Chapter 51
Reaper
The next morning after breakfast, I catch Thor’s eye and tilt my head toward his office. He gives me a chin lift and after we both get a drink refill, we walk into his office, closing the door behind us.
“I take it things have turned a bit?”
I scowl. “You can say that again.” I take a pull from my drink and sigh. Loki gave me the okay to share information with Thor, but it still feels a bit invasive. “You know about Loki’s family?”
His lips pull to the side a bit as he thinks. “A little. That they’re from New Orleans and that they have sort of ability that allows them to occasionally see visions.”
“It’s more than that, but yeah. All the women in his family have that ability to varying degrees. They also deal in Voodoo, the good kind, that focuses more on healing and protective charms and things like that. Occasionally, the first-born son also inherits those abilities.”
Thor’s eyes narrow and he leans forward, his chair squeaking as his weight shifts. “Is that how Loki knew the attack was coming about eight years ago?”
I nod. “Yeah. At the time, I knew about what you did about his family. I had my doubts, but after that attack, I always believed him if he told me we needed to do something or prepare. So far, it’s happened three times since that night, not counting what happened after Lark’s accident.”
Thor frowns. “What do you mean? What did he see?”
“That we’re probably dealing with two people that are after Lark.
He couldn’t see anything that would identify them, but he got the impression that they were going to strike again soon.
However, he’s not sure how soon ‘soon’ is.
He also saw a different vision about Miracle.
That she’s in danger. He doesn’t know how soon that is either, but warned that both of them should always be armed and take some self-defense classes. ”
“Fucking hell,” he curses as he runs a hand through his hair. “Is that why you brought Miracle today?”
I shake my head but then pause. “That’s part of it, but Lil’ Bit really did reach out to me and asked me to invite her.
She figured Lark was going to be a nervous wreck and that Mama Astrid would probably be more inclined to chat with Elvira while we’re here.
She didn’t want Lark to feel like they were ganging up on her or something so having her best friend nearby might help.
” I smile and shake my head. “Just like Lil’ Bit to think about something like that. ”
Taking another swig, I rub the back of my neck and grimace. “That isn’t all either.”
I tell him about Zac and his stepsister, and that we think Zac is one of the men after Lark.
Thor’s lip curls. “Fucking bitch wasn’t satisfied with just causing problems when she was alive—now she’s causing them from the grave.”
I nod. “Lark doesn’t know the connection yet, but I plan to tell her soon. That Zac fucker’s been harder to keep an eye on ever since he was suspended from the fire department. Not sure who the second person is, but we do have a few suspicions.”
Thor nods as he absorbs everything I told him and then rasps his knuckles on his desk.
“Keep me posted on all accounts. We’re already keeping an eye on things since Oasis and that X fucker are still fucking shit up for us.
The feds already arrested the men that were on the homestead on Mae’s land north of town.
” He frowns and shakes his head sadly. “None of the women had families to go back to and really didn’t want to leave.
Mae told them they could continue living there, on their terms, and she negotiated a low rent for them since none of the women wanted to take a handout.
Since they wanted to continue growing their crops and doing their handmade shit they’ve been doing, Mae suggested they sell any excess crops and their wares at the farmer’s market next year as a way for them to make money for other necessities they might need. ”
I grin. “Good on Lil’ Bit for doing that.”
I’m about to say more when a knock on the door stops me.
It opens before Thor can reply and Lark barges in with Loki’s arm draped over her shoulders and she is supporting most of his weight.
My gut twists when I see how pale he is.
I get up, helping her get Loki to the couch.
Levi comes in and shuts the door behind her.
“He damn near dropped like a bag of potatoes into one of the chairs and when I saw how pale he’d gotten, I was about to call Doc when he managed to get out that he needed to see you and Thor,” Lark tells us before straightening, twisting her fingers together as she worries her lip, her gaze never leaving Loki.
“Come on, Lark. The guys will make sure he’s okay,” Levi says as she links her arm through Lark’s and starts toward the door.
Loki’s hand shoots out and snags Lark’s wrist. “Stay,” he gasps out. “Both… of you… stay… Just… give me… a moment…”
Levi’s forehead creases in confusion but she stays like he asks.
Thor motions to her and she goes over, sitting down on his lap.
His hand caresses her stomach, and I don’t even think he realizes he’s doing it.
Longing hits me and once again, the urge to have a baby with Lark hits me hard.
I shake my head. This isn’t the time to be thinking about something like that.
Lark sits down next to Loki and he grasps her hand tightly in his, intertwining their fingers together.
She murmurs something quiet to him and he nods.
His body slumps and he leans back against the couch as he catches his breath.
Lark shifts slightly but Loki’s grip on her hand tightens. Almost as if she’s grounding him.
“Levi… Do you know anything about Loki’s family history?” Lark asks her. She shakes her head, and as Lark fills her in, her eyes widen in surprise.
“So, did he just have a vision? Is that why he dropped like that after Mae hugged him?”
I stare at Loki in concern. “He’s never reacted like this after one of his previous visions. That I’ve witnessed anyway. He’s always managed to stay upright and never turned this pale before.”
“They’re coming,” Loki rasps out, and Levi gets up, unlocking a cupboard and grabbing a bottle of water out. She passes it to Lark who gives it to Loki. He tilts his head in thanks before taking a drink as Levi sits back down on Thor’s lap.
“I can’t tell who but something’s coming and it’s going to be big.” He turns toward Lark. “You’re armed, right?”
She gives him a knowing look and pats her cut. “Handgun and a few knives on me. I have more in my backpack. Same for Miracle.”
He gives a quick, jerky nod. “Good.”
“Anything else you can tell us?” Thor asks and Loki frowns as his eyes go unfocused.
“There will be a lot of men coming. It was daylight and it was snowing—they’re probably hoping to use the poor visibility against us.
We’re also supposed to have a snowstorm this weekend so that lines up with what I saw.
I got the sense that they’re after Mae specifically so it’s most likely Oasis.
We were still here and I saw the decorations for Mae’s party, so my guess is they’ll attack sometime this weekend.
I tried to push harder to see more, but the details got smokier when I did that,” he shakes his head and sighs. “I’m sorry I couldn’t see more.”
“Hey,” Lark chides as she bumps shoulders with him. “None of that. Your gift has given us an advantage that we wouldn’t have had otherwise. We should be the ones thanking you, so thank you.”
He gives her a small, tight smile, and while I’m sure her words helped, I know Loki. He’s going to be blaming himself for this for a while. Just like I know he is about not being able to identify who’s stalking Lark.
“Is it common for you to have so many visions so close together?” Thor asks and Loki shakes his head, frowning.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve had this many so close together. Usually, I only have a handful a year. This is the fifth one in two weeks.”
His frown deepens as a phone vibrates and he shifts, pulling his own phone out of his pocket before he curses under his breath. “It’s ma mère (my mom).”
Why is he cursing about Mama C calling? Or is it because it’s so close to him having a vision that’s bothering him?
“Answer it, you know she’ll just keep calling if you don’t,” I tell him.
“All? (Hello), maman (mom).”
Since I’m right next to him, I can hear their conversation. I go to stand, but he shakes his head, so I settle back on the couch.
“All? (Hello), mon fils (my son), though I would have appreciated you not cursing before answering.”
Loki sighs as he shakes his head, but smiles. How the hell did she know he swore before he answered?
Lark snickers and Loki narrows his eyes at her. She covers her mouth with her hand and he rolls his eyes.
“Now put me on speaker so that I can talk with ta soeur (your sister), Levi, Thor, and Reaper.”
Alarm shoots through me, but Loki puts a hand out, placating us as he puts the phone on speaker.
“Maman (mom), I’ve told you many times you can’t call people out like that. They aren’t as familiar with your type of visions. Even more so when you call shortly after I’ve had one.”
Mama C scoffs. “Well, they’ll get mighty familiar with it this summer when I come up there. Now, I needed to tell ta soeur (your sister), a few things and since I knew it would freak her out if I called her directly, I called you. Lark, ma fille (my daughter)?”
“Yes, ma’am?” Lark asks and I bite my lip to keep from chuckling. Mama C hates being called ma’am.
Mama C scoffs again. “None of that ma’am stuff.
You can call me Charlene, Mama Charlene, or Mama C, whichever you prefer.
Now, ma fille (my daughter), you have a dark time coming your way.
You need to trust your instincts. They will get you through this along with the support from both clubs.
You need to tell ta soeur (your sister) to do the same.
She’ll need it for when darkness reaches out for her in the next few months. ”
Lark blinks and her gaze locks with mine as she swallows hard. “I will, Mama C.”
“Good. Now as for this weekend, do not let what Loki saw disrupt Mae’s celebration. A baby shower should not be tainted with this darkness for longer than it needs to be. Now, take me off speaker and give Reaper the phone. I need to talk to him in private.”
Loki smirks at the phone at Mama C’s order, and it really is an order, as he passes me the phone. The others get up and leave, shutting the door behind him. Though I don’t miss Lark’s demand to see a picture of Mama C when Loki gets his phone back.
“I’m here, Mama C, and I’m alone.”
“Good. Now, what I’m going to tell you, you are going to want to fight, but you have to let Lark come to her own decisions if she’s going to get through this.”
I scowl, already hating this.
“Stop scowling, young man. Lark is going to need to make split second decisions both this weekend and later as you deal with her demons and you are going to have to support her through it, not belittle her, scold her or reprimand her.”
My gut knots even more and I sigh but nod. From what Loki’s told me before, Mama C’s abilities are even stronger than his. And to his knowledge, she’s never been wrong before.
“Okay, Mama C.”
“I mean it, Anthony.”
Her sharp, no-nonsense tone as well as her using my real name has my back snapping straight.
“She’s going to need to do these things to become who she’s meant to be and she’s going to need you more than ever in the upcoming weeks.”
My chest tightens at what she’s implying. “I will, Mama C. Is there anything else you can tell us?”
She hesitates and I know she’s not going to reveal anything else. “I’m sorry, but the spirits say I shouldn’t reveal anything more.”
Frustration wells within me, but there’s no point in pushing. “Thank you for telling us what you could.”
She sniffs. “Take care of everyone. I’ll be in touch.”
“You take care as well, Mama C.”
I hang up and lean back on the couch, closing my eyes.
Fuck. What could she have seen that would make her say Lark needs to make split second decisions?
Decisions that can’t wait to be discussed with me or someone else.
Fuck. I hope Lark doesn’t end up getting hurt again because of this stalker and whoever the second person is.
I pause at that.
We’ve been under the assumption that the second person from Loki’s vision is also a stalker… but do they know about each other? Are they both separately chasing after Lark? Or are they working together?
I scrub my hands over my face.
Fuck, I can’t wait for those bastards to be caught.