Page 176 of Reaper's Claim

I let him go.

That’s what he wanted, wasn’t it?

He had deceived me from the start, or maybe I had deceived myself into thinking we could actually be together.

Was that the goodbye I really pictured us to have?

Didn’t what we had deserve a better goodbye?

Without overthinking, I spun the bedroom door back open and sprinted down the hallway, down the stairs, through the crowded bar, and out the clubhouse doors.

My eyes landed on Reaper’s back; he was still walking to his bike.

“REAPER!”

He turned and then caught me with both arms, lifting me off the ground.

I curled into him, holding on for dear life. Taking in his strong scent for the last time and the safety of his arms.

“I lied.” I whimpered into his chest. “I could never hate you.”

“Shhh.” He ran his hands down my back. “I know. I know, Abby.”

“I just didn’t want you to leave and I...” I pulled away from his shoulder, meeting his eyes. “I love you, Kade. Please don’t go.”

“Got to, babe. But,” He leaned his forehead against mine. “I love you too. Always will.”

I didn’t want to let go, but I knew I had to. So I slid down his body, pulling my arms from around his neck and cupping his cheeks. “You don’t know how much I need you. How much I need to breathe the same air as you. I won’t make it without you.”

“You have before. I know you can.” His grip on me loosened, and he held me by my hips. “I’ll be seeing you again, Abby.”

“Yeah, I will be seeing you too.” I kissed the side of his cheek and pulled away. “Don’t go and get yourself killed now.”

“I’ll try my best not to.”

My eyes dragged across his motorbike and then slowly back up to him.

“I love you, Kade.”

“And I love you, Abby.” He dipped his lips and kissed me with the force of a hurricane.

Like it was our last kiss.Because it was our last kiss.

Then he pulled away, and I watched with a stomach filled with knives as he rode off into the darkness. And when the taillights of his bike disappeared, my heart froze.

***

“Did you send him away?”

I had stormed into Dad’s bedroom. The whore that was on him screamed and pulled the blankets over herself.

“DID YOU SEND HIM AWAY?” I screamed from the end of his bed. Not caring he was busy. Not caring that he most likely was furious at me for being in here.

“Get the fuck out, Abby.”

“Answer me!”

“YES!” He threw the blankets off him, pulling up his pants. “I fucking sent that fucker the hell away from you.”

---