by Nikki Landis
The fear in her eyes unleased my Reaper. He stayed just out of sight, not wanting to overwhelm and push away our woman. She’d been through enough. His revelation needed to happen but not when she was ready to completely lose her shit.
“Jayce,” she whimpered, clutching at the leather of my cut. “Noah’s all I’ve got. He’s my whole world.”
“No, he’s not.” I tilted her face up, searching her eyes in desperation. She had to know what she meant to me. What they both did. “You got me, baby. You fuckin’ have every single bit of me. We’re in this together.”
A flicker of hope danced in her eyes and I held onto it like a life preserver.
My lips crashed down on Bess’s mouth and I took from her savagely, trying my best to pull all the anxiety, terror, uncertainty, and fear away from the woman I’d fallen for. The one I needed to protect because she was mine. I would take every ounce of her pain if I could. Erase all the bad and replace it with good. Hell, I’d give up almost anything for a chance to be a family with my Bess and Noah.
“I’ve never been so scared in my life.”
Coming from a woman who’d been abused for nearly a decade, that was saying something.
“I’ll bring him back to you. I swear it,” I promised, leaning back. Taking her hand, I led her over to Shadow and Toad. Those prospects would give their life to keep her safe in my absence. “Protect her. Not one hair on her head.”
Toad croaked his understanding at the same time Shadow nodded. “With our lives.”
“You’ll be safe here. I can’t stay. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
My lips pressed to hers one more time and I ran from the Crossroads, vaguely aware that half the club was waiting for me on their hogs.
“Where to?” Grim asked, his expression fierce.
“My house. I want to search both properties and see what we can find.”
Grim lifted a finger in the air and made a circle, signaling we were heading out. He led the way and I followed, speeding through the gate.
My head wasn’t in a great place. I was close to completely losing my shit. Flashbacks from Colter’s death kept trying to surface and I didn’t want those images in my head. I didn’t want to linger on the phone call that changed my life forever or the moment when I had to identify his body. That cold slab with his battered body from the accident still haunted my dreams.
I wasn’t losing another son. Never again.
Not my little squeaker.
Fury rose to the surface and my Reaper burst free, flames licked up the sides of my Harley and I knew I was one with the ruthless bastard who wanted revenge as much as I did. Snow melted as soon as the flakes hit my bike, sizzling in the cold air. Steam rose up off the metal and my body. My upper lip curled into a snarl.
“I’m coming for you, you sick fuck. You’re going straight to hell.”
The entire city seemed abandoned since the storm hit and that was perfect.
I didn’t have to hide what I was or use some kind of mirage to block the unsuspecting citizen from seeing my Reaper. Bikes rumbled down my street as darkness fell and the snowstorm kicked it up a notch, blowing heavily and piling up outdoors. I hadn’t seen anything like this since I was a kid. The Great Basin never saw snow like this. It was unheard of.
I’d barely parked my ride and hopped off when my Reaper sensed movement on my property. I stalked my way closer and felt the others follow, instincts kicking in as our Reapers sensed the enemy. Footprints proved someone had returned to the scene of the crime and I entered my house quietly. A man was standing in the living room and he spun, holding up his hands when I rushed forward, grabbing the front of his shirt, and lifting him in the air.
“Where the fuck is my son?”
The guy swallowed hard and his eyes grew round. “Holy shit! What the fuck are you?”
“Better answer my question before I rip off your balls and shove them down your useless throat.”
Stuttering, he blinked as his feet dangled. “I-I’m the p-private investigator. I was h-hired to watch the w-woman and her son.”
“By who?” I asked, getting closer as my Reaper enjoyed his fear.
Droplet splashed on the ground as he pissed himself. “Fuck.”
“Answer!” I roared.
“Some guy. His name is Chet Wilson.”
“How the fuck did he find you?”
“There’s only one P.I. firm in Tonopah. Wasn’t hard to f-find me.”
No, probably not. But how did Chet know Bess and Noah were in Nevada?
“What did Chet want to know?”
“Intel on the kid and his mom, anyone she spent time with. The usual. Took lots of photos but he just lit them all on fire in front of me and swore he was going to make her sorry. I didn’t stick around.”
“When was that?”
“Yesterday afternoon.”
“You’re one of the Denali brothers, aren’t you?” Grim got in his face and bared his teeth. “Told Vince and Antonio to watch our backs.”
“I know! That’s why I’m here. That crazy Chet guy booked a hotel and left all his contact info with me. He’s staying at the Clown Motel. I think he has the kid there.”
I dropped the guy right into the puddle of his own piss. “Clean up my fuckin’ house and lock in up. I find out you didn’t do what I asked, I’ll come for you in the middle of the night.”
“What’s your name?” Grim asked, growling at the guy.
“Vince and Antonio are the oldest. I’m the youngest, Marco.”
“Well, Marco, better do what he says. You don’t want the last thing you see before you die to be and angry Reaper.”
“Fuck,” he cursed. “Hell no. I’ll take care of it.”
“Bess?”
A soft voice called out my name and I realized I was standing there, trembling as I watched the door like Jayce and Noah were going to walk through at any moment.
“I’m Nylah, remember? Rael is my man. Why don’t you come with me?” The blonde talking was the nurse from the Urgent Care. She held out her hand and I took it, squeezing it hard as I tried to swallow the panic that threatened to overtake me.
“Shouldn’t we call the police?”
“No, not quite. You see, there’s some things Papa needs to explain, and we’ll let him do that once he comes back.” She led me over to a leather couch and I perched on the edge, feeling overwhelmed and emotional.
Tears filled my eyes and spilled down my cheeks. “Someone took Noah.”
“Your son. He sure is adorable.”
“Thanks.”
“I’m so sorry,” another voice added. Looking up, I saw a girl who looked like Nylah. “I’m Nylah’s sister Naomi.”
I nodded.
“I’m Sasha. Bodie is my guy.” She moved closer and I saw the baby cradled in her arms. “This is our son Maverick. He’s six weeks old.”
I swiped across my cheeks and tried to smile. “He’s beautiful.”
“Want to hold him?”
“Sure.”
She passed the baby over and I held him close, speaking to him softly as memories of Noah at that age surfaced. A few tears followed and I sniffled, smiling when Maverick wrapped his little hand around one of my fingers.
“Wow. He’s got a good grip.”
“That’s what his daddy says too.”
I glanced up and found smiles on all of their faces.
“We’re here for you, Bess.” Nylah squeezed my arm. “That’s what ol’ ladies do for one another.”
“We look out for each other like the men do.”
“You’re one of us now.”
I didn’t know what to say and managed a tight nod. This was far more than I could handle at the moment.
“Thanks.”
Holding the baby, my heart clenched tight. I had to believe that Jayce would bring my son home. Nothing else was conceivable.
The Clown Motel was completely empty.
There were no cars. Not a single soul inside the
office. No hint that anyone had booked a room, or the place was even open for business. All the signage was off.
Snow blew inside as I entered and turned to Grim. “Something isn’t right.”
“I feel it too.”
“Feels like a setup,” Rael mused aloud. “Don’t like it.”
Hannibal stomped the snow from his boots. “I can sense the kid.”
Turning around, I got in his face, unable to keep my Reaper from reacting. “Where?”
He ticked his head toward the outdoors. “One of the rooms on the second floor. I can feel his terror.”
“Fuck!” I roared, heading outside, and running toward the stairs.
Jigsaw pointed to the outside of the motel. “Too many bright colors. Looks like someone threw up a rainbow.”
Grim snorted with humor.
“Place is fuckin’ creepy,” Rael whispered behind me when I stopped, listening for any indication that Noah was in danger.
“Don’t be a pussy,” Grim admonished.
“Right,” Exorcist muttered under his breath. “It’s only a motel on the edge of the desert decorated with thousands of clowns and conveniently located next to an abandoned graveyard. No worries at all.”
“Shut up,” Bodie snickered, elbowing Ex in the ribs.
“I fuckin’ hate clowns,” Ex complained.
I ignored my brothers and thought I heard what sounded like someone slapping flesh. Frightened for Noah, I ran for a room on the upper floor and kicked the door in, shocked to find an overweight middle-aged man on all fours with a ball gag around his mouth and a chick dressed like a clown pegging him from behind.
“What. The. Fuck.”
Grim made a sound in his throat like he was about to puke.
Rael burst out laughing.
Bodie blinked and then slapped his thigh.
Exorcist gave them a thumbs up. “To each his own.”
“Sorry!” I blurted, pulling the damaged door shut as I refocused my attention.
A few doors down, I heard a whimper that sounded an awful lot like a child. Running across the upper deck of the motel, I kicked that door in too and hoped my son was inside and unharmed.
A gun was pointed at Noah’s temple as a total stranger stood in front of me. He wasn’t Chet. Xenon found a picture and texted it to me and this guy was someone else. An accomplice.
“Drop the gun or die,” I threatened.
Jigsaw had been quiet up until now. He stepped forward, staring intently which was enough to be fuckin’ creepy all on its own. “Better listen. Last chance.”
The man started cussing us out and Jigsaw shrugged.
For a few seconds, nothing happened. Jigsaw’s gift always took a minute to be effective, but it never failed to bring the carnage. I noticed the first few cuts appear on the guy’s skin and smiled. My Reaper loved that shit. Blood. Death. Reaping souls.
The cuts grew larger and deeper. The guy hissed, his hand trembling as the weapon shook in his fist. Fuck, I didn’t want it to discharge.
Blood began to leak from the ears, nose, eyes, and mouth of the guy. He dropped the gun at the same time I darted forward and snatched Noah into my arms, turning his head away so he couldn’t see the bloodbath unfolding before us.
I watched the guy fall to his knees and then he began convulsing as I picked up my son and ran out of the room, not pausing until I was down the stairs and far from the body of the man who breathed his last breath. We entered the office to escape the snow. I heard screams coming from the room and I hoped they would end soon. Silence filled the air seconds later. Only my enhanced hearing caught what followed. The tearing apart of the man’s soul was like sweet music to my ears. My brothers reaped together and sent him straight to hell.
Lucifer Morningstar was going to enjoy that guy. I had no doubt.
I leaned back, staring at Noah, and looking him over for injuries. Other than being wrinkled and a little dirty, he seemed physically fine. “You okay?”
His lower lip trembled. “Yeah. I knew you would come for me.”
“Always. You hear? I’ll always come when you need me.”
“I know.” He sniffled, wiping his nose on his coat.
I tilted his chin up and gave him a smile. “I love you, Noah.”
“Papa!” he cried, rushing back into my arms. “I love you too. Just as much as Mama.”
Swallowing hard, I returned his embrace.
He didn’t say Santa. Noah said Papa. Not like it was my road name.
No. He called me Papa like I was his father.
There was no better present I could have received this holiday season.
“Mama!” Noah shouted as I held the door open and he ran inside.
“Noah!” Bess jumped up and ran to our son, scooping him up and holding him tight as she burst into tears. “Oh, baby. I missed you so much.”
“I missed you more.”
My heart swelled when Bess looked up and into my eyes, her gratitude apparent. “Thank you.”
My palm went over my heart and she reached out, wanting me to come closer. I didn’t hesitate to surround them both with my arms, hugging them into my chest as I placed a kiss on top of Noah’s head, and then I turned to claim Bess’s mouth.
“You’re kissing my Mama again!” Noah shouted with a giggle. “Just like the Christmas song.”
Laughter erupted around us and I broke the kiss, chuckling as I caught the sparkle in the pretty eyes of my Bess.
Someone turned on the jukebox we had stashed in the corner of the common room and Christmas music began to play. Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You began to play. It was perfect.
Cheesy as it was, I began to dance with Bess and Noah. He wiggled his little bottom to the beat and pressed Bess close, whispering in her ear, “You’re all I want or need. Just you and Noah.”
She lifted a hand and tugged on my beard. “That better be true. I heard all about your naughty behavior.”
“Me?” I shook my head, desire and lust flaring up as I thought about all the naughty ways that I’d enjoy her in bed later. “No way.”
“Don’t you look at me like that, all dark and sexy and full of heat. I know what you’re thinking.”
“Yeah, sugar. I’m gonna eat you up.”
Bess giggled as Noah slipped his arm around my waist.
“Papa loves me, and I love him.”
His announcement brought tears to her eyes. “That so?”
“Yep. He told me at the Clown Motel.”
Bess gave me a curious look. “Is that where he was?”
“Yeah. When I found him, I thought it was time I told him the truth.”
“What’s that?”
“I love you both.”
“Jayce,” she choked, blinking back tears. “God, I love you. You’re something else.”
“I think we should get home. It’s getting late and Santa has lots of deliveries tomorrow.”
“It’s almost Christmas!” Noah squealed, taking my hand, and pulling both me and Bess toward the door. “We have to set out the milk and cookies.”
Chuckling, I agreed. Plus, I wanted some for myself.
This Christmas was one to remember.
I wasn’t going to waste a single moment.
The house was dark when we pulled into the driveway. As soon as I opened the door, I knew we weren’t alone. That asshole who hurt my Bess was here. No one had to tell me because I could sense his darkness and the stale stench of his body odor and cigarettes.
I rushed ahead of Bess and Noah and flung the door open, blocking them from the shotgun that was pointed at my chest. Chet stood in a heavy wool coat and jeans splattered with blood. Savage’s blood. Bodie texted my dog would survive but I couldn’t say the same for the motherfucker bold enough to enter my house.
Busted ornaments littered the ground, and the tree was on its side. Half the branches were snapped off. In a fit of rage, he destroyed the tree. I didn’t see anything else damaged, so he wasn’t here lo
ng.
“Looks like we finally get a chance to meet, Chet.”
“Fuck off, Jayce Riggs. I know who you are. Don’t think that because you’re a biker you scare me.”
I laughed, shrugging my shoulders. “I could really care less what the fuck you think.”
“I’m taking my wife and son back. Step away or I’ll shoot you dead.”
“That’s how it’s gonna be, huh?” My Reaper was slowly coming forward, not fast enough to draw too much attention. I wanted to take this asshole down but not too fast. He needed to suffer.
“Move.” He cocked the gun. “Or I start shooting.”
My mouth curved upward into a demented sort of grin. I could feel my Reaper and he was more than ready to tackle this piece of shit. With a roar, I rushed forward so fast all he could do was blink. The gun discharged when I reached him, and I heard Bess scream.
Blood coated both of our bodies as we hit the ground and I lifted his head, slamming it down onto the hardwood floors as Chet landed a punch to right jaw. I was barely fazed by it and snarled, hauling him up to his feet as I stood. Blood was spreading out from his stomach and soaking into the fabric of his jacket. I used the blood to my advantage and decided it was time I tapped into my own abilities for a change.
Yeah, I had a special sort of talent too. Not quite as dramatic as Jigsaw or Hannibal. I didn’t eviscerate or suck out the souls of my prey, crunching their bones into dust. Nope.
I simply drained and dried out the human body, pulling every bit of moisture out until nothing remained but dust. Blood kept leaking out of the wound in Chet’s abdomen. More and more as the fluid soaked into his clothes and puddled on the floor. He fought the hold I had on him but wasn’t able to move. I was far too strong as my Reaper.
This was usually a messy job, but I didn’t mind the carnage. Not today.
Chet began to squirm, clawing at my arms to release him but I simply smiled.
“You’re going to die,” I whispered, just a few inches from his face. “Tell the devil I said hello. Lucifer is waiting for you.”