Chapter 49
Reaper
Lark leans back in my arms after Loki releases her, but I can tell by the stubborn set of his jaw that he isn’t telling her something.
She looks up at me with a happy but also sleepy expression on her face. “How about I take you upstairs, Darlin’? You can get some rest for a few more hours.”
She nods, but then, her forehead wrinkles as she frowns. “Where’s Miracle?”
I tilt my head toward the hallway. “She’s resting in a guest room down here. Atlas called her as she was on her way home from work and she drove straight here after stopping by her apartment.”
Her eyebrows damn near disappear into her hairline as she mouths ‘he called her’.
I nod, equally shocked that he’d willingly done that, though I have my suspicions as to why he finally took that step.
I situate one arm under Lark’s legs and the other around her back as I lift her.
She huffs and shakes her head, but judging by the smile she’s trying to hide, she isn’t that upset.
Which is good, because I need her in my arms. I give Loki a silent look telling him to stay and he gives me a chin lift.
Walking upstairs, I head to our room and set Lark down on the bed. “Want me to grab you a shirt?” She’d taken to wearing some of my old shirts to bed a while ago, not that I’m complaining. I love seeing Lark in my clothes.
She nods sleepily and bends to untie her shoes when she tilts slightly. I’m instantly at her side as I steady her.
“I’ll get your shoes in a minute, Darlin’. Just stay right there as I get a shirt.”
She gives me a watery smile and nods before she winces. Glancing at the clock, I realize it’s time for her to take some more medicine.
“Actually, I’ll get you some medicine, water, and then a shirt before getting you ready for bed.”
In the bathroom, I get her a glass of water and then some pills before giving them both to her. Then, I rummage through the dresser, I dig out one of my older shirts, remembering how Lark said she loves the soft feel of those shirts.
Turning back around, I notice her eyes are drooping so heavily that I’m surprised she hasn’t fallen asleep sitting up. Taking the empty glass from her, I set it on the nightstand and unbutton her polo. “Let’s get you ready for bed, Darlin’.”
She smiles up at me and gingerly raises her arms. I bite back a growl when I get her shirt off and can see the bruising from her seatbelt marring her gorgeous skin.
Kneeling down in front of her, I untie her boots and slip them off along with her socks.
Taking her hands, I pull her to her feet and unbutton her jeans before sliding them down her hips.
My cock twitches in my jeans and I internally curse my body.
This is no time to be getting worked up and Lark needs time to rest and heal.
Pulling back the covers, I steady her as she slides under them and I tuck her in. Leaning down, I kiss her forehead. “I’m going to go down and talk to Loki. Be back up in a bit, Darlin’.”
“Love you,” she mumbles as she snuggles deeper into her pillow and under the blankets.
“Love you, too, Darlin’.” Not being able to resist, I kiss her again before quietly crossing the room and shutting the door behind me.
My anger simmers as I descend the stairs and find Loki staring sightlessly out the living room windows as he absently pets Void who’s curled up on his cat tower, basking in the sun.
“Yes, there’s more,” he tells me, answering my question before I can even ask him.
“What else?”
He turns then, frowning as he stares at the spot where Lark and I had sat earlier on the couch.
“It’s true that I can’t see anything that would identify this guy and that so far, I can’t see what’s coming, but I do know he’ll be coming for her.
” He pauses and the look he gives me has my chest tightening even further.
“The thing is, Reap, the visions sort of contradict themselves. I had three of them about Lark and…” his voice trails off and I clench my hands into fists.
“Is it possible there’s more than one guy?”
The look he gives me tells me I’m right. Cursing, I run my hands over my head and through my short hair as I pace. “Three? Or do you think maybe just two?”
“I think it’s just two. Two of the three energies are extremely close. It could be that it’s because they are related and have the same nature. I could be wrong in that, but I don’t think that’s the case. I think it’s two men after her.”
Placing my hands on my hips, I exhale hard. “Is there anything else you can give me or something we can use to help protect her?”
He rubs his chin as he glances outside again and seems to come to a decision as he nods.
“Get her to the range once she’s able to handle it again.
Gun and bow.” He turns back to me and ice slides down my spine at the cold, hard, and dangerous look he gives me.
“We’ll be going hunting before long, so she needs to be ready. ”
He pauses again and his eyes go unfocused in a way I’ve come to recognize.
Not too long after he started Prospecting with us, he had his first vision.
After we’d dealt with the assholes who thought they could come into our clubhouse and take us by surprise, he told me a little about his ability.
His face hardens and he curses under his breath as his eyes come back into focus.
“Actually, they both need to practice. Miracle and Lark. I couldn’t see much about Miracle, but her issues are unrelated to Lark’s. Some self-defense classes for both of them might not be a bad idea either.”
His gaze snaps from the direction Miracle is resting in and then back to mine.
What he tells me next has me feeling like I could spend a few hours in the gym with a punching bag, I’m so fucking angry.
Even more so because I was already on edge from what happened with Lark. I can still hear the crunch of metal from when she hit the tree and Atlas’s fear-filled voice shouting her name on repeat in my mind.
Loki tilts his head toward the door leading downstairs. “Go. I can watch over them while you work this out in your head.”
Not needing to be told twice, I turned on my heel as I stalk downstairs.
My alarm goes off and I blink out of my fog as I slow my punches and steady the bag. Ripping off my gloves, I wipe my face with the hem of my shirt and shut off the alarm before pocketing my phone. I grab a water bottle off the shelf, twist the cap and down half the bottle in one go.
Jogging upstairs, I’m surprised when I don’t see Loki anywhere.
I glance down the hall, noting that Miracle’s door is still shut.
Heading upstairs to our room, I come to a stop outside of our door which is now ajar.
Loki’s pulled a chair from one of the guestrooms and is sitting outside our door, scrolling on his phone.
He puts his phone away and stands when he notices me.
“Figured she might freak out if she woke up to me sitting in the dark in your room.”
“She have any problems?”
He shakes his head. “There were a few times she whimpered but she quieted down again just as quickly. I’d just shut off my alarm when I heard you coming up from downstairs. I’m going to head back to the clubhouse for some shut eye. Do you want me to send someone else over?”
I close my eyes, feeling like shit. He’s been up as long as I have and if it weren’t for needing to clear my head, he could have gone to sleep a few hours ago. “Fuck. Sorry, man.”
He clasps my shoulder. “I wouldn’t have offered if it wasn’t okay.
I’ll head out. Emma left a note downstairs that they’ll come visit tomorrow and for Lark to not worry about work.
They’ll make sure everything is covered.
I believe Miracle is still resting or at least, I haven’t heard her moving around downstairs. I’ll lock up on my way out.”
“Thanks, man.”
Stepping into our room, I walk over to Lark’s side of the bed and reach out, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. Gently, I shake her shoulder and she groans before her eyes open and she smiles.
“Hey.”
“Hey, Darlin’.”
She shifts and I frown when I spot a bit of blood in her hair.
“How about I run you a bath, Darlin? I know the doctor said we can’t get the skin glue wet yet, but I bet a nice soak would help your muscles.”
She moans again and the sound runs straight through me to my cock. Again, I internally curse my body to settle the fuck down.
“That sounds so good. I’ve been wanting to get clean ever since I got home but figured I’d wait till you were able to help me since I knew you wouldn’t leave me alone.”
I grunt in agreement because I sure as shit wasn’t going to let anyone else help her with her shower. She bites her lip as she tries, and fails, to hide her smile, but just seeing her smile like that has the knot in my chest loosening some.
Pulling back the covers, I scoop her up into my arms and her cheeks turn a little pink as I carry her into the bathroom.
“Could you…” she starts to ask before her voice trails off. I love that my strong and confident woman still gets shy every now and then. I set her down, making sure she’s steady before stepping back toward the door.
“Of course. Let me know when you’re done and I’ll run the water for you.”
Stepping back into the bedroom, I shut the door behind me and glance around. Lark’s clothes are still on the floor where I left them earlier. Grabbing them, I toss them in the laundry bin and make the bed again as well as tidy up a few other things.
“Anthony,” Lark calls out from the bathroom right as I finish and I shut our bedroom door before crossing the room to the bathroom and opening the door.
Bending down, I push the plug into the drain and turn on the taps. Opening the vanity doors under the sink, I grab the Epsom salt.
“This should do for now, but if you want a different kind or one that’s scented, let me know and I’ll get it for you.”
I pour some into the tub and then when the tub’s half full, I help Lark undress and get in. Opening the linen closet, I get out the neck pillow she likes to use when taking baths.
“Scootch forward a bit, Darlin’.”
Sleepily, she smiles and does as I ask. Once in place, she leans back, sighing in relief. “Hm. Thanks, Hercules. This is exactly what I needed.”
I sit on the floor opposite her so we can see each other and she gives me a tight little half smile.
“What all did the guys tell you about last night?”
My woman knows me so well.
I give her a rundown of my phone call with Atlas and then about the texts I’d gotten.
She shakes her head. “I never even thought of the possibility of him drugging the flowers. I just wanted them gone so I could head home.” She pauses as her eyes turn a little misty as she worries her bottom lip between her teeth.
“If Atlas hadn’t been there…” She exhales hard and starts to shake her head but then winces as she stops.
“Fuck, it’s going to be hard to remember not to do that,” she mutters.
“Even before what Loki told us, I somehow knew whoever cut my lines was laying in wait for me. For us. I think it’s going to be a while before my brain will stop making up scenarios about what could have happened. ”
Reaching my arm over the edge of the tub, I give her calf a gentle squeeze.
“And that’s completely normal, Darlin’. We can start journaling together again as well if you want.
” I pause and sigh as I gently squeeze her calf again under the water.
“I keep hearing the crush of metal as you hit that tree and the panic in Atlas’ voice as he yelled out your name on repeat in my head.
I’m also going to apologize ahead of time, because I’m going to be hovering for a while, especially after hearing that.
I was afraid that I might lose you.” My throat tightens and my eyes sting with tears.
She lifts her hand and I wrap it in mine.
“I get it. If things were reversed, I’d be doing the same, but keep in mind I will call you out if you are taking things too far.
My ER doctor said I should stay home for a week and after that, Doc can see if he thinks I should stay home longer or just do light duty things like paperwork or bookkeeping for a bit longer.
” She pauses and frowns as she narrows her eyes at me.
“I still want to go to Forest Creek though for Mae’s baby shower at the end of the month. ”
I huff and shake my head, but I can’t stop the smile tugging at my lips.
“I wouldn’t dare keep you home for that unless you were physically sick or something.”
Seeing the time, I let go of her hand and get off the floor.
“Now, how about I wash your hair for you and then you and Miracle can hang out together. My guess is she’ll be waking up soon and I know she’s freaked out about what happened just as much as me.”