Page 71 of Reaper's Rival

“It pleases me to hear that.”

“Yeah well, it’s not your body getting fatter, is it?”

He laughed. “You sure you don’t want me to come get you?”

“As tempting as it is, you won’t get here till at least six, and by then I could be back on the road. If I get Daniels up.”

“You sure he isn’t with you?”

“Yes.” I pulled the blankets up and put a pillow behind my back. “I should let you get to sleep.”

“I should be saying that to you.”

“Yeah well, I’m not going to get any unless I’m with you.” The words tumbled out of my mouth and I immediately regretted them. “Sorry I didn’t mean to say that. I don’t know what I was thinking. I don’t want that pressure on you. It’s-”

“Abby, stop.” He cut me off. “I meant it when I said it, you are mine come nighttime. And after last night, I’m not planning on letting you sleep by yourself again.”

“Apart from tonight, right?”

“Because it’s out of my control yes.”

I went silent. I couldn’t keep him on the phone all night. Even if I’d be up all night.

“Night, Kade.”

“Try and sleep, Abby,” he pleaded with me. “For both of you.”

“I will. I’ll see you later today.” I pulled the phone from my ear and hung up. I flicked the lights off. I guess I could try and sleep. I moved the pillow behind my back, but my eyes were wide awake, staring across the room. Screw it, I might as well read. I flicked the lights back on. Maybe after a couple of chapters I’ll fall asleep.

***

I finished my book about an hour before Daniels was knocking on my door to leave. Which meant I had nothing to read on the way back home. So I played games on my phone and when that got boring, I sung badly to the radio. When Daniels declared his ears were bleeding from it, I was forced to talk to him.

And for once, we didn’t talk business. No, we talked babies. He told me all about his three-year-old son. How his ex-girlfriend wants nothing to do with him, but he still gets his son every second Sunday.

Which made sense to me now. Why he always made a point to be home at a reasonable hour every second Sunday. I just never picked up the pattern. He told me his son’s name was Kyle.

It was the middle of the afternoon when we really got home. And again, Dad had been raping my phone. I knew I was in for a lecture as soon as I stepped through the clubhouse. I also knew Dad was so furious, it wasn’t going to be a private one.

I closed the van’s door, readjusting my handbag on my shoulder and walking to the garage.

I saw his legs sticking out from under a car. I swear this man loves spending time in the garage. I kicked his legs, causing him to curse and slide out.

“Hey Brad.”

“Abby.” He smiled.

I dropped the keys on his chest. “Thanks for the van.”

“I don’t think you will be thanking me when your old man is through with you.”

“Yeah, I was expecting as much.” I sighed. I really was tired and not in the mood for a fight. “I’ll see you later.”

“Nah, I’m not letting you face your old man by yourself.” He got up. “The more people around, the less chance of it getting physical.”

“I deserve it if he hits me.” I shrugged, walking across the lot with Brad. My eyes landed on the GT that was parked across from the bikes. Who would be driving that around here? Yet why was it familiar?

“You don’t deserve to be hit. Your old man needs to keep a lid on his anger.” Brad held the clubhouse door for me.

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