Page 9 of Reaper's Rival

I was spinning a glass around, listening to them chatter in the kitchen, when the kitchen doors spun open.

“Well if it isn’t Abby,” Matthews smirked and shouldered past me.

“If it isn’t the whore himself.”

“Jealousy doesn’t suit you, Abby.”

“You’re right, good thing I’m not jealous.” I poked him as he gulped down the contents of the milk container.

“You’re replacing that.” Kim pointed a finger at him but didn’t take her eyes off the layout of the barn. “We should have men at the back too. Storm the front, then they come from the back to push across the message.”

“Abby, will you pay attention?” Kim slapped her hand down on the kitchen bench in front of me. “And stop playing with Matthews.”

Rolling my eyes, I sighed. “Kim. The plan is tight; going over and over it isn’t going to change it. We can’t prepare for the unexpected, so going over these plans isn’t doing shit.”

“Having a locked-in plan will back us up.”

“And what if they come with more than five men? What if the Chinese decide to throw a few extra in a car that we’re not expecting? The details will work out on the day. Anyway, if things get hot and heavy, just shoot everything and anything that isn’t Hellbound. Speaking of,” my eyes landed on Damon. “I need to talk to you.”

He arched his eyebrows. “Isn’t that what you’re doing now?”

“I wanted to get permission.”

“Permission for what?” Kim crossed her arms.

“I’m ready.”

“For?” Damon and Kim said together.

I looked at Matthew’s broad back, seeing the tattoo on his shoulder.

“I’m ready to get the ink.”

Kim’s mouth dropped, and Damon’s eyes narrowed in happiness, like he had finally got me - all of me

Damon had been right, the Hellbound were a family, and this time I wasn’t going to let love get in the way. I wasn’t going into this blind. I knew what they expected of me and I was up for the task. I had never felt calmer or colder in my life.

***

“Were you even thinking straight?” Kim shot me a look from the driver’s seat. “Or have you finally lost your last bit of sense?”

“It’s a tattoo, Kim, get over it.” I blew a mouthful of smoke out. “Shouldn’t you be sweating each detail of this job instead of worrying about my tattoo?”

I wouldn’t lie and say that this life wasn’t hardening. I had a few new piercings, a dermal, and now a tattoo. I wasn’t ashamed of my new ink and was wearing a racer tank top to show it off.

“Aren’t you even a tad nervous about this?” Kim looked at me with disbelief.

I moved the strap of my machine gun, which was clinging to me. “I have this,” I lifted up the gun “I also have a shotgun in a holster down my leg and two automatic guns on my sides. I’m loaded, Kim. So no, I’m not worried.”

“You should be wearing a vest,” she muttered as we pulled up to the barn.

The van to our left slowly went around the back while Kim and I took the front.

“You ready, Matthews?” I smiled in the back at him.

“Ready and loaded.” He clicked his gun safety off.

“See, Kim? It will be fine.” I ruffled her head and pulled my aviator sunglasses down. I was ready to take this place down with guns blazing.

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