Page 124 of Reaper's Rival

Dad grunted. “Well, at least I know if any fucker hurts you, he won’t be living for long.”

I knew Reaper had a temper and was feared for a reason. I wasn’t stupid. I also knew he had killed a lot of men. The only way I can rest with it was if Reaper hadn’t cleaned up the scum of the earth, who knows who they would have hurt?

“Well, at least you can see one good thing about us being together.” I crossed my arms. “Now do you want to tell why you gave him the impression I was heading home with you?”

“Because I wanted you to come home. Knew you two weren’t speaking, and the only solution I saw was you coming home with me. Where I can look after you and maybe you would have made a break from this type of life.”

“You really need to stop worrying about me, Dad.” I placed a hand on his arm. “I’m fine and can look after myself. And that type of life is the way I live my life.”

He grunted again and crossed his arms. “Why couldn’t you just fall in love with a banker or an accountant? Someone who feared me and would have gotten you out of harm's way.”

“I’m not in harm's way.”

“Yes, you are. You really think that this decision to stay here with him is going to turn out alright? Because if you don’t get hurt by one of his enemies, then it will be by him. You don’t think I heard about him sleeping with that girl? I’m telling you now, you’re making a mistake staying here.”

Why was he the second person to warn me off Reaper? Didn’t people realize I knew him better than any of them? I knew deep down in that cold heart of his that he loved me and while the rest of the world saw the scary biker that carries guns and has more tattoos than any of them. I saw the real him.

Reaper had remained extremely quiet behind me, and it surprised me. I half expected him to be yelling at Dad by now. “You know what, Dad? Like you said, it’s my decision, and I’ve made it. You mightn’t like the idea of me being here, but it's where I am staying, and nothing you say or do will make me think differently about Reaper. I’m his. Simple fact. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need a drink.”

I walked around him and headed for the bar. I really did need a drink now.

Reaper

I watched her walk off, her blonde hair swaying, and my eyes were pulled down to her cute butt before she disappeared behind a member.

Then my eyes landed on Roach.

“Thanks.” I looked him in the eye. “You did a convincing job of hating me.”

“You know I wouldn’t trust my daughter with just anyone. I know you will keep her safe. So why did you have me testing her?” Roach crossed his arms, narrowing his eyes at me.

“Just had to see if she really wanted to stay or not. After everything we have been through, it made sense if she left with you, hating me.”

“Hate to break it to you, son, but my daughter has fallen in love with you, and that means she loves your faults as well.”

“Yeah. Don’t know if I deserve that.”

“Doesn’t matter what you deserve, it’s what you’ve got. When Abby’s mother fell in love with me, I never thought I deserved her, but she stayed by my side anyway. And Abby is a lot like her mother. She has her heart set on you, and there will be no breaking that. You should be thankful and look the fuck after her.”

“I will.” I looked over Roach’s head, trying to spot Abby. “Thanks again, Roach. You might make a good father-in-law.”

He whacked my arm. “Fuck that for a joke.”

I laughed and wandered off in the direction that Abby had taken moments before. I couldn’t see her at the bar.

“Hey, Reaper.”

Great, just what I needed.

“Kaylee.”

She crossed her arms and hummed up at me. “Next time you get your girlfriend to scare me off, you might want to remind her that I live here under your orders, so she doesn’t get the right to threaten that.” She stormed off, shouldering me on the way.

I spotted Abby walking down the staircase with Kim, laughing.

I strolled through the bar and met her at the bottom of the stairs.

She smiled at me and wrapped her arms around my neck. I arched an eyebrow down at her. “You’ve been a busy girl. Been gone a few minutes and you’re already causing trouble.”

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