Page 62 of Reaper
“Hey, Lark,” Chief Riggs says as he tilts his head at me in greeting. “Can we get three pitchers of our usual and some glasses?”
I give him a chin lift as I try and avoid making eye contact with Zac. “Coming right up, Chief.”
Turning, I walk a bit down the bar and grab the pitchers from under the counter. When I walk back to the taps, I groan internally when I realize that Zac stayed behind while the others went to sit down. I ignore him as I fill the first pitcher and out of the corner of my eye, I notice his scowl deepening before he narrows his eyes at me.
“I see you still are ignoring my advice,” he says quietly but Reaper must still hear him because I also see his body tense in response.
Flicking my gaze over at Zac, I give him a flat look. “Well, in my opinion, it wasn’t really advice. And it wasn’t wanted,” I reply, knowing he’s talking about his warning to stay away from Reaper and the club. I wonder if he saw Reaper kissing my hand when they came in because I don’t think they saw the other kiss.
Zac’s scowl deepens. “Trouble follows wherever they go. His face is proof of it. You need to break things off with him and steer clear of the club.”
I slam the empty pitcher I’d just picked up on the bar and everyone in the vicinity falls silent, but I ignore their stares.
“Don’t you dare talk about him like that,” I damn near growl. “Reaper got those scars protecting his President’s Old Lady. A woman he’s claimed as his sister. You know nothing about what he’s been through. I don’t ever want to hear you badmouthing him or the club in here ever a-fucking-gain. While I’m grateful you carried me out of that fire, that does not mean you get to dictate how I live my life or who I allow in it.”
I stare him down but when Reaper stands from his seat, I subtly shake my head while not looking away from Zac, silently telling Reaper I’ve got this. He doesn’t sit back down, but he does lean against the bar as he takes another drink of his beer. I know that he’ll step in if things get physical or more heated than they already are, but I’m glad he’s letting me take the lead on this.
Zac opens his mouth to speak but I shake my head and slice my hand through the air angrily, cutting him off.
“I don’t want to hear it. If I ever hear you speaking about him or the club like that in my bar again, you will be kicked out and barred entry in the future. Both here and at the supper club. Are we clear?”
He looks between Reaper and me, and as he grabs the full pitcher of beer that I’d filled first, he narrows his eyes at me again. “Crystal.”
Turning, he takes the pitcher back to their table and as Reaper steps closer, I notice him and Chief Riggs sharing a look, almost like they are having a silent conversation.
While I wish there hadn’t been an audience for our spat, I refuse to let anyone walk all over me. Or Reaper for that matter. Slowly, chatter starts to rise again as the other customers realize the show is over.
When Zac sits down with the other firefighters, I grumble when I realize the chair that the guys had left for Zac faces the bar so now, I’ll have to deal with his fucking scowl for the next few hours while they’re here. Just fucking peachy.
Picking the empty pitcher back up, I groan when I realized I’d cracked it when I slammed it on the counter. Tossing it in the trash bin, I grab a new pitcher and start filling it. Reaper walks over and sits on a stool near me.
“I’m sorry,” I tell him, before biting my lip, worried I overstepped by outing him like that.
Reaper scoffs before he grins that sexy little grin at me. “Darlin’, you just stood up for me in front of everyone in this bar and put that jackass in his place. You have nothing to be sorry for.”
I set down the now full pitcher and as I pick up the third one, I glance over at him, confused. “You seriously aren’t mad? About what I said about you protecting Levi…” my voice trails off asChief Riggs comes up to the bar, not sure if Reaper wants me to continue our conversation in front of others. Chief Riggs pats Reaper on the shoulder as he leans against the bar.
“About time you settled down, Reaper. And to top it off, she seems like she’s got a backbone of steel in her,” Chief Riggs winks at me as he smiles.
I’m about to tell him that we aren’t officially together yet, but Reaper just smiles and inclines his head.
“Was holding out for the right one and finally found her.” He winks at me, and I shake my head, but there’s no stopping the huge smile that spreads across my face. “And you’re right about that, my woman doesn’t take shit from anyone.” My breath stutters at hearing him call me his woman. He pauses, his face turning serious as his gaze comes back to mine. “Though I hope you have something behind that counter for protection if need be?”
I smirk. “Of course I do.”
Though I don’t elaborate on exactlywhatI have behind the counter for protection.
While it isn’t Ol’ Faithful, I do have another sawed off double barrel shotgun underneath the counter as well as two handguns and a couple of baseball bats. Not to mention there are three panic buttons under the counter, one near each end as well as the middle of the bar.
Reaper returns my smirk and Chief shakes his head at us, smiling, before he sobers.
“I am sorry about Zac, Lark. I had no idea he had bad blood with the club until now. Or that he was bothering you so much.” He frowns as his gaze lowers in thought. “Though some of his past behavior and comments make a bit more sense now.” He pauses as his gaze returns to mine. “I hope he doesn’t cause more problems for you here, but if he does, I’d like you to letme know about it. Even if it happens elsewhere, I still want to know.”
Knowing he’s serious about his request, I nod as I place the third pitcher, now filled, on the counter. “Will do, Chief.”
He inclines his head, picks up the two pitchers, and heads back to their table.
Chapter 26
