Reaper (Jagged Saints MC #1)

Chapter 8

8

SANDY

E very inch of my body aches, but it's nothing compared to the pain in mychest.My hands shake as I check into another room at the hotel, fumbling with the keycard twice before managing to get the dooropen.I drop my go-bag on the bed, barely registering how the mattress bounces, before sinking into a chair by thewindow.From here, I have a clear view of Reaper's bike in the parkinglot.The sight of it makes my throattight.

The memory of his face when I confessed about Timer hauntsme.That mixture of betrayal and rage and heartbreak - God, I never want to see that look in his eyesagain.But I had no choice. Timer's treachery had to comeout.

I should have told Reaper everything from thestart.Should have trusted that what we had was strong enough to survive thetruth.Instead, I played it safe, tried to protect him, and ended up destroying usboth.Story of my life - trying to shield people from pain and just making everythingworse.

My burner buzzes. Handler. I consider ignoring it, but that would only make him moresuspicious.

"Tell me you didn't blow five years of work by sleeping with your mark," he says withoutpreamble.

"He's not my mark." My voice comes out raw, scraped over with emotion I can'thide."And Timer's blown. I sent everything toRanch.You need to move now before the Saints handle it theirway."

"You sound emotional, Mitchell. Getting too close to the situation?"

"I'm doing my job." I force steel into mytone."Timer's the target. Always hasbeen.The Saints are clean - you've seen theevidence."

"Evidence you've carefully curated over five years," Handlercounters."Are you suggesting they'll kill Timer before we can movein?"

"I'm suggesting Timer's smart enough to run the second he realizes we're onto him." I press my forehead against the cool glass, watching Reaper pace near hisbike.The familiar way he runs his hand through his hair when he's agitated makes my heartclench."He's got contacts all over the country, bolt holes we don't knowabout.If we don't move fast, we loseeverything."

Handler's silence speaksvolumes."Your personal involvement with Hunter compromiseseverything.You care more about protecting him than completing thismission."

"You're wrong." I straighten in my chair, anger giving mestrength."I care about justice. Timer sold out Reaper'sfather.Got him killed for profit. Used the club's trust to funnel weapons to terroristcells.You really think the Saints will let that slide once they verify everything I sentRanch?"

"They're criminals, Mitchell. Revenge killings are what they do."

"They're family." I watch Reaper check his phone for the third time, his shoulders tight withtension."And Timer betrayed thatfamily.If you want him alive to testify,move.Now."

"The Georgia operation-"

"Is blown anyway." I cut him off, frustration bubblingover."Timer knows we're onto him. Probably has since the Kings recognizedme.We need to adapt or we lose everything we've workedfor."

"You're emotionally compromised. I can hear it in your voice."

"Because I'm passionate about nailing the actual criminal?" I laughbitterly."Timer's played everyone - the Kings, the Wings, even his ownhandlers.He's the reason three terrorist cells have military-gradeweapons.The reason Reaper's father died in an ambush that conveniently made Timer acting RoadCaptain.But sure, let's focus on my emotionalstate."

"Your feelings for Hunter cloud yourjudgment."

"My feelings for Reaper have kept me focused for five years." My fingers find the chain around my neck, his ring burning against myskin."Everything I've done - every lie, every sacrifice - was about building an airtight case against Timer while keeping the Saintsclean.Don't you dare question my commitmentnow."

"And if Hunter decides to handle Timerhimself?"

The question hits like a physicalblow.Because yeah, that's exactly what I'm afraidof.

"The immunity deals stand as agreed." My voicehardens."The Saints walk, minusTimer.That was the deal. I won't let you back outnow."

"Even though Hunter hatesyou?"

"Especially because he hates me." I swallow hard, watching Reaper's restless movementsbelow."I didn't spend five years building this case just to watch you screw them over on atechnicality."

"You really love him." It's not a question thistime.

I watch Reaper swing onto his bike, my heart clenching at the familiarsight."Enough to let him hate me if it keeps himfree.Enough to make sure Timer pays for what he did to Reaper's father without the Saints getting dragged downtoo."

Handler sighs heavily. "Your cover with the Wings issolid.The Kings bought your fed reveal as part of a largerop.But if you let Hunter killTimer..."

"He won't." I'm already grabbing my keys as Reaper starts hisbike."I won't let him throw away everything I've workedfor.Just get your teams there.Fast."

"Twenty minutes out. Do not engage, Mitchell. That's an order."

I end the call, shoving the burner in my pocket as I race for mybike.Because Reaper might hate me, might never forgive me for the lies, but I'll be damned if I let him do something stupid that ruins the immunity deals I've sacrificed everything tosecure.

Five minutes later, I'm following his taillights at a safe distance, my heart pounding against my ribs as he takes turns too fast, rides toorecklessly.Classic Reaper whenhe's hurting.When he's planning somethingdangerous.

"Don't do anything stupid," I whisper, even though he can't hearme."Please, baby. Just let the feds handlethis."

But I know better. Reaper's never been the type to let others fight hisbattles.Especially not when family's involved.

My burner buzzes with another text fromHandler.

Handler

Teams en route. 20 minutes. Do NOTengage.That's an order,Mitchell.

I ignore it, focusing on keeping Reaper in sight without beingspotted.He's heading toward Timer's last known location - an old warehouse where he likes to conduct "private business." The same warehouse where I first discovered his connection to the weaponspipeline.

Timer, who helped raise Reaper after his fatherdied.Timer, who's been playing everyone foryears.Timer, who's about to learn exactly what happens when you betray theSaints.

And I'm the only one who can stop this from turning into a bloodbath that destroys everything I've workedfor.Even if it means Reaper will hate me even more forinterfering.

Some prices are worth paying if it means keeping himfree.

God help us all.