly echo.

“No.”

“I don’t know how to reach you. It feels like I’m losing you, and it scares me.”

Blowing out a deep breath, I say, “Come here.”

She walks over to me, and I pull her onto my lap.

Wrapping her arms around my neck, she lays her head on my shoulder, and lets out a shaky breath.

“You don’t have to battle your demons alone.”

As I stroke my fingers through her hair, the first sense of peace I’ve had in days fills me.

“I’m sorry.”

Lifting her head up, she kisses my neck, before laying it back down.

“Will you tell me what happened?”

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