13. Reaper
13
Reaper
“ T hink she’s okay?”
I’ve been sweeping up sawdust for what feels like forever, but at Demo’s question, I pause and glance toward the hallway where Kyra disappeared a few hours ago.
“I don’t know,” I reply honestly.
“Don’t you think you should go check on her?”
My mind travels back to Skuld’s middle of the night visit. If it hadn’t been for her, we wouldn’t have had exactly everything we needed to fix the diner up, and we wouldn’t be here. And if it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t be contemplating something I never thought I’d do again: getting mixed up with a woman.
“He’s right,” Inferno says with a mouthful of fries. “You were sent for a reason. Might as well accept it.”
What they don’t know is that I am accepting it. I’m still not a hundred percent sure Odin’s decision to send me is the right call, but I can’t ignore Skuld’s request that I try. Sure as Fire Pits not gonna admit that to them though. Not yet anyway.
“Fine. I’ll go check on her.”
“Just be nice,” Viking warns.
“I’m always nice,” I toss over my shoulder as I step into the hallway.
“Yeah, and I’m a saint,” Grump hollers.
Kyra’s office door is closed so I knock lightly.
“Yeah, come in.”
Her voice is like silk. Even with everything she’s been through, with the stress of the last twenty-four hours, she sounds like Freyja, the Norse goddess of love, beauty, and sex. In other words, Kyra’s voice wraps around my cock like a tempting vice and won’t let go.
I clear my throat before entering. There’s nothing I can do to tamp down my arousal, so I don’t even bother.
“Oh, hey, Reaper,” Kyra greets. “You guys hungry again?”
“What? No.” I shake my head. “No, I just came to check on you.”
She tilts her head and stares at me with questions in her eyes. For a moment, I wish I had Odin’s and the Valkyries’ ability to read minds because I’d answer any damn thing she wants to ask.
“Are you okay?” I ask when she remains silent.
Kyra nods as she lowers her gaze. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
Lie.
“How long have you been doing that?”
“Doing what?”
“Trying to convince yourself and others that everything is okay when it definitely isn’t?”
She shakes her head. “I don’t have a choice.”
“There’s always a choice.”
I have no fucking clue who the man behind my words is. Or at least, I haven’t seen or heard from him in a very long time.
“Maybe for you,” Kyra comments. “But I’m a single mom of two, a business owner with a business that’s failing, and apparently a woman with a target on her head. I’m alone with no idea how to deal at the moment.”
“In case you haven’t noticed, you’re not exactly alone.”
She lifts her cell before dropping it back onto her desk. “Texts I’ve gotten today say otherwise.”
“Meaning?”
“ Meaning , three of my four waitresses have quit today. Either Jenny told them what happened yesterday, or the cops called them.” Kyra shrugs. “They no longer feel safe working here.”
“I’m sorry.” Surprisingly, I find that I mean it. “Life sucks sometimes.”
She sighs dramatically. “It does. So, in answer to your original question, no, I’m not okay. Not even a little bit.”
All I’m asking is that you keep an open mind and heart.
With Skuld’s words playing on a loop in my mind, I ask, “What can I do to help?”
“Seriously?”
My brow wrinkles. “Uh, yeah, seriously.”
“You and your friends have already done so much.”
“And we’d do it all over again. But that doesn’t mean I, or we, can’t do more.”
She opens her mouth, but her eyes shift past me. “Jenny?”
I glance over my shoulder and see the woman standing in the doorway, fidgeting with her hands.
“Hey, boss,” Jenny greets, looking everywhere but at Kyra.
“What can I do for you?” Kyra asks.
“I just came to let you know that I can’t come back to work for you,” she blurts. “I’m sorry, I really am, but after I told Todd what happened, he said I had to quit, or he’d leave.”
“Who’s Todd?” I demand.
“My boyfriend, not that it’s any of your business.”
Jenny’s right, it’s not my business. And I didn’t ask out of jealousy or some shit. I asked because this Todd fucker is causing more problems for Kyra which, apparently , I’m not okay with.
“You’re quitting?” Kyra asks, refocusing the conversation. “That leaves me with no one.”
“I’m sorry,” Jenny repeats, staring at the floor. “I’m… I gotta go.”
She turns on her heel and heads for the back door.
“Like I said, alone,” Kyra mutters.
“And like I said,” I begin, nodding toward the dining area. “Definitely not alone. Why don’t you go home and get some rest? We’re almost done out there. We can clean up and lock up.”
Kyra hesitates, and I can see the argument in her eyes that she doesn’t know us, but something shifts in her expression. Her exhaustion is taking over.
“Are you sure?” she finally asks.
“Wouldn’t offer if I wasn’t sure.”
She glances at the clock on the wall and groans. “I do need to pick up the kids and get them home for dinner.”
“Go, then,” I insist. “By the time you come back in the morning, things will be ready for business.”
Kyra nods before pushing her chair back and standing. “Thank you. And, uh, you all come by anytime for free meals.”
“Not necessary.”
“Yeah, it is. Please, let me at least do that to show my appreciation.”
“Okay. Thank you.”