by E. C. Land
“I don’t know what to say,” she whispers.
“Don’t say anything, Precious. This is your family, and you deserve to know that. They wanted you to know it by showing you. Now you have one more thing,” I say, holding the box out in front of me for her to open.
With trembling hands, Ivy opens the box, her eyes going from the contents to meet my eyes as she pulls it out. Her property patch showing the world she belongs to me, Reaper, the president of the Satan’s Keepers MC.
“I love it,” she says, tears spilling down her cheeks as she puts it on.
“Good, because that’s not everything.” I grin, tossing the box to the ground and reaching into my pocket to pull out the ring I’ve been holding all day. I grab her hand and slide it on her ring finger. “Now, you not only wear my patch, but you also wear my ring.”
Grinning, Ivy wraps her arms around me and stands on her tiptoes. “Yes, I do. Now take me to bed, Reaper, and show me just how much I belong to you.” Laughter swarms us as I lean down and capture her mouth with mine. I pick her up off her feet, intending to do just as she asked of me. My brothers can enjoy the party out here while I take my woman to our room and start our own party, just the two of us.
Epilogue
Ivy
Two Months Later . . .
Sitting on the bed in mine and Reaper’s room, I scroll through Facebook while I wait for him to finish in church. We’re supposed to be going out for a bit after he finishes up. So much has changed in the months since I first met Reaper.
He’s gone from being a complete asshole who scared the hell out of me to becoming the most wonderful man ever. Sure he is still an asshole, but never toward me. I feel for those who have to meet Reaper’s wrath. It’s not pleasant.
Reaper finally confided in me after the night the club surprised me with the Jeeps and my property patch, and my engagement ring. He told me about my uncle being dead and what he’d confessed beforehand. I honestly am glad the man is dead. However, what he said shocked me. I didn’t remember a thing about my mom giving me meds to make me drowsy and sleep while she carried on her affair with my uncle.
Shaking my head, I clear my head. I don’t like thinking of my mom. She’s not someone I want to give attention to when I can give it elsewhere, like to the baby who is resting in my womb. We find out in a few weeks what we’re having, and I’m excited. I don’t care if the baby is a boy or girl as long as he or she comes out safely. I just hope by then we can move back into my house.
We let Sutton move into our house while she’s house hunting. She needed a place to stay after her apartment building was condemned.
My phone rings in my hand, and a grin forms on my lips. “Speak of the devil,” I giggle and answer. “Are you calling to tell me you found a house already?” I joke.
“I don’t think your little friend is in any shape to be doing any house hunting, Ivy,” a voice I haven’t heard in nearly twenty-some years says through the line.
My mother.
What is she doing calling me from Sutton’s phone? Better yet, why is she saying Sutton isn’t in any shape to be doing any house hunting?
“Where’s Sutton?” I ask calmly and stand.
“You really should have given that money to your uncle, Ivy. I swear you are one stupid woman. I don’t see how you are my daughter. Now you’ll pay for it. You have forty-eight hours before I allow your little friend Sutton to be used as my ol’ man’s men see fit.”
“Forty-eight hours for what?” I stammer, making my way to the bedroom door.
“To get me the money. All of it. You get that money and bring it down to Round Rock. You don’t, Ivy, and you’ll regret it,” my mother sneers before hanging up on me.
Pulling the phone from my ear, I rush through the clubhouse and barge through the room Reaper and his brothers are sitting in holding church.
“What the fuck, Precious?” Reaper demands, coming out of his seat when he sees the tears in my eyes. “What happened?”
“Su–Sut–Sutton. Th–They took Sutton. I have to give them money or my …” I squeeze my eyes shut and shake my head before opening them again to see all of Reaper’s brothers staring at me.
“Ivy, what are you talking about? Who took Sutton?” Tombstone asks, standing from his spot next to Angel.
“My mother, she said I have forty-eight hours to get the money to her in Round Rock, or she’ll hand Sutton over to her ol’ man and his men. Th–That she’ll be raped.” I barely get the last sentence out before Tombstone flips, and something against the far wall shatters, and I realize he threw a bottle at the wall.
Tombstone’s nostrils flare, and he has a look on his face I’ve never seen before. “I’ll get Sutton back,” he snarls and looks to his brothers. “Sutton is mine, and I’ll be fuckin’ damned if I let anything happen to her. I’ve already lost one woman. I’m not losing another.”
Holy shit.
I didn’t see that coming.
Dear Readers,
Thank you all for reading Keeping Reaper. I never expected when I decided where to go with Reaper and Ivy’s story that it would hit so close to home when it came to Ivy’s father. However, it did, and I hope you all enjoyed this one and are ready to dive even further into the Satan’s Keepers MC. Next up for them is Forever Tombstone’s.
Sincerely,
E.C.
Rebelling Rogue
A rumor destroyed us, and now I’ll put back the broken pieces.
Rogue
My life hasn’t been the same since she left. Rebel was the one woman who knew me better than anyone else. Long story short, she was tricked into thinking I cheated on her. I didn’t, but she didn’t care. She wanted to be out of my life, and I let her walk away. I shouldn’t have, but it’s too late now. I have to deal with the consequences of my decision.
For a while, we didn’t see each other, but last week I caught her with one of the Devore brothers. It lit a fire within me, and I knew I couldn’t ever let her belong to another man, so I told her. I walked straight up to Rebel and made sure she knew she’s my woman and she always will be. I leave her there speechless so she can process what I’ve said, and by that evening, I’m heading out on a run.
It should’ve been like any other, but it wasn’t. I was shot, and Rebel came to my bedside. She told me how she feels, and I’m not going to let her walk out of my life ever again. She means too much to me, and I’ll be damned if I let history repeat itself.
Viking
She was mine before she even knew it.
Viking
I claimed her the day she turned eighteen. I knew the second I saw her, I wanted Fawn to be mine, so I laid down the law and ensured any brother, near or far, would never even glance in her direction.
She’s been running from me for long enough, but now it’s time to take what’s mine. She’s not a teenager anymore, instead, she’s a woman. A woman who’s experienced life, who partied in college, traveled, not to mention many other things. I’ve given her space to grow, and now it’s time she comes home.
Still, Fawn wants to run. She wants to get far away from the club life, but as a creep comes out of the woodwork and starts stalking her, she turns to me for help.
I’ll do anything for her, even if she tries to keep running. With any luck through this, she’ll realize she’s only meant to be one place—by my side.
Cedric’s Ecstasy
I found her beaten, broken, and abused . . . and I want her.
Cedric
She was bleeding out behind a dumpster, and somehow, for some reason, fate must’ve wanted me to find her before it was too late. Even though blood was covering her face, I could see past the grime, see the beauty lying underneath. I didn’t know anything about Arwen, but one thing I did know is what was done to her was unacceptable.
I did the only thing I could. I took her to Finley and told her we had no choice but to protect her. I think Finley knew back then something was different about Arwen and the way I looked
at her, but none of us had any clue what was coming our way.
We had no idea about the war coming or that our own would be hurt while keeping Arwen safe.
We didn’t have a clue, and I sure as fuck didn’t have any idea how hard I’d fall for her.
Viper’s Touch
I swore I’d never let another woman look into my heart, but Jade didn’t need to see to know the type of man I am.
Viper
After being framed and ending up in prison, I was done with women. I wanted nothing to do with them. A woman was the reason I’d landed in jail in the first place, so I wasn’t ever going to let another put me at so much risk again.
My brothers say I’m callous, and they tell me I need to let go of my demons, but the ghosts that haunt me aren’t like the ones they’ve faced. I was betrayed by a woman I was going to spend the rest of my life with. They wouldn’t understand, but how could they? All of their ol’ ladies are awesome, loyal, and they’ve got the purest of hearts.
Nothing in my life is different, but it’s all right with me. Until one day, my entire world gets thrown upside down. Nerd catches a glimpse of a woman on a security camera. She’s cowering behind a dumpster, and blood is running down her skin. I knew then I needed to go see if she was all right, and from that moment forward, everything changed. The moment Jade came into my life, I started to feel again. I only hope I don’t push this marvelous woman away.
Forever Tombstone’s
Tombstone
My entire life, I’d never believed in second chances. They’re bullshit if you ask me. Then again, maybe I wrote them off as crap because I didn’t think I deserve one.
I lost my wife a long time ago. All in all, I failed her. She was mine to protect, and I couldn’t even do that right.
Over time I got used to being on my own. Better yet, it was easier. I didn’t need anyone in my life. Hell, it was safer to be on my own. No one else would get hurt this way.
Then I saw her. Sure, I shrugged her off at first, but she didn’t give up on me. As much as I pushed her away, she kept finding ways to tell me I was worthy of love. But as things heated up between us, danger came knocking on my door, and then I couldn’t find her.
I didn’t know where she was, but I need to get to her fast.
Spiral into Chaos
Bane
When she was shot, I knew what I needed to do.
It was months ago, and I’m still seeking revenge for Emery. I don’t know why I am in the first place. She’s arrogant, sassy, and always thinks she’s right. Everything about her aggravates me, even the fact she’s doing a job I think only men should.
Yet, why the hell do I even give a damn about her?
I’m still trying to figure out the answer, but I know I want her, even if I can’t stand her. Watching her blood spill on the ground was unlike any other shooting I’ve witnessed.
I’ll find the people responsible for this, one way or another.