Page 25 of Claimed
“I’m not doing that, Raven. Ican’tdo that. I told you we’d get through this together, and we will.”
“Why? I’ve done nothing but fuck up your life. God knows what you’re out there doing trying to find this guy. Babysitting me is probably affecting your businesses, and who knows when was the last time you had sex –”
“Stop it.”
My eyes snap to his face at the gruffness of his voice. That’s the harshest he’s spoken to me in a long time.
“Just stop it. I’m not doing anything I haven’t done before. How do you think I got the name ‘Reaper’? I kill people, Raven. I got so fucking good at it that everyone saw fit to give me the name that personifies death. I’m not the monster under the bed. Monsters check under their beds for me.” He closes his eyes, trying to rein in his anger but when he opens them, it’s still there. “My businesses are fine. That’s why I hire people. And don’t even mention sex to me. That’s the last thing on my mind right now.”
That was a stupid thing for me to say. Why would sex be on his mind? It’s not like I’m at my most desirable. He slides his palm to the back of my neck, closes his eyes, and takes a deep breath. When he opens them, the anger is gone.
“You wouldn’t be here if I didn’t care about you. I’m going to find this guy and I’m going to help you through this, no matter what. We’ll come out on the other side and move on with our lives. You want me to be happy? Make me happy, because I won’t be if I don’t have you.”
“Gage...”
There’s no holding them back now. Tears stream down my cheeks as his words flow through me. After everything, he still thinks I can make him happy. How can I when I’m a miserable shell of the girl I once was? Is it even possible to be her again?
I go rigid as he presses a gentle kiss to my lips. Since I was in the hospital, all I’ve gotten are forehead or cheek kisses. I don’t even know how to respond to his lips on mine. He doesn’t push me, though, only kissing my forehead before heading to the bathroom. Stopping in the doorway, he turns to me.
“You’re not going anywhere, Raven...and neither am I.”
I stare at the closed bathroom door and contemplate his words. He thinks we can get through this and be like we were before. That’s never going to happen. Things will never be the same between us.
There’s a knock at the door and I turn my attention there. Usually, I’d let it go unanswered. They’d get the message that Gage isn’t here or is unavailable and leave after a while. This time, though, I answer it. Tek steps back, obviously a little shocked. He recovers quickly and gives me a big smile.
“It’s been too long since I’ve seen that beautiful face.”
“Hi, Tek.” I give him a weak smile. “He’s in the shower. You want to come in and wait?”
Again, he’s taken aback, but he nods and steps past me. He grabs the chair in the corner, turns it backward, and straddles it.
“How are you, baby girl?”
“Okay, I guess. What have you been up to?”
“Oh, you know...hacking into systems I shouldn’t be. Same ol’ same ol’.”
I climb back into bed, careful not to flash him. Panties and one of Gage’s T-shirts have become my permanent wardrobe. Gage moved all my stuff from Lonnie’s a while back, but it was pointless. I haven’t worn any of my clothes. My kindle and MP3 player sit unused. He bought me a new phone because the guy who attacked me smashed mine to pieces, but it also sits idly on the nightstand. I haven’t even turned it on. He set up my art equipment in a corner of the room, but that’s been untouched, too.
Tek keeps a close eye on me, no doubt gauging my mood. “How’s your shoulder?” he asks.
“Better.”
“Good.” He taps his fingers on the chair, filling the awkward silence.
I can tell he doesn’t know which way to tread with me. I’m about to try and put him at ease when Gage steps out of the bathroom. He’s wearing a pair of those sexy boxers I love, so I wait for the flutter in my belly, the clenching of my muscles, but nothing happens. I sigh deeply and look away. I can tell he’s shocked to see Tek, but he doesn’t comment.
“You got something?” he addresses Tek.
“Yeah. But we gotta move fast. Razor already left with the guys. Told him where to meet up.”
“Five minutes.”
“Got it.” He springs out of the chair and heads for the door. “See you around, baby girl.”
“Bye, Tek.”
Gage moves to his closet and begins pulling out clothes – black jeans, black shirt, and black shoes. When he slides on his cut and covers it with a black hoodie, I know he’s off to what he says he does best. Gage may have walked out of the bathroom, but it’s Reaper leaving the clubhouse tonight. He grabs a black duffel bag out of the closet and drops it on the bed.
