Page 175 of Reaper's Claim

“I CAN’T!” he roared, getting up, not keeping his anger in check. “I’m under his fucking orders. It’s my duty, Abby. My duty to cull the list. I’m the Reaper. It’s my job and if the President wants me to do it, then I have to step up.”

I didn’t know who to be mad at. I didn’t know who to blame for my breaking heart.

“It was all just a lie, wasn’t it? You never wanted a relationship.” I stared at him, my eyes shining with breaking pain. “You are the Reaper. Cold-hearted, and you get what you want. You always have. So blaming my father won’t get you out of this. I don’t believe you. You deceived me from the start; I was just too stupid to see it.”

I got up from the bed, the ice that floated through my body slowly melting as boiling rage replaced it.

“I hate you for doing this to me.” I wiped my angry tears away. “For breaking my heart, again.”

He stood there in silence, just watching me. His eyes flashed with splintering rage, but he kept silent.

“What, nothing more to say?” I cocked my head to the side. “No more excuses.”

“I never expected you to understand.” He picked up the black bag and my heart squeezed tightly. “This is my life. The club is all I have.”

“That’s a lie. You had me.”

“And I couldn’t have fucking both, could I?”

“Just because you’re leaving didn’t mean you had to end it. Last time I checked, distance didn’t mean ending.”

“I don’t come back the same man.” He muttered more to himself, zipping the bag, then he looked up, locking his eyes with mine from across the room. “I wish I could give you what you want, Abby. But I can’t.”

“All I ever wanted was you.”

“Your father doesn’t want you to have this life.” He strolled across the room till he stood in front of me. Gently with his thumbs, he wiped the tears away from under my eyes. “I should have never chased you. The hurt you feel now is on me. I’m sorry.”

“You’re sorry.” I snorted and crossed my arms. “Well, that does so much.”

“I love you, Abby. Always will.” He dipped his head, holding my eyes with his. “I’ll never stop loving you.”

What could I say to that? I placed a hand on his hard leather, close to his heart. “Then don’t go.” Don’t leave, not again. I wasn’t sure if I could deal with it again. Every part of me ached when I wasn’t with him. I lost the point to living without him. Without him, I was nothing.

Nothing but an empty shell.

“You’ll be ok,” he reassured me and wrapped an arm around my back and pulled me into a hug. “You’re stronger than you know. You don’t need me.”

“I’m heartless without you,” I spoke, just before another wave of tears took over and I cried into his chest.

“Come on baby girl, no more tears. You’re killing me here.”

I sniffed back my tears and pulled away from him. “What did you expect? When you ride out of that lot, you’re taking a part of me, and I don’t know if I can live without it.”

“You were always too young and sweet for this type of lifestyle. You deserve better. You deserve a man that can put you first, and I can’t do that. Not now.”

“I mightn’t deserve you, but you’re all I ever wanted, Kade. Always will be.” I stepped out of his embrace. “But I get it. Club comes first.”

“I’m the Reaper. It is who I am. I’m the one that does the shit others can’t stomach. I’m sorry that you fell for the wrong guy.”

He leaned across me and opened the door.

“Do you have to leave tonight? It’s the dead of the night.” My stomach twisted with the realization that this was it. He was leaving and wasn’t coming back. I couldn’t fix this.

“I’m sure our paths will cross again.” A dim smile traced his lips. “Maybe then you’ll have found a man that deserves your heart.”

I closed my eyes, letting the tears fall.

Then he walked past me, and I didn’t reach out to stop him. Instead, I let him walk through the door and down the hall.

---