Page 122 of Reaper
Every muscle in my body freezes and my throat tightens.
“Lark,” Devil says, his voice gentle but with an edge to it.
I clear my throat and open my mouth to read it out loud, but the words get stuck in my throat. I blink repeatedly to keep hot tears of anger from falling and turn the note toward the laptop screen, letting them read it.
You didn’t listen to me, Lark, and you are making me mad. You aremineand yet you continue to let that filthy cretin touch you. You need to get away from the club before theyhurt you. They’ve done it before and they’ll do it again. If you don’t listen to me, I’ll make all your friends suffer, especially the one you let defile you, and you’ll have to watch it all. Then your punishment will begin. You will be mine, Lark, one way or another. However, if you leave and come to me, their lives will be spared.
“Lark,” Reaper says and my gaze snaps to his.
I give him a tight smile. “Don’t worry, Hercules. I’m not going to hand myself over to him. Besides, I bet he’d still come after you guys anyway.” I take a deep breath. “Alright. It’s a good thing I have my concealed carry license because I’m going to start carrying.” I look through the crowd on screen until I find Python. “Python, do you have any trackers or small, wearable cameras here we can use?”
He gives me a chin lift. “Yeah, they’re in my room and Devil knows where they are. All he has to do is call me as he hands them out so that I can pair each one to you guys in my system. If you’re wearing your cut, there’s also one in that. I’m able to track your phone. I did create a few options for you though, Lark. Well, also for Mama Astrid or any other Old Ladies that may join us. There are some earrings and necklaces in there too, as well as bracelets. I know you are already wearing Levi’s blade bracelets, but this way, there’s multiple options.”
I nod, taking it all in, and some of my fears start to fade. “Alright. After this I’ll head over to your room at the clubhouse with Devil. We’ll ring you and get everything activated. I don’t know what this guy is capable of, so I don’t want to wait until morning. Especially since he was able to shut down our feed for five minutes.” I pause and look between Smoke and Python on the screen. “Any ideas on how he managed to do that?”
They both frown and share a look.
“I’m working on tracing the IP address the guy used, but it’s bouncing around a lot,” Smoke tells us. “I was able to verify that he is not keeping tabs on our feed, so that’s a silver lining. Python and I are also boosting our security firewalls and adding other safety measures to hopefully keep this from happening again.”
The front door opens and I frown as Loki comes back inside. When did he leave?
He steps up by me and looks at the camera. “Pres, I found tracks leading from your back deck out into the woods. I followed them and there’s a section of our fence that was cut. From the looks of it, it seems fresh. I don’t know how he didn’t trip our sensors for cutting the fence, but somehow, he didn’t. Reaper, Devil, and Python—I sent you the location pin for where the fence was cut.”
I frown again, not liking that Loki went out there tracking this guy on his own. He should have had backup.
Smithy nudges my shoulder. “It’s okay, Lark. Out of all of us, Loki is the best tracker and is like a fucking shadow when he wants to be.”
Still frowning, I nod in understanding. “I still don’t like that you didn’t have backup, though.”
“Okay,” Reaper says, and I turn back toward the computer. “Guys, dust everything and see if you can get anymore prints. Devil, you and Lark go and get what she needs out of Python’s room. Call me when you’re ready and Python can do his thing.” He pauses as his gaze zeroes in on me.
I give him a small smile. “Don’t worry, Hercules. I won’t go anywhere without one of the guys and I’ll keep them all posted when I go to or from the house and the clubhouse. If anything else happens, like another package, note or phone call, I’ll let you guys know.”
He returns the smile, but I can still see the tension running through his shoulders.
Void rubs up against my legs, and I lean down, picking him up. He nuzzles under my chin, somehow knowing that I’m stressed and worried. Not to be left out, Igor comes over and sits down, leaning against my leg.
As the topic switches to updating the Junction Creek guys about what’s going on in Forest Creek, I step off to the side a bit and sit down in an armchair. Void settles down in my lap and Igor goes up on his hind paws, resting his front paws on my legs. He begs me with his eyes to pick him up and I grunt as I do. Igor may be a small dog, but he’s stocky. Void gets up and once Igor is settled down, he curls up against Igor and me, purring loudly.
I pet both of them as I keep an ear on the conversations the guys are having. My heart breaks for Mary, Patch, and her kids and for everything they’ve been through. I hope that their plan to try and draw out the guys that are after Mary and the kids works so that she doesn’t have to keep looking over her shoulder.
Chapter 45
Lark
Thispastweek,I’vebeen an absolute nervous wreck. Every single day, I’ve gotten either a breathy phone call while at work, a note or a black rose on my car, as well as notes or packages delivered to the clubhouse.
It’s currently just past midnight Sunday morning and in a few hours, it will be closing time. Reaper is coming home today and I’m beyond relieved that he is. It’s also something I know he’s relieved about as well. With everything going on, he hates that he’s not here to be there for me.
Refocusing on the drink in front of me, I try to get the measurements correct this time. I’m not sure if the customers could tell, but I’ve messed up so much tonight. I’ve had three breathy phone calls tonight alone and I’m almost positive that when it’s time to leave tonight, there will be something on my car.
“Hey, Lark, it’s going to be okay,” Atlas says, his voice quiet like it usually is, as I step up to the register to add a drink tosomeone’s tab. He came over to the tavern after he was done with work. All the guys are on edge, and I think we all know something is coming.
“I…I’m not so sure it will be,” I whisper back. My gaze scans the crowd, but everyone seems to be having a good time. I focus back on Atlas and can’t help but tap my fingers on the bar top nervously. “It just feels like we’re right on the edge of something and I don’t want any of us to be hurt in the process.”
His face softens and he reaches out, placing his hand over mine. I stare down at it in shock. Atlas hardly ever touches a woman anymore because of what his bitch of an ex did to him. He gently squeezes my hand before he withdraws it.
“We know, and we don’t want anything to happen to you, either. But if it does, we rally around our own and take care of them. We’re family, Lark. And if someone messes with our family, they’ll feel the wrath of the Steel Archangel’s.”
