Page 134 of Reaper's Rival

I wanted to throw something. Not just at Brittany but at a tall, tattooed biker soon to be my husband as well. I opened up his study door and dumped the folder on the desk. If I were him, I wouldn’t bother calling tonight because I wasn’t in the mood to be friendly.

***

My phone had been ringing for an hour on and off. Even the house phone had missed calls. Still, I was standing firm by not picking up. Reaper had put me in a foul mood all day, and half of me just wanted to shout at him.

I was lying on the couch when the answering machine beeped again. Great, another hang up message. Well, that was what I was expecting. “Abby, answer the fucking phone before I send the police around. I know you’re home, the tracker on your phone and car are saying you are. So answer my next call.”

I sat bolt upright. He had trackers on my stuff! Well, there goes my excuse of saying I was out and left the phone at home.

My mobile started ringing.

Guess I had no choice.

“What?” I barked down the phone.

“Finally you fucking answer. Want to tell me why you weren’t? What the fuck is with the attitude.”

“Does the word Brittany mean anything to you? Cause you sure as fuck mean something to her.”

He went quiet.

I was staring at my engagement ring, waiting for him to explain himself.

“That was at a time when you and I weren’t good. You have to believe me, Abby, when I say she was a band-aid to our problem.”

“So while I was grieving our son, you were fucking your way through the grief?”

“Abby.”

“No, that’s fine. Really, we all deal with our problems differently.”

“Abby.”

“Well, we have spoken now. You know I’m alive, so I’m going to go.”

“ABBY!”

“WHAT!”

“She was nothing. You know that. If she really meant something to me, would you be wearing that ring on your finger?”

It was my turn to go quiet.

“So there was Kaylee and Brittany. Anyone else I should avoid?”

“No, darling, and not one of them are you. All that matters is you and me.”

I went quiet again.

“You hearing me, Abby? It’s your love that keeps me going. Don’t ever doubt that. Don’t doubt us.”

I was quiet for a few minutes and just listened to him breathing. How was that calming to me? I guess he was right. I shouldn’t let others doubt us.

“How’s the ride?” I asked, changing the subject.

“Long. How’s home?”

“Quiet.”

---