Page 99 of Reaper's Claim

“You should get your sister and take off for a bit.” He finished his beer. “Before your old man comes out.”

“I don’t see why it is such a big deal they are here. It isn’t like I haven’t met the Shield boys or Jackson before.”

“It’s not them you should be worried about.”

I didn’t need his stupid warning. I knew to stay out of Amber’s way.

An awkward silence slowly fell between us. I didn’t know what to talk to him about. The man I had made love with the other night. It was easygoing and I usually felt able to speak freely with him.

But when we are out here, in the real world, he had such a hardened exterior that it left me baffled on how to talk to him.

“Kade, I mean… Reaper. Can I ask you something?” My words tumbled over each other, causing my cheeks to flush.

His unbiased expression didn’t waver. “What?” His eyebrows arched with what I guessed was interest when I didn’t speak straight away.

I was still trying to word it in a way that didn’t make me sound like a whining teenage girl.

Taking a deep breath, I locked my eyes with him, mustering some fake confidence.

“What are we?” I finally said. Sure it was soft, and he might have struggled to hear it, but I did say it.

When his mouth opened, my hopes skyrocketed. Finally, I was going to get a label to put on us. If we were in a relationship, that meant we needed boundaries. It also meant I was his.

My luck being as it was, of course, this would be the very moment the boardroom doors opened, which killed the conversation completely.

I couldn’t stop the frustration from showing on my face, and I turned on my stool.

She didn’t look any less threatening, and the boys didn’t look any more thrilled to be here.

“Do you want me to clean out some of the rooms, Dad?” I spoke loudly across the room. Seeing as they had killed my conversation, I might as well kill their silent whispering.

Dad turned sharply. He seemed taken back by me being here. Had he expected us to take off?

Maybe I should have taken Reaper’s warning.

When Dad’s eyes didn’t glow red, I assumed I was in the clear. Though I was making sure I was out of here when Kim came back. I wouldn’t be wearing her mess.

“Amber, you staying?” Dad grunted in a kind type of way, causing my eyes to widen for a second.

Was Dad scared of her too?

She was looking directly up at Jackson. What were the chances of two of the most feared criminals in our society dating one another? Together, they created a ruthless and powerful couple.

“Suppose we’ll stay.” Amber’s eyes flickered over to me. Her head tilted to one side as she silently judged me.

“Well um, I’m going to go get the room ready.” I slid off the bar stool.

“And I’ll go help. What was your name?” Amber’s eyes were locked on me and even though she was staring at me; I didn’t think it was possible that she would want to speak to me.

“Abby. My name's Abby.” I felt like a complete retard saying my name twice, but it had already slipped out before I could stop it.

“I’m going to help Abby get our rooms ready.” She seemed set on the idea.

“Since when did you get rooms ready?” Cole asked dryly.

“Since now,” Amber said sharply while giving him a pointed expression.

I swallowed sharply as nerves consumed me.

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