by Jamie Begley
Reaper pointed his gun at Beck, prepared to take him out.
Viper tilted his gun down. “It’s cool. Desmond helped us get on Clindale.”
“Ginny’s in Gabriel’s office with Agent Collins. I’ve managed to take care of the two guards inside. Gabriel will send more and will want to lock the building down. He does that, we won’t be able to get off the island,” Desmond informed them.
Reaper jumped over the downed guards and ran through the interconnected hallways with Beck, Viper, and the rest of the brothers following. Stabbing the button of the elevator repeatedly, he decided to head for the exit door just a few feet away.
Desmond grabbed his arm. “You open the door, it’ll set off an alarm. The button for the stairwell is in Gabriel’s office. It’s a security feature to keep anyone from getting on or off his floor.”
“Fuck.” Reaper returned to the elevator, eyeing Beck suspiciously. “He doesn’t have the same safeguard for the elevator?”
“Ethan, his assistant, supervises anyone getting access. Gabriel doesn’t want to be bothered by deliveries. Ethan has a master switch behind his desk. Unless he presses it, the doors won’t open.”
Reaper coldly focused on the steel doors, wanting to pry them open. He would allow the extra minute for Ethan to send the elevator down instead of running up the stairwell, and if what Beck said was true, Allerton had opened the elevator door when he and Ginny escaped this morning.
Fuck this ….
The doors sliding open had Reaper rushing inside. Viper and the rest of the men crowded in after him. Shade and Rider remained outside.
“Ethan will send the elevator back,” Desmond promised.
Reaper pushed the button.
“Beck, if this is a setup, you’re going to be the first motherfucker I take out,” Viper warned. “How’d you manage to get Allerton’s assistant to agree to help?”
“Not from the generosity of his heart.” Desmond stared at Viper cuttingly. “King and Shade gave me carte blanche to spend what I needed to spend. What you paid Abbott Varela’s ship captain to let you stow away and get you to Clindale is chump change to what you’re paying Ethan. Without him, we won’t be getting off this island.”
The metal doors opening had Viper and Desmond going out first.
“Clear.” On Viper’s signal they rushed out.
Reaper started toward Allerton’s office. “Reaper, hold.”
Viper and Desmond had gone behind Ethan’s desk to stand next to the assistant, who’d handed Viper one of his earbuds.
Reaper joined Viper and they all watched a bank of computer screens. On one of the screens they saw what Allerton was doing to Ginny. Enraged, Reaper moved away from the desk. The motherfucker was dead.
“Wait—we can’t go in there yet.” Agent Garcia blocked him.
“Why in the hell not?” Reaper was prepared to throw the agent over the desk if he didn’t move.
“Listen to her. Ginny’s getting a confession out of him.”
With the furious pounding rushing through his head, Reaper could barely hear the low voices coming from earbuds.
“Listen,” Agent Garcia urged.
“This may help.” Ethan reached under the flap of his suit. At the movement, he had eight guns pointed at him. “I was only going to raise the volume.” He pointed to the white plastic cord that extended upward to the collar of his shirt. “They don’t know I’m listening in.”
Reaper nodded, so Ethan could turn the volume up, and they all heard Allerton and Ginny.
“Depends on a need-to-know basis.”
“In other words, when you use the tapes to blackmail them to get what you want?”
Reaper and the others watched the computer screen as Ginny’s voice sounded through the headset.
“Can you make a copy of this tape?”
“When you’re ready, all you have to do is press this button.” Ethan showed them the button on the computer. “It isn’t equipped with sound.”
“Then fuck it.” Reaper again tried to move toward Allerton’s office.
“Wait—the polygraph machine is in there,” Garcia said. “It’s on the table. It has a recording feature; the conversation is being taped. That’s why Ginny is asking Allerton questions to incriminate himself.”
“Ginny knows she’s being recorded?” Reaper didn’t take his eyes off the computer. Allerton stood over Ginny with a cane in his hand.
“Yes,” Hammer interjected. “The idea was to make him so frustrated that he would slip up, which the bastard is doing. Give Ginny a few ….”
Shade and Rider stepped off the elevator and walked toward the desk as the men continued to listen and watch an infuriated Allerton talk to Ginny while holding a cane poised above her head.
She was on her knees, proudly refusing to cower, even as he swung that fucking cane again. His nymph was battling a demon, with only the power of her voice. Despite being tortured, she was leading the demon to his own destruction.
Every man listening and watching had the same expression. Ginny had earned a purple heart in their eyes.
When Allerton raised the cane higher above his head, Reaper knew how much force he was going to exert, and it was about to come down on his nymph.
He fucking snapped.
Shoving the agent out of his way, he went for the door. Viper and Hammer tried to stop him.
“Wait—she’s trying to find out about Clindale,” Hammer gasped out when Reaper’s fist struck out, hitting his cheekbone. Hammer fell backward and landed in the computer chair, which slammed back into a small table with a coffee maker, sending it crashing against the wall.
Trying to peel Viper off him, Reaper continued to move down the hallway. Rider went to his other side, and found himself dragged along in Reaper’s wake.
“Let me fucking go … I’m going to kill that motherfucker.”
“Just a min—” Cash huffed, while grabbing him around the waist.
Reaper used his strength to throw the three men off. Viper was easier to rip off, because his brother didn’t want to hurt him; Rider was harder. Reaper knocked him off by barreling into the plotted plant, forcing the plant and Rider to go face-first into the wall. With his arms free, he reached behind him to pull Cash over his shoulder and he sent him flying into the door. Unconcerned with the brother’s welfare, Reaper picked him up and tossed him into the agent, whose face went pale when he saw Cash flying toward him.
“Shade?” Reaper’s tone of voice stated exactly what he wanted from the brother as he grabbed the doorknob.
“Ready,” Shade coldly directed him. “Now open the fucking door.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
Rising from the chair, Reaper placed it under the doorknob. He turned off the desk light, then went to the other side of the bed and slid in slowly, so as not to disturb her. She was sleeping on his side of the bed. When she had crawled in, he hadn’t had the inclination to tell her to sleep on the other side. He was too happy she was there, in his bed, in his room, with him.
Scooting over in small movements, Reaper curled against her backside. Pressing his hand on the pillow, he was able scoot his arm under, so her head lay on him, as he curled his other hand over her hip, which was one of the few places on her body that wasn’t bruised.
Reaper fell asleep listening to the sound of Ginny’s breathing, his chest rising and falling in accord with hers. Dreams filtered through his unconscious state, taking him to another place and time, where their souls met for the first time, where they pledged their love for eternity and a day. Visceral images so real that when he woke in the morning, he sat up in bed in a cold sweat.
Shoving his hair out of his face, he looked over and noticed the bed empty. Falling back to the pillow, he stared up at the ceiling. The dream he’d been experiencing was already dissipating with the bright light of day. He had always been a light sleeper. How did she manage to slip out of his bed without him noticing?
Hearing the sounds from the floor below,
Reaper figured most of the house was already up and moving around. Climbing out of bed, he went into the bathroom to take a quick shower before dressing in jeans and a T-shirt that had a small skull on the pocket; he hadn’t worn the shirt in years. Viper had packed most of his favorite ones, which were still on the island, along with Ginny’s suitcase.
Opening the top drawer, he took out a pair of socks, and as he started to close the drawer, he grabbed a black knit hat. Putting his socks and boots on, Reaper went to the mirror to brush out the long portion of his hair, then slid the cap on.
Feeling properly presentable, he went downstairs and found the main room empty, but from the smell coming from the kitchen, he gauged everyone was eating breakfast. Going through the swinging door, Reaper glowered at the others in front of him in the long line. Nickel and Moon, who were in front and closest to him, moved aside.
Rider looked over his shoulder but remained in his spot. “You’re not cutting in front of me. You can wait your turn.”
Reaper cut his eyes over him, not giving a fuck about the food.
His wife placed a sheet filled with biscuits on the kitchen island, then picked up the empty one; he saw red.
“Ginny, what in the fuck are you doing?” Reaper roared, seeing the two men who were behind the counter with her.
Ginny jumped at hearing her name yelled and dropped the pan, sending it crashing to the floor.
Reaper narrowed his eyes at the asshole who bent over, picked up the pan, then carried it to the sink for her. “What in the fuck are you doing here?”
Puck came from around the counter to hold out his hand. The brother was the sergeant-at-arms of the Ohio chapter of The Last Riders. “Yo, brah. Glad to see you made it home.”
Reaper didn’t take his hand.
Puck wore his hair like his Viking ancestors, which he bragged about being a descendent every single fucking time his ass was drunk. Both sides of his head were shaved, with the top part of his light blond hair pulled back into a tight ponytail. Being the same height as Reaper, Puck met his gaze directly.
“What are you doing here?”
Puck frowned at his unwelcoming scowl. “Viper sent for me to stay here when the brothers left to have your back.”
Reaper looked over Puck’s shoulder to see Jesus standing beside Ginny, talking as they dished out food for The Last Riders.
Viper had actually sent for the Ohio’s enforcer and sergeant-at-arms to watch over their wives? Was his brother out of his fucking mind? He had been smart to take Moon, but he’d left the two biggest dicks to watch over their flock of doves.
The brothers had earned their nicknames from their expertise at luring the most unattainable women to their beds. Reaper conveniently forgot his own expertise in the same field, but at least his nickname had been earned in the military. Jesus had the ability to talk any woman into giving it up to him, and Puck was able to sneak past any boyfriend or husband to score.
“Where’s Viper?”
Puck’s frown became more pronounced. “Haven’t seen him this morning. What time does he usually eat breakfast?”
Looking at his watch, Reaper took out his cell phone, sending a text to Viper.
Get your ass to the club. I’m in the kitchen.
Reaper pocketed is cell phone, rudely shoving past Puck to go behind the counter. “What in the fuck are you doing?” he asked Ginny a third time.
Ginny continued spooning a gigantic portions of eggs onto Moon’s outstretched plate. “What does it look like I’m doing? Are you feeling all right this morning? Do you need to go back to sleep and get up on the right side?”
“No. What I need is for you to stop doing what you’re doing, I didn’t have you stay here to turn you back into their housekeeper and cook again.” Glaring at Moon, who was standing with his plate, Reaper turned his wrath on him. “What in the fuck you wanting?”
Moon gave Ginny an innocent expression, which Reaper wasn’t buying for a hot second, considering the laughter in his eyes. “A biscuit.”
“Fuck off!” he snarled.
Ginny gave the fucker two biscuits. “Is that enough?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“You better not,” Reaper warned her.
“Do what?” Confused, Ginny looked at him.
“Smile at that asshole.”
“Gavin, would you like me to make you a plate? Maybe that would put you in a better mood.”
“I wouldn’t be in a bad mood if you weren’t doing what you’re not supposed to be doing.”
“I came down for breakfast, and Jesus had burnt the eggs. I offered to help.” Ginny continued spooning eggs, giving a heaping spoonful to Jewell. “Moving around is helping me work the kinks out of my body.”
“So would a warm bath and me giving you a massage,” Reaper told her, glaring at Rider, who was already coming back for seconds.
“I offered to give her one.” Puck grinned, coming back behind the counter, carrying dirty dishes. “It’s the least I could do with her offering to help out.”
As every bone in Reaper’s body went taut and he took a threatening step forward, the dishes in Puck’s hands shook.
“Reaper!” Viper called from the doorway. “You wanted to talk to me?”
Reaper pointed two fingers at his eyes, then turned his hand and pointed them at Puck in a show of “I’m watching you,” before walking around the counter to meet Viper. “We need to talk.”
Viper tilted his head to the side, then toward the front of the kitchen before bobbing his head back. “We can talk as I eat. I’m starving, and I haven’t eaten Ginny’s cooking since she quit.”
Reaper stayed where he was, blocking Viper’s path to the food.
“Move.”
Reaper gritted his teeth at the order. Stepping to the side, he made himself a cup of coffee and found an empty table in the room off the kitchen. His gaze passed over Shade and Rider before he spotted the jar of jelly sitting prominently on their table.
A plate full of food slapping the table heralded the arrival of Viper as he pulled out a chair. “What’s up?” Viper pulled his biscuit apart to layer it with butter.
“I want you to explain to me”—Reaper scooted farther up his seat to ground out his complaint—“what in the fuck you were thinking bringing Jesus and Puck here.”
Viper raised his brows at him. “I was thinking that, since I was taking my enforcer and sergeant-at-arms with me, as well as most of the other brothers, Razer would need some help if shit went down while we were away.”
“You had any fucking brothers from Ohio you could have chosen; you didn’t have to pick Puck and Jesus.”
Viper frowned at him. “What wrong with Puck and Jesus? Puck has proven his loyalty over and over. You’re the one who convinced him to join The Last Riders when he got out of the service.”
Reaper scowled at the reminder.
“And what the fuck with Jesus? I can name half a dozen instances you’ve needed his help within the last six months.” Viper shoved the biscuit in his mouth, saving Reaper from doing it for him, Reaper thought angrily.
Reaper scooted farther on his seat until his ass was barely on the chair. “They’re both satyromaniacs; that’s what the fuck is wrong with them.”
“What in the fuck is a satyromaniac?” Viper asked, pausing his hand holding a forkful of scrambled eggs.
Reaper waved his hand at him as if he should know the answer. “You know what a nymphomaniac is, don’t you?”
Viper gave him a shit-eating grin. “I hope so.”
Reaper gave him a dirty look at his attempt of humor. When he wasn’t so angry, Reaper reminded himself to tell his brother his sense of humor sucked.
“A satyromaniac is the male equivalent,” Reaper informed him.
“No shit? Damn, you learn something new every day.”
“This isn’t funny. You left Winter and the other wives to be watched over by them.”
“I also left Razer.” Viper shrugged. “Besides, I tru
st my wife.”
“My wife has too much of a trusting nature. Those men think every woman wants to fuck them, and there’s a bet going with Moon to see who can catch the most. I want them gone. Moon can stay,” he ended magnanimously.
“Are we talking about Ginny?”
“Who else would I be talking about?”
“Technically, you aren’t—”
Reaper leaned his upper body over the table. “Ginny is my wife, and she’s going to stay that way. She’s innocent, impressionable, and too sweet for her own good. Puck and Jesus, if they have the opportunity—”
“Which I’m sure they won’t.” Viper picked up his coffee cup and started to get up.
“Where are you going?”
“Get another biscuits and refill my coffee. Is that okay with you?”
“Ginny only gave you one biscuit. She gave Rider two.”
“So?”
“Never mind.” Reaper tugged his hat farther down his forehead, fiddling with it because he was becoming increasingly irritated with Viper.
He was about to go search for Viper when his brother returned, followed by Ginny holding a plate of food. Relieved that she was planning to sit with him—and therefore out of Puck’s and Jesus’ reach—he started to relax.
Ginny placed the food down in front of him as Viper sat back down with another plate filled with biscuits and a fucking jar of Ginny’s jelly.
“I thought you might be hungry.”
Reaper frowned when she started to turn away. “Where are you going? T.A. and Dalton are joining us for breakfast.”
“Dalton called. He’s letting Trudy sleep in. He said she hasn’t slept much while I’ve been gone. He invited me to their house this afternoon. I told him yes. Do you mind taking me around twelve?”
“No, I don’t mind. Have a seat,” he urged, trying to keep her away from Puck and Jesus, “while I finish breakfast.”
“I can’t. I’m just waiting for the last pan of biscuits to come out of the oven, then I’m going to take a shower and meet Silas.”
“Have you eaten?”
Ginny gave him her bright smile. “First thing I did this morning. I ate a big bowl of oatmeal. Silas is bringing me a jar of honey when he comes. You need anything before I go?”