Reaper

by B E Kelly

  “Fine,” she said. He put the car in park and she quickly got out, stretching her legs and looking around.

  “Lizzy,” he said, standing behind her and God help her, her traitorous body wanted to lean into his. That kiss he had given her on the side of the road had melted all her defenses. Elizabeth needed to remember that she wasn’t going to become personally invested in Reaper. It wasn’t what he wanted and why would he? He was the poster boy for bad boys that every woman fantasized about, but would never admit to wanting. He was sexy and brooding and perfect and she was—well, she was the opposite of all those things.

  “I’m sorry about the game,” he whispered in her ear. She shivered and tried to play it off.

  “Not a big deal, Reaper.” She sounded angry even to her own ears.

  He chuckled and took her hand in his, pulling her along to the front of the diner. “Okay, honey,” he said. “We’ll pick up this conversation after we eat.”

  “Or never,” she sassed. “I’m good with that too. Listen,” she started but before she could get another word out, Reaper had turned and pulled her against his body, wrapping her in his arms.

  “I’m listening,” he whispered and this time, she leaned into his hard body, wanting more.

  “What?” she said, trying to keep up but her brain felt foggy and her thoughts scattered.

  He laughed again. “I said that I’m listening.”

  “Um,” she stalled.

  “Two?” the waitress asked, interrupting Beth’s less than stellar skills of making a coherent sentence.

  “Yep,” Reaper said, not taking his eyes or hands off her.

  “Follow me, you two love birds,” the waitress offered.

  “Oh no—we’re not,” Beth stuttered.

  “Sure, honey,” the waitress said. “That’s what they all say but I know true love when I see it. The special is our chicken pot pie but I suggest you stay away from it,” she warned.

  “Thanks for the heads up,” Reaper said, taking the menus and handing one to Beth. “Give us just a minute?” he asked and the waitress nodded and disappeared.

  “You alright?” he questioned. Elizabeth had to think about that for a minute. Was she alright? Her life felt so practical and easy when she rolled out of bed that morning and now here she was, sitting across from some guy named Reaper, at a loss for what to say next. No, she was most certainly not alright.

  “Yes,” she lied. “I’m great. Why do you ask?”

  “It’s just that you’re looking a little shell- shocked and I’m pretty sure that was the first coherent sentence you’ve said since we got in here.” He was right, she wasn’t acting herself.

  “I’m sorry,” she said. “I just thought things were going in a different direction between us but I guess I was wrong.”

  Reaper sighed, “You weren’t wrong,” he admitted. “I’m an ass and I’m sorry.” Elizabeth felt like she was getting whiplash from his mood swings. “It’s just that I don’t trust easily and I usually go it alone. Having someone along to help isn’t something I’m used to.”

  “I get that,” she said. “I’m pretty self-reliant too. But every now and then I have to ask for help. You know it’s okay to do that, right?”

  Reaper nodded, “Sure, it’s just going to take some getting used to, that’s all.”

  “Fair enough,” she said. “Can we order now? I’m starving,” she admitted.

  Reaper laughed and flagged down the waitress. “Sure honey,” he said. “And when we get back on the road, I’ve thought of my question.” Elizabeth didn’t hide her smile. Maybe she had judged him all wrong and he was going to actually give her a chance to earn his trust—maybe.

  ****

  They had full bellies, gassed up the car and were back on the road in less than forty minutes and she was feeling a little better. “I didn’t realize how hungry I was,” she admitted, patting her belly. “My sister and I went out to brunch but I didn’t eat much.” Her meeting with Lyra seemed like it was days ago and not just hours, so much had happened that day.

  “You have a sister?” Reaper asked.

  “Is that your question for me?” she teased. She had spent the entire meal sitting across from him, wondering what he wanted to ask her. Honestly, she’d tell him just about anything, but she was really hoping he’d ask to see her again, once today was over. She worried that once their trip was done, he’d be on his way and Beth would never hear from him again. She just found him, after years of wondering just who Reaper was, and now he could disappear from her life as easily as he did her dreams every night.

  “Well, it wasn’t my original question, but let’s go with it,” Reaper said.

  Beth’s mind wondered through all the possibilities of what his original question might be and nodded. “Yes, I have a younger sister named Lyra. I also have a niece named Delilah but we call her Lil.”

  “How about your parents, still around?” he asked.

  “Hey, that’s two questions,” she challenged.

  “You said you wanted me to play this game and well, I cheat—get over it,” he said. Beth giggled.

  “At least you admit it,” she teased. “And yes, both of my parents are still around, although neither Lyra nor myself have a close relationship with either of them. We were close with my grandmother. My mother and father were very self-absorbed when we were kids and the only time they really seemed to pay attention to us was when we were doing something they didn’t approve of.” Beth hated talking about them that way but she wouldn’t sugar coat her relationship with her parents. It was what it was and there wasn’t much more she could do to improve upon any of it.

  “Like what?” Reaper asked. “What didn’t your parents approve of?”

  “Well, just about everything I did or said,” she laughed. “Really, they had a problem with me being a seer and when I tried to explain to my mother what I could do, she all but kicked my grandmother out of my life.”

  “That sucks,” he said. “What did you do?”

  “I lied.” She shrugged as if it wasn’t a big deal but for her it was. She had to keep that part of her life a secret, like it didn’t exist or as if it was too dirty to even talk about.

  “Lied?” he asked.

  “Yep,” she said. “You see, my grandmother was a seer too and she tried to talk to my parents about my ‘gift’ as she liked to call it. My mother lost her shit and blamed my grandmother for everything and told my father that if his mother couldn’t stop putting crazy notions into my head, she was going to have to kick her out of our lives. I couldn’t lose her; she was more of a parent to me than either of my parents had ever been—so I lied. I told my mother that I made the whole thing up and she dropped her ultimatum. She would have rather been lied to than have to deal with having a seer for a daughter.”

  “I’m sorry,” Reaper whispered, reaching across the center console to take her hand into his again. “I’m sorry that you had to lie about who you are.”

  “Yeah, that wasn’t easy. My grandmother was pissed. She told me that I needed to be true to myself and denying my gift wasn’t something she would stand aside for.” Beth smiled at the memory of her grandmother and her fiery temper.

  “She’s right, you know?” Reaper asked.

  “Now I do,” Beth said. “I guess that’s why when people don’t believe me, it hurts.”

  “I think I owe you an apology for that too,” he admitted. “I’m not really sure what to believe,” he said around a sigh. “My life has been unpredictable and I’m not much of a believer in anything. I want to believe you, Lizzy. I really do.”

  It still stung a little that he didn’t completely trust her enough to give her his trust, but they had just met and she knew that her story was a lot to take in. Sooner or later, he would come to realize she was the real deal. They all did eventually when she provided enough details to prove she wasn’t a fraud.

  “All I ask is that you keep an open mind, Reaper,” she said.

  “That I
can do,” he said, rubbing his thumb over the palm of her hand. His touch felt like fire and comfort all at once and she wasn’t sure what to make of it still.

  “Listen,” he said. “When we get done with this meeting today, I’d like to see you again.”

  “As in a date?” Beth questioned.

  He paused and she worried that she had pushed too far with her questions. “Yeah, as in a date,” he said.

  “Was that your original question?” Beth asked.

  He smiled over at her, nearly taking her breath away. “Yes. It was my original question, but I was too much of a chicken to ask when we got back on the road. I like you, Lizzy and I want to see you again.”

  “I like you too, Reaper and I’d like that,” she admitted. Beth wasn’t sure if seeing him again was a good idea but she refused to overthink things with him. She had wasted too much of her life over complicating things and not following her heart. It was time for her to do something she wanted and not what was expected of her by everyone else.

  Reaper

  They pulled into the dive bar with just five minutes to spare before his meeting. Reaper put Lizzy’s car in park and knew that his next request was going to piss her off, but there was no way he would put her in harm’s way.

  “I won’t be too long,” he said. “You stay put and don’t talk to anyone.”

  She shot him an incredulous look that told him she wasn’t going to take any orders from him. “No way am I staying in this car,” she said. “I just spent my entire day sitting here, trying to help you make your meeting on time and now you want me to sit here and wait for you?”

  “Well, yeah,” he said.

  “No fucking way?” She growled. “What’s next? Are you going to propose we crack the windows to make me more comfortable?”

  “Well, you have to breathe,” he teased even though he could tell Lizzy wasn’t in a joking mood. She unhooked her seatbelt and got out of the car, giving him his answer. Lizzy wouldn’t be staying in the car and knowing his luck, she was going to not only attend his meeting, but she was going to stick her nose where it didn’t belong.

  Reaper sighed and got out of the car, holding his hand out to her, hoping she would see it as a peace offering. “Come on then,” he said. Lizzy looked at his hand but walked right passed it, not accepting his olive branch.

  “I can manage on my own,” she said.

  “Suit yourself,” he offered. “But stick close to me. This bar is home to a club known for its one percenters.” He hated that he was dragging her into the lion’s den but this was on her. It was her choice to go into the bar with him, but that didn’t mean he’d let anyone get close enough to lay one finger on her.

  “One percenters?” Lizzy questioned.

  “Yeah, this club is made up of men who did time,” he said.

  “You mean like prison?” she squeaked. God, she was adorable. He wasn’t sure if he had ever known someone so innocent and pure. Lizzy was a breath of fresh air in his world.

  “Yep,” he said. “It’s not too late to change your mind about coming in with me,” he offered.

  Lizzy reached for his hand and he wrapped his arm around her. “No,” she stuttered. “I want to help and really, I’m done sitting in the car.”

  “Okay, Lizzy,” he conceded. “I’ll make my meeting quick and you can tag along if you agree to be quiet and stick close.” Lizzy made a disgruntled sound and he could tell she didn’t like his conditions but she nodded her agreement anyway.

  They walked into the bar and Reaper felt every damn set of eyes on them watching and all he wanted to do was turn the fuck around and march Lizzy back out of there. Honestly, when he set up the meeting, he didn’t plan on having a sexy little brunette with him who would garner unwanted attention. Reaper looked around the bar and noticed the way the other men were looking at her and he knew if he didn’t act quickly, things were going to get messy. Marking Lizzy as his own was the only way to keep her safe in a crowd like this one. He had been around enough to know that these men didn’t play. If they wanted something, they took it and right now, they were looking at Lizzy as if she was their next meal. Well, they were going to have to stay hungry because there was no fucking way any of them were going to lay one finger on her.

  Reaper pulled her against his body and used her surprised gasp to kiss his way into her mouth, putting on quite the show. Lizzy didn’t seem to mind much with the way she snaked her arms around his neck and let him take control of her and the kiss. He slid his big hand up under her skirt and cupped her ass, loving the way her bare cheek filled his hand.

  “Reaper,” she chided but he stared her down as if challenging her to give him any trouble. He banded his arms around her curvy body and swayed to the music that filled the bar, knowing that all eyes were still on them.

  “We have an audience,” he whispered into her ear. “You need to play along or we’re going to have trouble we don’t want.” She gave a slight nod and wrapped her arms around his neck again. They stayed like that, moving to the rhythm of the deep bass for two more songs until someone tapped him on the shoulder.

  “Mind if I cut in?” the vaguely familiar voice said.

  “Fuck off,” he said, turning to find Ringer standing in front of him wearing a smirk that he wanted to punch off his face. “Ringer,” he growled. “Where is Sophie?”

  “She’s safe,” Ringer said. “We have business and I wouldn’t bring her here. This place isn’t for pretty innocents like your sister and your friend here,” he said, looking Lizzy up and down. Reaper stood in his sight line, blocking Ringer’s view of her and the guy had the nerve to laugh.

  “It’s not what you think, man. Don’t go there and cause trouble for both of us that we don’t want. Whether you believe me or not, I’m on your side,” Ringer said.

  “Not,” Reaper grumbled. “Someone on my side wouldn’t kidnap my little sister and take off with her.”

  Ringer held his hands up as if in defense. “I didn’t kidnap her, man,” he defended. “She willingly came with me and I haven’t laid a hand on her.”

  “Bullshit,” Reaper challenged. “You two are dating and you expect me to believe you haven’t touched her?”

  Ringer smiled, “Believe me, I’ve wanted to but I haven’t. Your sister was in trouble and the only way I could help her was to pretend we were together. It was the one way to keep her safe from my old man.”

  “Wait, you were trying to help her?” Reaper asked. Honestly, he felt like his head was spinning from all this new information.

  “Let’s sit down and we can talk,” Ringer offered.

  “I’m supposed to be meeting someone,” Reaper said, he looked around the bar to where Ringer pointed to find a guy sitting in the corner booth in a business suit. “Shit,” Reaper cursed.

  “Yeah, he sticks out like a sore thumb, but everyone knows he’s with me, so they’ve left his ass alone,” Ringer said. “He’s a good guy and can help us, but you’re going to have to give up some of that tightly held trust of yours.” Reaper wasn’t sure what to believe and who to trust but he had come all that way, dragging Lizzy along with him. The least he could do was try to work something out to help his sister. If Ringer was on the up and up, he’d need his help to save Sophie from Anthony Sr.

  “Fine,” Reaper agreed. “Let’s go talk to the suit.”

  “Dave,” Ringer said. “His name is Dave.”

  “Okay then, let’s go talk to Dave and if you’re fucking with me, I’ll kill you,” Reaper said.

  Ringer chuckled and slapped him on the back. “I wouldn’t expect anything less.” Reaper kept a tight hold on Lizzy and made his way across the crowded bar to the corner booth, signaling to the bartender to send over two beers for him and Lizzy.

  Dave stood and held out his hand and when Reaper didn’t take it, Lizzy stuck hers out. “I’m Elizabeth Sibyl and this is—”

  “Reaper,” he finished for her, pulling her hand free from Dave’s. “You’re my meeting?” he
asked, looking the guy over. Honestly, poor Dave stood out like a sore thumb and he wondered how the hell he had gotten mixed up with this crowd.

  “Yes,” Dave said, straightening his suit jacket. “I think I can be of assistance. Please, sit.” He motioned to the booth and Lizzy slid in. Reaper joined her and Ringer sat at the end of the table, pulling up a chair from another.

  “I have a few questions,” Dave started.

  Reaper held up his hand, effectively stopping Dave from finishing. “So do I,” he admitted. “I’m going to go first and then, if I’m satisfied with your answers, I’ll answer yours.” Lizzy giggled next to him and he shot her a look.

  “What?” she said and shrugged. “It reminded me of our game.”

  “Remember our deal, Lizzy,” he ordered and she made a zipping motion with her fingers on her lips and even pretended to throw away the imaginary key. He shook his head at her and turned his attention back to Ringer and the suit.

  “How the hell do you two know each other?” Reaper questioned, pointing between the two men.

  “I was the one who set this all up,” Ringer boasted. “A few weeks ago, my father came to me with a crazy scheme to make sure you’d sign over your part of the company to him. He wanted me to take Sophie away and hold her until you agreed to his terms. I had been working with Dave here to bring my old man down for months now. I like your sister, man. I won’t lie about that and when I heard what he wanted me to do to her; I knew I had to get Sophie out of there.”

  “What did your father want to do to Sophie?” Lizzy asked. Reaper stared her down but it didn’t seem to faze her.

  “Nothing at first—just hold her someplace for a bit. But, if Reaper didn’t agree to my father’s terms, he wanted me to hurt her. I knew that if I told him no, he’d just find someone else to do the job for him. Hell, he’d have no problem selling your sister off as one of his girls. I couldn’t let that happen,” Ringer admitted.

  “Because you have feelings for her?” Reaper questioned. He wasn’t buying it. For all he knew, Anthony Sr. had orchestrated this whole meeting and he and Lizzy had walked into a trap.