Page 146 of Reaper's Claim

“Yeah just um,” I unclicked my seat belt. “Not really in a rush to see my dad.”

“Thought things were good between you two?”

“It was.” Then I recalled how he scared Reaper away from me. “But when it comes to him, you never know.”

“Yeah well, I’m gonna get an earful from Reaper.” He unclicked his seat belt.

“What for?”

“For taking all day.”

“What does it matter anyway, wasn’t like he was around today.”

He frowned for a moment. “Reaper rode in last night. Surprised you didn’t hear them.”

He was back.

He had been back since this morning.

I swallowed my anger quickly. “Nope, must have slept through it.”

“Yeah well, he’s acting like a dick at the moment.” Brad climbed out of the van, and I was quick to follow, scooping up my handbag off the floor before slamming the van door shut.

God, it was cold. The freezing air whipped through me as we walked across the lot.

“Thanks for letting me come today.” I gave Brad a smile. I was honestly thankful to get away from this place.

The corner of his lip twitched up. “Surprised you wanted to come.”

“Any excuse to get out of this place.” I suppressed a smirk. “Plus you aren’t bad company.”

He scoffed, “Glad to hear I don’t bore you.”

“You could never bore me.”

We shared a simple smile before he opened up the clubhouse door for me. Was it wrong of me to like having Brad’s attention?

“Where the hell have you been all day?” Kim roared from across the bar; her face went from calm to furious in a second.

“I’ve been with Brad.”

“So you thought you wouldn’t answer your phone?”

“We were out of range for a bit. God, Kim, calm down, it’s not like someone died.”

The anger melted off her face. “Dad’s in the hospital.”

Hospital. Dad. Dad didn’t go to the hospital. Ever, period.

“What happened?” I was more aware of the glum mood that stained the air now. All the boys were quiet and sitting randomly around the room, drinking silently.

“He had a heart attack.” Kim’s voice wavered with emotion. “He was on his bike when it happened. He’s messed up, Abby, like real bad.”

“Why aren’t you at the hospital?”

“Because I’ve been there all day, I just came home to get changed and try to track you down.”

“Well, I’m going back up with you.”

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