Page 39 of Reaper's Claim

Trent’s fingers were drawing a small circle on my lower back. I knew he was doing it so I wouldn’t get upset.

It wasn’t till the front door closed behind them that the tension in the air disappeared.

“Sorry for what she said.” I kissed Trent’s cheek. I didn’t care that he wore glasses, he was a great guy, and the old Abby would have thought so, too.

“Don’t worry, babe.” He grinned at me, and I really don’t know what I had done to deserve him to stand by me. When Abby did make an appearance, she was always saying hurtful things, and it was always about his glasses, which I found kind of cute.

Dipping my head down, I pressed my lips against his. Trent was super sweet, and Abby’s mean comments slipped away quickly as my mind focused on more important things.

***

“Babe.”

“Babe.”

I groaned slowly, being pulled from my dreamy state.

“Babe, there is someone downstairs. Are you expecting anyone?”

I rubbed my eyes and sat up and looked across at Trent. “What do you mean someone is downstairs? Is it Abby?”

“I don’t think so; they sounded like men’s voices.” Trent got up from the bed and flicked the lights on. “Do you want me to go down?”

I was wide awake; nothing like the thought of someone uninvited in your house to snap you from a sleepy state.

“No, I will.” I pulled open the bedside drawer and tossed my undies around until my hand landed on the cold metal.

“Babe, really?” Trent shook his head in disbelief, eyeing the gun in my hand.

“Sorry, Trent, but I’m still a biker girl at heart.” I opened my bedroom door. Trent followed me, and I was kind of glad he was behind me. Trent had a thin build, and I’m certain he hadn’t thrown a punch in his life.

I flipped the hall lights on and listened for the voices. I heard footsteps in the living room and then noticed the light had been turned on.

Raising my gun, I rounded the corner. Dad’s eyes snapped to me, wide and shock-filled. A wide smile broke out across my face, and I flicked the safety back on and tossed the gun into the recliner.

I threw myself into the brick wall known as my dad. I wrapped my arms around his neck, and he lifted me off the ground, hugging me back.

“Daddy, oh god, I’ve missed you.” I squeezed him tightly.

It had been exactly 55 weeks since I’d seen him and now that he was here, the feelings hit me hard. I had missed my dad and all his oddness.

Dad and I parted, and I realized Reaper was standing beside him. He was sporting a deep glare that was directed solely at me, and it really threw me.

The last time I remembered seeing him was when he left with my sister.

“And who is this?” Dad was looking over my shoulder at Trent. I spun around on my heel. Trent was standing in the doorway with a blank expression.

He knew about my family, but I think seeing them in the flesh for the first time was a bit shocking. Dad was intimidating.

“Dad, this is Trent, my boyfriend.” I put my hand out for Trent to take.

I swear I could hear Trent’s thoughts as his eyes locked with my father’s. He was freaking out.

“Trent.” Dad’s eyes narrowed and looked him up and down. “What the fuck do you do?”

“DAD!” I threw a hand into his chest. “Don’t speak to him like that.”

“I’m studying medicine.” Trent’s eyes flickered to mine. “That’s how I met your daughter at university.”

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