Page 80 of Reaper

“The doctor gave me something for the pain. I’m notusingdrugs.”

“I’m referring to you arranging to buy drugs prior to going to the house.”

Bella’s mouth forms the perfect ‘O’ as realization dawns on her.

“I was hoping to sneak up on him, and take him out easily. How did you know?”

Smirking at her, I say, “Every keystroke on my laptop is recorded. Also, you bought drugs from my family, just so you know.”

Her eyelids get heavy, and I pull her head back to my chest.

“Sleep, baby.”

Almost instantly, she relaxes and slumbers in my arms, exactly where she’s supposed to be. I stare at her face, while she gets the rest she needs, and can’t believe I thought for a second I could let her go. I’ll help her release her rage. If I have to line up dozens of people for her to kill, I will. She can squeeze the breath from their lungs, or gut them like a fish. Whatever she needs, she will have.

“Nico,” she gasps, as she claws at the skin covering my heart.

“It’s okay, baby, I’m right here.”

Relaxing her hands, she whispers, “I thought-”

Kissing her on the top of her head, I reassure her, or at least try.

“I’m right here, and I’m not going anywhere. If I have to fucking piss, I’m taking you with me.”

She sighs with contentment, and, fuck does that sound good. I hold her tighter, while my chest squeezes.

I keep my gaze on her, and can’t stop thinking about how I could’ve lost her, permanently. I’ll never fucking allow that again.

CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

BELLA

I wake to Nico holding onto me like I might disappear if he relaxes his hold. When I open my eyes, he’s staring into them, and wiping tears from my face.

“Was I crying?”

He nods and leans down, kissing my cheek.

“I don’t remember. Fuck. I hate this. I need-”

“What do you need, baby?”

I sigh loudly.

“Violence. I need violence, Nico.”

He watches me cautiously.

“Are you sure it’s not too soon?”

Raising an eyebrow, I ask, “Nico Bonetti, have you gone soft?”

His lips turn up into that delicious smirk that I love so much.

“For you? Softer than one of those fucking memory foam pillows. For the rest of the world? Not a fucking chance. You want to go kill people, living dead girl?”

I nod with a sigh. “I really do.”

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