Page 33 of The Prom

Her voice is tight, angry and determined and my mind buzzes as I lower my voice and say softly, “I’m a Reaper, baby. I work for Ryder.”

Her eyes widen and she stares at me in shock and as realization dawns, tears fill her eyes and she visibly relaxes as she slumps back in her seat.

“I don’t understand. How are you a Reaper? I’ve never seen you once at the compound.”

“You won’t. I’m a patched in member with no patch.”

I refer to the tattoo the Reapers wear for identification purposes.

“I’m an undercover operative that merely heads from one job to another.”

“Operative.”

Her eyes widen and I nod, happy to see she has calmed down and is no longer afraid. I had to reveal my identity because it was the only way she would trust me and yet I’ve opened a can of worms because now she’ll know exactly why we can never be together.

“I was an undercover operative in the military. I was good at it too and remained undetected, even to this day.”

“Until now.” She reminds me and I nod, a smile ghosting my lips. “Until you.”

She nods, a little of her animosity fading as curiosity replaces it.

“A year ago, I was called in by my commanding officer and given a choice. Continue working for the military. Nothing would change except for my missions, or work for the government in another capacity.”

“As a Reaper.”

Imogen is only too aware that the MC Club is a cover for government assassins who do the country’s dirty work when the courts will fail and I nod. “Swap my commanding officer for Ryder King and keep the country safe from the inside.”

“I don’t understand what that has to do with Rockwell, though.”

“The Serpent Society.” I note her hands trembling as she grasps the coffee and hate how she’s involved in this shit.

“Kidnap, rape murder.”

Her mouth drops as I lay out their mantra.

“I don’t understand.”

“Call it their code. In order to gain membership to the society, that is the path. First you kidnap a girl, guy, whatever. Then you rape them before killing them in cold blood.”

Tears fill Imogen’s beautiful eyes and she looks so fucking terrified I instinctively reach for her hand and whisper, “I’m here for you, baby, and I’m good at my job.”

“So, Jesse–” She gulps. “Do you think he’s going to use me to get in with that sick society?”

“It’s a possibility.”

“Fuck, Drake.”

She appears so small and defenseless and I growl, “Which is why I had to warn you. I can only protect you so far but that stunt Jesse pulled at Willow Tree House proved I can’t be there all the time. It kind of backfired though and sent you straight into the lion’s den and now you’re under his roof.”

“Does Cassie know about any of this?” Imogen’s voice falters and I nod.

“Of the society, yes. Of Jesse’s involvement in it, no, but she’s suspicious. They all are, which is why they engineered your involvement with him.”

“They used me.”

Her lower lip quivers and I’m guessing betrayal is a tough pill for her to swallow as she considers that possibility.

“To a degree, but not to cause you harm. If Cassie and Jack realized how deep in Jesse is with Jenna, they would never have allowed it. Nobody knows but Jesse, Jenna Sloane and now us.”

---