Page 97 of Reaper's Claim

“WHY ARE THERE NAKED MEN IN MY BAR!?”

Dad had appeared for the end of the show, looking like his furious self. It would have to be after three in the morning. Why he had surfaced, I didn’t know.

“Roach.” Collins quickly pulled his boxers up.

“We were just playing strip pool.” I answered for Dad.

His eyes narrowed on me. “Was Kim drunk?”

“Not was, Dad. Am.” Kim picked up her undies, still wobbly on her feet.

Dad pinched the bridge of his nose and attempted to calm himself down. “Bed now. The two of you.”

“Whatever you say, Dad.” I picked up my undies as well.

“Dad.Roach is your father?” Collins looked at me as if I was completely insane.

“Yeah. Night, Collins. Have a safe trip home.” I shot him a wink, and Kim was giving Darren a good night kiss when I looked back at Reaper. Had I made my point?

“Girls, bed!”

Kim grabbed my arm, giggling, and for the first time in days she was actually having a good time and not crying over Trigger. Sure, she was so drunk she could barely stand, but she was happy, at least for the night.

The crowd had broken up and the boys were either heading to bed too or ready to hit the cards again.

I hoped Reaper had gotten the message. If he could fool around, so could I. And I hoped it hurt him, as much as it hurt me to watch.

***

“You girls need to get a life.” Dad sat across from us with a serious expression on his face. It was middle of the afternoon and all three of us were still hung over.

“Get a life!?” My mouth dropped open. He could not be serious right now, and where had it come from!?

“I’m not working.” Kim crossed her arms stubbornly. “I won’t be some chick on a register.” Screwing her nose up, she clicked her tongue. “Why do we have to anyway?”

I couldn’t believe my own father had told me to get a life. Seriously, my dad, telling me to get a life! He hadn’t meant it in a nasty manner. I knew that.

“Still don’t see how getting a job equals to getting a life,” I grumbled, adding to Kim’s argument. I wasn’t keen on the idea of getting a job.

“Can’t have you girls just hanging around here all day,” he grunted, “being on my back twenty-four seven. If you two are moving back, you need to get jobs. Support yourselves.”

I opened my mouth, and he pointed a finger at me.

“Working the bar doesn’t count.”

Well, there goes my only option. I folded my arms and swung back in the chair.

“So you just want us out of your way?” Kim leaned forward in her seat. I knew that face. It meant her twisted riddled mind was coming up with a plan.

And if I knew Kim, it would be better than a fucking nine to five job.

He grunted with a short head nod while reaching for his freshly poured whiskey.

“What about if Abby and I headed to university instead, would you support us then?”

I nearly choked on my own breath.

“Kim,” I growled. She better shut those fat lips before she locks us into university.

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