Page 18 of Reaper's Rival

And just like that, things went from complicated to a fucking mess.

Chapter 5

Abby

They say you build your life on mistakes and experiences, and I would agree with that. Sitting here, clenching the steering wheel, I had to ask myself: how did I get here?

How did I go from drawing and dreaming about a man I could never have to here? How had I let myself fall down this rabbit hole? I should have known better. But one mistake led to another and soon, a snowball effect happened and before I knew it, I was here.

“Do you think they followed us?” Kim looked over her shoulder.

“No, Kim I don’t think they followed us.” I unclipped my seatbelt.

How could they have followed us? We drove an hour in the other direction, ditched the car, hired a hire car, then turned around and drove here. I kept looking in the rearview mirror. We hadn’t been followed.

My stomach curled. I can’t believe I had to schedule an appointment with my own father. Just being back here felt too familiar, it made my skin itch.

“Abby, we should really get out of the car.”

“I know.”

“No, I mean we really should get out. They are staring at us.”

I glanced up, my eyes landing on a band of men I once called family. Right. This was going to be a fucking nightmare.

“Ok, let’s go.” I cracked open the door and stepped out. Kim followed me and with confidence we both were faking, we strolled over to the men we once received protection from.

“Well if it isn’t the Harrison sisters.” Brad had his arms crossed but wore a somewhat familiar grin on his face.

“Brad. It’s been awhile.” I looked him squarely in the eyes. “How are you?”

“Been tracking your ass down for the last three months, so you could say I’m worn the fuck out.”

“Sorry,” Kim piped in, and her eyes flickered to Trigger’s. “Where’s Dad?”

“Roach is inside. He’s waiting for you.” Trigger gestured with his arm for us to follow him, and my gut was telling me something was wrong.

Just being here felt too right that it had to be bad, didn’t it?

The clubhouse door swung open, and the scent of liquor, cannabis, and sex flooded over me. I wanted to groan. The mix made me feel at home; safe.

I had expected to be dragged into the boardroom. Instead, a long table had been dragged into the center of the clubhouse. My eyes naturally were drawn to the head of the table, and there was Dad.

Shaved head, looking like he hadn’t aged a day, but the bags under his eyes told me he wasn’t sleeping. My heart clenched because I knew I was part of the reason that would be adding stress to his plate.

Still, after everything he did, after everything he said, I cared. How was that possible? Guess that is why they call it family.

Kade was standing to his right, and I swallowed sharply, not wanting to meet his eyes.

He would see right through me. He would see how nervous I was. I couldn’t let my walls fall.

“Dad.” I placed a hand on my hip and held my head higher. “Thanks for fitting us in.”

“Always got time for my daughters, even if they want to kill me.” His voice hardened, and he dragged a chair out, dropping his full body weight down. “Sit the fuck down.”

Kim and I looked at each other then dragged a chair out on the opposite side of the table. Time to get down to business, and it was going to get fucking messy.

“Abby, you wanna explain the tattoo on your shoulder?” He fired off the first question and honestly, I should have expected it.

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