Page 145 of Reaper's Claim

His eyes locked with mine, and I saw the regret and then it was gone. “Not anymore.” He smiled at me. “How can I be missing her when I’ve got you entertaining me.”

I grinned. “Glad I can help.”

“It would never have worked between her and me,” he opened up. “She hated the club, what it stood for.”

“But she chose to be a part of it.” I frowned.

He nodded his head, “When she was young and stupid, she decided to become a club girl. She said she always regretted it.”

I couldn’t understand why. We were a family, a tight family.

“She asked me to pick between the club and her, and well, you know how that ended,” he added.

“She should never have put you in that position. If she knew you for real, she could never do that. You and the club aren’t separate; you’re together. You wouldn’t be who you are without the club.”

He grinned, looking up from the salt and pepper shakers. “And that is what would make you the perfect woman.”

I brushed my blonde hair to the side of my face, “Not everyone would think that.” Reaper didn’t see it like that.

“Well whoever he is, he doesn’t deserve you.”

My eyes bounced up from the table and met his again. “He sees me as a responsibility. Like I’m something he has to protect, and it is too much work.”

“Sounds like a wanker.”

I laughed, “You could say that. As well as stubborn, immature, and hot-headed.”

“Nothing would ever happen to you anyway, Abby. You got a lot of men standing in front of harm's way before there was any chance of you getting hurt.”

It was official, Brad had a soft side, and I grinned across at him. “Thank you.”

He shrugged his shoulders, “It’s just the truth.”

“He thinks that the bad things that define him could hurt me.”

“A man is defined by his choices. But he has to know you aren’t going to wait forever. Or are you?”

Was I going to wait for Reaper to change? To accept me? To change his mind? When I really thought about it, I realized just how stupid I was being.

“I’m not.”

“Not what?” Brad frowned at me.

“I’m not waiting for him anymore.”

“Sounds like a smart idea, darling.” He smiled at me kindly.

And just like that, I made a decision. I wasn’t waiting anymore.

Chapter 62

Abby

We didn’t get back till late, and half of me believed that was because of Brad. He seemed to be in no rush to get back and did the actual speed limit the whole way home.

Now we were here, I didn’t want to go in.

“You alright?” Brad gave me a questioning look as I stayed strapped in the van.

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