Page 94 of The Prom

“But he’s a Reaper, daddy.” I smile softly. “Surely you must be happy I fell in love with a man like that.”

“Love.” He visibly winces. “Stab me in the heart and be done with it.” He exhales sharply. “No man is good enough for you, darlin’ but if I had to choose one and if I’m honest with you, Drake would be number one on the list.”

“Really?” My eyes widen as I sense victory and he nods, a miserable pained expression on his face.

“Drake is a shadow in our organization. A ghost if you like, and I don’t know much about him because he is always undercover. When he does return, he takes off on his bike to clear his head. But he’s a Reaper, and that badge is enough to gain my approval. He’s also not much older than you, five years give or take and yet has earned his patch in the military and subsequent operations, this one included. But more than all of that–” A smile of sudden admiration lights his face as he squeezes my hand and whispers, “He saved my baby and I will always be indebted to him for that.”

Pure emotion lights his eyes and my lip trembles as I whisper, “I love you, daddy.”

He shifts and as he pulls me into his huge arms and crushes me to his chest, he buries his face in my hair and says gruffly, “I love you more, darlin’ and I always will.”

I’m not sure how long we remain like this, but a soft chuckle disturbs us as he whispers, “I kind of think there’s someone desperate to see you out there.”

“Who?”

He pulls away and grins. “The guy who saved you. He keeps on peering through the window and if I don’t put him out of his misery soon, he’ll end up in the emergency room under the defibrillator.”

I turn my attention to the window, and Drake’s anxious face stares back at me. I half wave and smile my reassurance and as my father stands, he says gruffly, “Give us a minute, darlin’. I need a word first.”

As he leaves the room, I lean back against the pillow, a small smile on my lips. It will work out fine. I have no doubt about that, although I would love to be a fly on the wall of that hallway when my father has his word with the man who saved my life, in more ways than one.

FORTY-NINE

DRAKE

The expression on Flash’s face is grim when he exits Imogen’s room and I prepare myself for a confrontation I am resigned to.

He leans against the door blocking the way in and frowns, causing my heart to sink.

“She’s okay.” He reassures me, and I heave a sigh of relief. “The doctors gave her an injection to reverse the one in her bloodstream, and they said there will be no ill effects.”

“Thank God.”

I didn’t expect my relief to be so enormous and I exhale deeply, his words overwhelming me.

“I owe you everything, Drake.”

I glance up and note the pained expression in his gaze. “You saved my baby girl, protected her and shielded her from harm, and I will never be able to repay you. I owe you Imogen’s life.”

I make to speak, but he holds up his hand and his eyes glitter, his voice gruff. “That doesn’t mean Igiveyou her life. Give her to you with my blessing as a prize for your efforts.”

I say nothing because he’s obviously waging an internal struggle right now.

“Which leaves me with a huge problem.”

His decision hangs between us and I’m unsure which way it will fall, and he heaves a desperate sigh.

“But you’re a Reaper, Drake. One of my brothers. The finest there is. Why wouldn’t I want a man like that for the most precious thing in my world?”

Emotion doesn’t usually come easily to us and yet it’s so present I could touch it. He shifts off the doorjamb and heads my way, extending his hand and I’m not sure if he’s going to strangle me with it or thank me.

It appears to be the latter and as his fist closes around mine, he says with rare emotion, “Thanks, man. I will never forget this and if–” He groans and shakes his head. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but if, well, you want to date my daughter, I won’t stand in the way of that.”

I make to speak, but again he holds up his hand.

“Save your words. I really can’t deal with them right now. I’m going to check on the other girl. You have a ten minute warning before I return.”

With a huge sigh, he walks away and rather than reflect on what he just said, I waste not a second of it and head straight into the room.

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