Page 12 of Viper's Claim

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Eve took Hannah to the hospital and to be honest. I felt awkward being in the Wilson’s house alone.

They phoned their mum. Who was meeting them at the hospital.

I, however, remained here. I sat on the couch. The television was going. But I wasn’t watching it. My phone was in my pocket and I just stared at the empty fireplace.

“Don’t leave me here,” I screamed at Dee. “Don’t leave us,” I screamed.

He paused and just for a moment. I thought he would come back to me. Turn around and face this with me. But instead, he opened the door, and it slammed shut behind him.

The door slamming in the Wilson house. Bought me out of the nightmare I had lived.

“Aurora?”

I turned on the couch and looked at Reaper.

“Fuck, talk about everything turning to shit at once.” He walked into the kitchen. I heard the fridge door open before he was back with a beer.

“You’re stressed,” I stated. I tilt my head. “And it isn’t over Brad.”

I could read people well. Call it a gift. But it was more like a curse.

Feeling your own emotions is hard enough. But when you could feel everyone around you with one look. It was consuming.

“Fucking oath.” He muttered and walked to the armchair that Eve had been sitting in. He grabbed the same cigarette packet and now I wondered if every Wilson smoked when they were stressed.

“It’s about my mum and stepfather isn’t it?” Again I know the answer but ask the question, anyway.

“I thought Kaylee knew better than to fuck with the club.” He looked straight at me. “Your mother has a track record of ruining my life. Abby wants her dead. Club agrees. But killing your mother wouldn't solve my main issue.” He inhaled, exhaled slowly while staring at me. “I need to know who is supplying, cooking and where they are getting it. Their territory.”

My stomach twisted. “Stepmother,” I corrected him. “and I can’t tell you any of that.”

“I know.” His statement surprised me. “You might not be a part of their family. But I know loyalty runs deep in you.”

“How would you know that?”

“Every time you were admitted to the hospital. You had a solid reason for why. Never just fucking told the doctors you were being abused. Demon and Pixie lived next door to you. You would go to their house to escape the violence. But when your dad was pulled in for murder…you lied on the stand that he was with you. Then you disappeared.” He leans forward. “He wasn’t with you that night. I was there at the docks. He shot that man point-blank. You fucked up my solution of getting him put away.” He butted the cigarette out. “You saved my life. You realize that right? And what does that mean?”

I shrugged.

“Why did you shoot your stepbrother who you always protected?”

Why did I turn and shoot Ashley? But wouldn't I be sharing any details on my dad’s business? Simple. I was loyal to my family. I have my dad’s blood running through my veins. That could never be erased.

“He is my dad. He’s the reason I’m alive. Kaylee misled him. You keep saying my dad’s operation. But you know Kaylee. She had three boys to a man, changed her ways or so I’m told. She lied to everyone. She’s a black widow spider. She needed three boys for power. That’s what Ashley. Aiden. Andrew are. Her power. Dad had one girl. Me.”

“Why did he let her sons abuse you?”

“They did it when he was out of town,” I paused and had to be careful. “When he couldn’t protect me. When he got back. I would be at Dee and Pixie’s. In the end, the business got too busy for him to worry about me.”

“So you left?”

I blinked and tears filled my eyes. “I wish.” I looked back at the fireplace. “I got pregnant. I turned to the only man that could save me. He left. I went back home. Got beaten. Had a miscarriage.” I looked back at Reaper. Not ashamed of my tears. “Ashley killed my child. So I shot him. Kaylee. I will tell you anything and everything about it. But my dad’s operation. I won’t share.”

He pulled his back, straightening up. “Two people in this world have saved me from a bullet. My wife and you. I owe you—”

“No, you don’t. I owe you for making me come back and face them. I won’t stay here because you think I need protection. I sort of…” I looked away from him. “Death would be peaceful. Not one person would mourn me. I’m nobody to everybody.”

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