Page 84 of Reaper Flame

“Giles didn’t pay Penelope’s family off,” Zander said. “I did.”

“What?” I couldn’t be hearing this right. “Are you out of your fucking mind?!”

“Before I explain, there’s someone I want you to meet,” he said, taking my arm. “Follow me.”

West and Rocky were already waiting outside Zander’s office. From their tense expressions, they were bracing themselves to face whoever was inside.

“Don’t freak out, C,” Rocky said.

Didn’t he know that whenever anyone tells you not to freak out it usually means you’ll be tipped to the edge of a mental breakdown in seconds?

“I want you to remember he’s a guest, little one...”

I wrestled my arm out of Zander’s grip and turned on him, “And I want you to quit treating me like a fucking child.”

I threw the door to his office open to see a familiar figure sitting at Zander’s desk. He grinned with the smug air of someone who owned the fucking place.

“Hello, Kitten,” the Blackbird said.

EIGHTEEN

West’s huge presence loomed behind me while Zander and Rocky were poised at my sides.

“One of you better start talking,” I growled. I was already thinking about how I’d immobilize them to get to the asshole smirking at me inourclub. “Or else.”

The Blackbird was Hiram’s right-hand man. Why was he sitting in Zander’s office sipping a drink like he was on vacation? I wanted him to leave in a fucking body bag. This was our space, and he’d compromised it. He had to go.

“Are you pleased to see me, Kitten?” The Blackbird’s yellowing grin made me want to turn into a crazy dentist and rip his teeth straight out of his gums. “The last time I saw you must have been your wedding. You did make a dashing bride.”

“Sit down, Candy,” Zander instructed as he pulled out a chair.

I kicked it aside.

“He is not leaving this room breathing,” I snarled.

All I saw was a threat ready to take out. The Blackbird sat up straight and adjusted his sleeves nervously. He’d seen me at my worst. He could taunt me all he liked, but he knew what I was capable of and didn’t want to be the person standing in my way.

“Told you, bro!” West chuckled. “Less than thirty seconds for a death threat. You owe me twenty dollars.”

Rocky grumbled and rummaged around in his pocket for a bill.

How could I dispose of the Blackbird’s body without a trace? Staging his death as an accident would be best. When Q disappeared, Hiram thrived off tracking him. The Blackbird was an even more valuable asset, so he wouldn’t stop until he found out what happened to him. We’d have to make the corpse easy enough to find, but not too easy to make him think it was laid out waiting.

“Remember what I said, Candy,” Zander warned, oblivious to my thoughts. “He’sourguest.”

“I didn’t invite him,” I pointed out, baring my teeth.

“Careful, you’re making me feel unwelcome,” the Blackbird said. “But you’ve never had good manners, have you?”

West cracked his knuckles. “Speak to her like that again and I’ll cut off your tongue, then feed it to you.”

At least one of the Sevens was speaking my language.

“Protective. How sweet,” the Blackbird said. Despite his unwavering voice, his eyes darted to the door and his escape route. A person couldn’t hide subconscious fears no matter how hard they tried. “Your protection won’t save her when Hiram comes knocking, will it?”

“Does he know?” I demanded.

My body was on edge, primed to pounce at any moment.

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