Chapter 21 Reaper
The roar of my Harley slices through the quiet of the forest as I pull up to Matrix and Daisy’s place. Tucked away from the world, the ultra-modern style house suddenly emerges in a series of sleek lines. The minimalist design seems to harmonize effortlessly with the organic contours of the landscape. Glass walls stretch from floor to ceiling, inviting sunlight to play within its spacious confines. Each angle of the structure is a tribute to contemporary innovation, yet it retains an aura of serenity that only nature can provide.
Despite its tranquil exterior, I’m sure that a chaos of wires and screens sits on the other side of those walls. Matrix is always monitoring this place, in addition to the clubhouse and the other brothers’ homes, constantly looking for trouble. He opens the gate for me before I even reach it.
I pull up to the front door before killing the motor. Swinging my leg over the bike, the leather of my jacket creaks in protest. My boots crunch on the gravel driveway. I’m about to knock when the door swings open.
Daisy flashes a bright smile at me. “Come in. We’ve finally got some good news.”
Matrix and Daisy are the best hackers I know—if anyone can reverse engineer that key card code, it’s them. We need that code cracked if we’re going to take down Blackstone.
“Did you crack it?” I ask, wasting no time on pleasantries.
“Well—” Matrix looks up from the kitchen table where he’s hunched over a laptop.
Before he can answer, a blur of energy zips toward me, nearly knocking me off balance.
“Play!” The word erupts from the little tyke barreling into my legs. Ash, Matrix and Daisy’s two-year-old, looks up at me with wide, expectant eyes.
“Maybe later, buddy.” I smile and ruffle his hair. “Right now, I gotta talk to your mom and dad.”
Ash’s chubby hands grab onto my jeans, his face scrunching up in determination.
“Play cops and robbers!” he demands, tugging at me.
“Go on and play without me for now,” I tell him firmly but gently. “I’ll be over in a minute, okay?”
Ash pouts but nods, scampering off toward the living room, where he’s got a stash of toy cars and action figures waiting.
I turn back to Matrix and Daisy, the brief interaction with Ash reminding me there’s more at stake here than just a mission. Bringing down Blackstone will keep all of our families safe, not just mine.
The scent of coffee fills the air as I take a seat at the kitchen table, sliding into the chair next to Matrix.
“We’re on the brink of cracking this baby wide open,” Matrix says, tapping a finger against the sleek plastic card laid out before us.
“On the brink? What the fu—heck does that mean?” I glance at Ash before leaning forward, my gaze flicking from their kid to the laptop.
“We think we nailed it,” Daisy says, her voice a mix of excitement and caution. “But we still need to test it out.”
“Give it here,” I demand, reaching out. “I’ll test it right now.”
Matrix snatches the card away, his eyes narrowing. “No way, man. I’m not letting you go off half-cocked to Blackstone’s place.”
I sit back, clenching my jaw to stifle the growl itching to escape. “Just gonna make sure it works,” I ground out, trying to keep the edge from my voice, but failing miserably. “Then I’ll bring it straight back.”
“Reaper, listen—” Daisy starts, but I cut her off.
“Talon and I have been watching that mansion for months,” I say, fixing Matrix with a glare that I hope conveys how serious I am. “I’ve made it to one of the rear doors, but without a key, I can’t get in without alerting the guards.” My fists clench at the memory of how close we got. “That damn mansion might as well be a bank vault. I thought about shooting out a window, but it’s all bulletproof glass.”
“And that would definitely tip them off that you’re there,” Daisy says.
Matrix and his wife exchange a look, one of those silent conversations I’m not privy to but can guess the gist of. Frustrated, I feel the pressure behind my eyes building, like an engine without a release valve.
“Every second we wait is another moment Blackstone thinks he’s untouchable,” I push, hoping they understand the urgency. “I need to get inside. Now.”
Matrix’s jaw is set, his fingers drumming a staccato rhythm on the glass table. “I need to talk it over with Scar and the others,” he says firmly, each word like a nail being driven into my plan. “Church is tomorrow.”
“Fine,” I grind out through clenched teeth. I don’t want to get into another pointless fight with him. It’s a waste of time and energy. He’s always going to be my brother, even if I want to throttle him sometimes. For now, I’ll play by the club’s rules—brotherhood and all that.
“Be patient,” Daisy says softly. “Can I get you something to eat?”
“No. I’m good. But thanks.” I manage to turn my grimace into a slight smile. Daisy’s always been good to me and the other guys. I don’t want to be a dick to her, even if I feel like I’m going to blow up if I have to wait another minute to deal out vengeance.
A giggle pulls my attention from my dark thoughts. Ash runs into the kitchen while aiming a plastic gun at me with glee-filled eyes.
“Bang! Bang!” he shouts, wobbling on chubby legs as he pretends to shoot.
“Got me, partner,” I say, feigning a dramatic fall from my chair and earning a peal of laughter from the kid. Daisy chuckles while Matrix shakes his head, but he’s grinning too.
Ash and I play cops and robbers for a minute or two. The simplicity of the game is a stark contrast to the complexity of my life outside this house. At this moment, I’m not Reaper the enforcer. I’m just a guy playing with a kid. And damn, if it doesn’t feel good. I wonder if playing with Ace would feel the same way. Maybe it would be even more fun because he’s my boy. I don’t know, but I’m curious now.
“Robbers win!” Ash declares victoriously, raising his arms in triumph as I hold up my hands in mock surrender.
“Seems like they always do, kiddo,” I chuckle before standing up to leave. My gaze slides over to Daisy and Matrix, a rare softness stealing into my voice. “You got a cute kid there.”
“Thanks.” Daisy’s face lights up with pride. “We’re actually trying for another one.”
“Is that right?” I smirk, glancing at Matrix, whose cheeks turn a shade pinker under his beard. “Have fun trying, brother.”
It’s easy to tease him because I know behind the tough exterior, Matrix is a family man to the core. It’s a side of him only a few get to see. Usually, we’re at the clubhouse digging through the dark web or searching through lines of code. Well, Matrix does code shit while I’m the dark web guy. But anyway, today’s been a nice change from our usual interactions.
“I always do,” Matrix retorts with a grin.
He knows as well as I do that our world isn’t just about late-night runs and dark web sessions—it’s about what we come home to. And if I’m being honest, a part of me envies the simple joy he’s found with Daisy.
Shaking off the feeling, I stride out the door, the familiar weight of the tasks ahead settling back onto my shoulders. Tomorrow, I’ll face the club, and we’ll decide how to deal with Blackstone’s keycard. But for tonight, I have other demons to confront.
***
The roar of my Harley slices through the calm evening air as I pull up to Nina’s place. The rumble dies down to a purr and then silence as I kill the engine and swing my leg over the bike. I make my way to the back porch where Nina’s waiting with a strange look on her face.
“What’s wrong?” I demand.
“There’s been a delay with the custody case.” Nina glances at the field where the custody kids are playing with Ace.
I frown, crossing my arms as I lean against the wooden railing. “How long?”
“A few extra days.” She brushes a loose strand of hair behind her ear, refusing to meet my gaze. “Something doesn’t feel right. That woman’s ex-husband’s up to something.”
“Yeah,” I mutter, anger simmering in my belly. These kids have been through enough without their old man playing games. “I’ll send a couple of new prospects around to help keep watch. Just in case.”
“Thanks,” she says, her gaze drifting over to where Ace and the other two kids are tumbling around in a game of tag. Her tone shifts. It’s lighter but probing. “So, how’s it going with Lexi?”
I follow her gaze, watching Ace for a moment before answering. “She’s still after me to be Ace’s father.” The words come out more clipped than I intend.
“Is that idea growing on you at all?” she asks, an edge of teasing in her voice.
“I never imagined having a kid.” I shrug as if the weight of fatherhood isn’t already pressing down on me.
Nina chuckles, folding her arms to mirror me. “With your track record, there could be little Reapers running around that you don’t even know about.”
“No fucking way. I was always careful and always used rubbers,” I respond quickly, maybe too quickly. “Except with Lexi … Something about her just makes me reckless.”
“Reckless, huh?” Nina arches a brow, curious and unjudging. “Why do you think that is?”
“Whenever I’m with her, nothing else matters,” I confess. “I just want to get as close as possible to her. Don’t want anything in the way, not even a rubber.”
“Sounds intense. I was like that with Winchester.” Her voice is soft now, understanding filling the spaces between us.
“Intense doesn’t even begin to cover it,” I admit, looking back toward the kids. Ace’s laughter carries across the field, and for a brief second, I imagine what it would be like to join in, to be a part of his carefree world.
But then reality snaps back into focus, and I remember who I am—what I am. There’s no room for carefree in my life, not until Blackstone’s dead. Everything else is just a fleeting dream, gone as quickly as the exhaust smoke from my bike.
“She’s special, you know,” Nina says.
“Lexi’s always been different. She’s not like the other women I’ve been with. Not clingy or demanding. She lets me be, gives me space to breathe, and lets me come back when I’m ready.” I glance at Nina. “Even now, with Ace … she isn’t pushing me toward fatherhood. And I gotta say, I’d have already run if she’d done that, if she’d put a bunch of pressure on me.”
Nina nods slowly, her gaze following the children as they chase each other through the grass. “You know, I think you’d surprise yourself. You could be a good dad.”
“What makes you say that?” I scoff.
“Because”—she turns to face me, eyes locking onto mine with a certainty that feels too strong for comfort—“you’ve got a big heart, even if you try to hide it under that rough exterior. Remember the fox you saved? Talon’s pet that got hit by that car?”
“Sure do,” I reply, recalling the blood, the panic, and the way Talon’s face had crumpled at the sight.
“You didn’t hesitate to do the right thing, even knowing what it would cost you,” she continues. “You brought that little creature back to life even though it drained you. That wasn’t about being tough or a badass biker, that was about caring. You did it for your brother.”
“That’s different,” I argue, but the conviction in my voice wanes.
“Is it?” she challenges gently. “Deep down, you know you’d go to hell and back for any one of us. That includes Lexi … and it definitely includes Ace.”
Her words hit with the force of a sledgehammer, and for a moment, I’m speechless, lost in the truth I’ve been trying to outrun for days. Could I really step into that role? Be more than the enforcer, the man everyone whispers about? Could I be a good father?
“Maybe,” I finally mutter. “But it’s not simple. Nothing with me ever is.”
“Reaper, you think your heart’s full of darkness, but you’re wrong.” She steps closer, closing the space between us. Her hand rests on my forearm, a comforting warmth. “You’re a caring, generous man. You’ve made hard choices, yes, but only to take down the wicked.
“Light and dark coexist in you. It’s what makes you who you are. Your strength comes from embracing both sides. That’s how you help people. How you protect this family and all the other families out there that can’t protect themselves.”
I clench my jaw, fighting against the raw emotions clawing up my throat. This woman, this fierce soul standing before me, sees through my veneer. She sees something more, something I’m afraid to acknowledge.
“Darkness isn’t always evil,” she says softly, her confident tone cutting through my resistance. “Sometimes … sometimes it’s necessary.”
In that moment, something shifts within me, a tectonic grind of self-realization. She’s right. The darkness I’ve harnessed has been a tool, a weapon wielded for justice. I wouldn’t be who I am if I hadn’t looked into the face of evil and survived.
I step forward and wrap my arms around her, pulling her into a hug that speaks volumes more than words ever could. Her arms circle my waist, and I feel the tension easing from my muscles, the constant guard I keep up relenting under the comfort of her embrace.
“Thanks, Nina,” I murmur. “You gave me a helluva lot to think about. As usual.”
She pats my back before pulling away. I look down at her and silently thank God for bringing her into my life. I don’t know where the hell any of us would be right now if she hadn’t found us. She saved us in a way no one else could. For that, I’ll forever be grateful. And I’ll also think about what she said. She’s a smart woman. Ignoring her advice would be stupid.
“Whatever path you choose, just remember—you’re not alone,” she says, giving me one last reassuring smile. “Sometimes, the scariest choices lead to the best outcomes. You won’t know until you try.”
“Guess not.” I nod, the lump in my throat making it difficult to speak.
“Take care and tell Lexi hi for me.”
“I will.”
As I ride off, the cool air rushes past, and Nina’s words echo through my mind. Maybe I’ve been thinking about this all wrong. Nina’s right. Not all darkness is evil. Not all light is pure. And somewhere in the balance, there’s a place for a man like me—a man who can be both the storm and the calm, a reaper and a savior. And maybe a father too.