Page 42 of A Reaper's Devotion
“Of course not.You’re Cyrus’s brother.”She stepped aside and offered him a smile.“Do you want anything to drink?”
“A glass of water?”
“Sure.”She closed the door behind him and made her way toward the kitchen.She found a glass as she was still getting accustomed to the main setup of the kitchen and where everything was.
She poured him a glass of water and then handed it to him.Afterward, she didn’t quite know what to do with herself, so she filled the kettle up.“So, uh, how have you been?”
“I’m doing good.You?Shit, I’m sorry.I heard about your mother.I’m so sorry.She was a good woman.I liked Bethany.She was kind.Sometimes truthful, but kind.”
Willow chuckled.“Yeah, that was my mom.”
“She would often tell me I had great things to give to this world, as long as I actually applied myself.”
She couldn’t help but smile.“Yeah, that was Mom.So, are you back in town for good?”
“I don’t know.Possibly.There’s something I’ve got to do.I owe Daniel and Amy, and unless they’re comfortable with me sticking around, it’s up to them.”
She was surprised.“You’re going to let them decide.”
“I fucked up big time.Pardon my language.”
Willow chuckled.“You don’t need to worry.I’m going to be living with your brother and in case you didn’t know, he can curse as good as a sailor, or whatever that statement is.”
He smiled.“So, you and my brother, huh?”
“Uh, I don’t know if he has the time to tell you yet, but we are engaged.”She held her hand up for him to inspect.”
Ray whistled.“You know, he did always have a thing for you.I always wondered when he was going to get his act together and finally claim you.”
“Well, I’m claimed,” she said, and it felt weird saying that but also good.She didn’t mind being claimed by Cyrus.He was the love of her life, after all.The ring felt good on her finger.
“Do you want to go and sit down in a more comfortable seat?The dining room?The living room?”
“The living room sounds great.”
The kettle finished whistling, and Willow quickly made herself a cup of coffee to join Ray.Cyrus was not wrong about him.The man was totally different from what she remembered.The moment she stepped into the room, she saw Ray, but he was frowning toward the window.
“What is it?”
“What is that?”Ray asked.
Willow followed his gaze, and at first she didn’t quite make it out, but then there was no mistaking as he pulled out a large shotgun.She didn’t have time to start screaming as it was aimed at the glass, and then Willow was on the ground.
Ray had tackled her to the ground.“A friend of yours?”he asked.
“No, no, I don’t know who that is.”She frowned, not sure why the guy was shooting at her.
“Well, you pissed someone off.”
There was a break in the firing and Ray looked down at her.“We’ve got to move.Do you think you can do that?”
“Yeah, I’d rather do that than get shot.”
“Good.You haven’t lost your sense of humor.”
Together, they ran out of the living room, but the main door of the house was kicked in, and shots were fired.She felt Ray jerk behind her, and she looked to see he’d been hit.
On instinct, she picked up the nearest item on the stand beside her, which was a vase.It was one of her mother’s that she had placed there this morning, but protecting Ray was more important than the vase.Although throwing it at him broke her heart, she was able to connect with his head.She didn’t have time to fist pump as she grabbed a dazed Ray.
