Page 42 of Reaper's Rival

“Daniels.”

Dad’s eyes lit up. “Like fuck that will be happening!”

I sighed. I couldn’t tell him the truth. I couldn’t just say “You know what, Dad, if I pretend to date this man, I won’t be questioned on why we are always together, and you know I’m doing all this for you. So you aren’t stabbed to death in prison.”

“He is a good guy,” I lied. “Can offer me a more stable life.”

“The club offers you a stable life.”

“No, it doesn’t. Women aren’t treated as equals! The club comes first. Daniels is offering to put me first. For once, I’m coming first.” I didn’t mean to have a dig at his parenting skills. I didn’t want to give him a lecture on how he always put the club before me. But if it helped him accept the fact I was with Daniels, then yeah, I’d do it.

When it came down to it, I was willing to cut all ties with my family to protect them. This wasn’t like the romance novels I love to read, where the guy leaves her to protect her. I was doing the protecting. I was letting Reaper go.

And I knew I would never find someone as kind or with such a good heart as his. Maybe one day when he stops hating me, we could be friends.

I’d rather have him as a friend than nothing at all.

Then again, being his friend would be hard. Watching him with other women. Having him bring up children with another woman. My hand went to my stomach. I was making the right decision. Who was I kidding, this was the only decision I could make!

I was backed into a corner with nowhere to run but face your fate. I guess that is what I was doing. Facing my fate.

Telling Dad was step one.

Next step was Kade.

“If this is something you really want, then I won’t stop it. But for the record. I’m not happy with your new boyfriend.”

“I’m not expecting you to like him. I just expect you to let me be with him.” I knew Daniels had the first kill locked in for this weekend, so I had to cut ties and quickly.

“Fine.” He nodded his head. “Reaper won’t take it well.”

“Yeah, I know.” I sighed and leaned back against the leather chair. Reality was, no matter how I handled this situation, someone was going to get hurt. Me or him. Who was I kidding? I was breaking both our hearts. Or at least Blake was making me.

I was so close to perfect I could have nearly tasted it. So close to having the perfect man and perfect child.

Now it was just going to be me and when I thought about it, I knew I couldn’t keep this baby. I know how cold I got after every hit. How I lost grip of reality. How I lost myself. I wasn’t loving or caring. I was calculating and cold. I wasn’t fit to be a mother.

I wouldn’t be fit for anything but pulling the trigger, and I was betting that was what Blake was counting on.

***

“You’re breaking up with me?” Reaper just stared at me blankly.

Well, at least he heard me. Now I needed to try and convince him I was serious about this.

“Yes.” I said firmly. “I can’t go with you to your new charter. I think it’s best we go our separate ways.” Just keep the emotion out of your voice, Abby. Don’t let him hear how much pain it is causing you to do this. “I’m sorry.”

He just stared at me blankly. Finally, when it looked like he was getting a grip on what I was telling him, he opened his mouth and then shut it again. Like he still couldn’t believe it.

“If this is about the new charter and you not wanting to leave family, I get it. We can stay. I don’t need the patch. I just want to be with you.” He took a step closer to me and I took one back.

“If I could start again, with you. I would make sure we were just friends, Reaper. I’m sorry, but I can’t love you like you love me. And it’s not about the charter. I want you to be President. You will make a great one. I just can’t be by your side while you do it.” Was I sucking at this breakup thing? I think I was.

“So you don’t love me? Is that what you are telling me?” he said, deadly calm. The type of calm he has before he starts shooting bullets and throwing furniture.

I couldn’t say that. I couldn’t tell him I didn’t love him. I took a deep breath in. Cut the ties, Abby.

“There is someone else.” I said so calmly that even I believed it. “He is offering me a life you can’t.”

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