Chapter 22 Reaper
The heavy scent of our leather cuts fills the air as Scar pounds his gavel against the solid wood table, calling Church to order. All eyes turn toward Matrix, who’s leaning back in his chair with a cocky grin plastered on his face. I lean forward in mine.
“Matrix, you got something for us?” Scar asks, even though we all know why we’re here.
“Daisy and I think we cracked the code,” he announces, barely containing his excitement. It’s no secret that they’ve been working nonstop on that damn keycard. It’s been a top priority since the day we got it.
“You think there’s a chance that piece of plastic won’t get us through the door?” Scar asks, eyeing Matrix with some skepticism.
“Shit can always go sideways, brother,” Matrix replies with a shrug.
We all know it’s true. Nothing’s ever certain when it comes to breaking into the lion’s den. So far, we’ve gotten close, but not close enough.
“Someone needs to test it,” Nitro says.
“I’ll go,” I declare, my voice cutting through the murmurs of anticipation. “I’ll test the card at Blackstone’s mansion.”
I cross my arms over the faded patches on my cut. Volunteering isn’t just about the thrill. This is personal. More personal than before because I’m sure Blackstone was trying to get his disgusting hands on my kid. Blackstone’s got a debt to pay, not just to me because of what he did to my brothers and me, but what he wanted to do to Ace.
“All right,” Scar says, turning to me. “What’s your play if the card’s a dud?”
“If it doesn’t work, I’ll walk away. No mess, no trail.” When I see hesitation in Scar’s face, I pat the leather over my heart, “I swear on my cut I won’t fuck this up.”
“You swear on your cut?” Nitro asks, arching a brow. “Since when do we do that?”
“Since now.” I scowl, willing him to shut up for once. He’s always got some shit to say when he should be keeping his mouth shut. If my brothers want to fight me on this, then I’m ready to battle. This is my mission. I want it more than I’ve wanted anything in a long-ass time.
“No need to be dramatic,” Scar snarks. “Get in, check the card, get out.”
“Got it,” I confirm, my mind already racing through various possibilities. Tonight’s going to be one hell of a ride. I’m more than ready for it.
Talon leans forward, the low light of the clubhouse glinting off his shades. He must be hungover as fuck to be wearing them indoors. I wonder what he and Jessica were up to last night. They don’t have any kids, so they can fuck around a lot more than the other brothers. Scar’s always teasing Talon about settling down for real with a kid, but Talon just brushes him off. I don’t blame him. Fatherhood isn’t for everyone.
“We’re all hung up on what to do if the card doesn’t work,” he says. “What about when it does? What’s our next move? We’ll finally have access to Blackstone’s playground from hell. Then what?”
I clench my fists, fire burning in my chest. “Then we kill him,” I spit out. “After the hell he put us through as kids, it’s only right.” My need for justice roars in my veins.
Scar shakes his head, his jaw set hard. “Even if the card works—”
“Why is anyone doubting it?” Matrix asks, interrupting the conversation.
“Even if it works,” Scar continues while glaring at Matrix, “it won’t be a walk in the park, Reaper. We can’t just storm in and expect to find Blackstone. The mansion’s full of guards. Lexi knew their schedules, but her details were too vague. Also, Blackstone could have changed things already. There are too many variables, too much that can go wrong.”
“What if we snatched one of his goons instead?” Matrix asks, always the strategist. “We could use one of the guards to gain an intel advantage. If we can figure out how to navigate the minefield of alarms in the mansion, then we’ll have a way to get to Blackstone without tripping every damn sensor in that place.”
I consider his words, and something dark stirs within me—the thrill of the hunt. The idea of dragging one of those guards down to our turf, making him sing for his life … Yeah, that gets my blood pumping.
“I like it.” I flash a dark smile at Matrix. The taste of vengeance is sweet on my tongue. “I’ll grab one guard and make him squeal like a pig.”
“Easy, bro,” Talon chimes in with a crooked grin. “You’re about ready to bust a nut thinking about your little torture chamber. Save some fun for the rest of us.”
“Shit, Talon,” I chuckle wickedly. “You’ll get a few swings in too. I know you won’t let me have all the fun. Maybe we should grab two of them, huh? Double the pleasure.”
“Keep it simple,” Scar cuts in, standing firm. “One guard, no complications. We do this fast and clean, and no one will know he’s gone till sunup. Got it?”
“Got it,” I echo as the image of a lone figure bound in our basement forms in my mind. The anticipation is explosive, like adding gasoline to the fire burning in my soul. Although we won’t be grabbing Blackstone, we’ll be getting someone almost as evil as him. It’s enough to satiate my demons for a few more days.
The clubhouse air crackles with charged energy as Scar lays down the law. His voice cuts through the haze of bloodlust in my head, forcing me to focus on the plan.
I lean across the table toward Matrix’s laptop as he points to a map of Blackstone’s mansion. The others discuss possible breach locations, but I know which door to use.
“This one in the back near the garage.” I gesture to the small black line on the side of the house. “We go in here. There’s a long hallway on the other side. We can easily hide in an alcove and snatch a guard.”
“I like it,” Scar states with unwavering conviction. “Tonight’s plan is simple. We’ve got two objectives. First, we confirm the keycard works. Second, if it gives us access, we bag ourselves one of Blackstone’s guards.” His finger jabs at the drawing of the mansion at the perimeter where shadows will cloak us in their darkness. “Is everyone clear on the plan?”
“Yeah.” Nitro nods.
“Gotcha,” Matrix adds.
“Yup,” Talon says, grinning at the prospect of fucking up a guard. I’ll let him get a few punches in. I’m not a complete asshole.
“We ride at midnight.” Scar lifts his gavel and bangs it on the table.
Murmurs of agreement ripple through the room. There’s something about the dead of night, that silent hour when the world holds its breath, that’s perfect for this kind of work. It’s the time when even demons sleep, oblivious to the retribution prowling toward them.
Meeting adjourned, the men disperse, fueled by purpose. The thrum of anticipation sends a familiar itch through my bones, but there’s something I need to do before suiting up for tonight’s mission.
Back in my room, the scent of leather mixes with something sweeter, more intoxicating. Lexi. She’s lying there on my bed, a fairy nymph that has no right to exist in a place like this. Her presence hits me like the softest punch, all curves and warmth in stark contrast to the hard edges of my life.
“Hey, babe,” I greet her, pushing off from the doorframe. My cut feels heavy on my shoulders as I approach, the weight of the night ahead bearing down on me. But first, she needs to know what’s going down. Well, most of it.
“Babe, I’ve got to tell you something …” I start, sitting beside her on the bed. My hand finds hers and wraps around it. “Matrix and Daisy got the card to work.”
“They did?”
“Probably.”
“What does that mean?” She pulls her hand away as fear flickers across her face.
“Matrix doesn’t fuck up. Well, unless he’s running DNA without asking people first,” I growl. “Anyway, we’re going to Blackstone’s mansion tonight to test out the keycard.”
“Just test it?”
“That’s it,” I lie. I hate that I can’t tell her the whole truth, but the less she knows, the better. Normally, I’d never tell a chick about club business, but this involves her, so she’s got a right to know.
“Just be careful, okay?” Her eyes, deep and full of fire, meet mine. There’s fear there, but understanding too.
I squeeze her hand, a silent vow passing between us. “Always am. But brace yourself. It’s gonna be a long night. I don’t want you worrying yourself sick while I’m gone.”
“I know the stakes,” she says, steel lacing her voice. “Just make sure you come back to me.”
“Wouldn’t dream of anything else, babe,” I assure her, the promise etching itself into my heart. Revenge is pointless if you don’t make it home.
“How long do we have?” she asks softly, pulling me down beside her.
“A couple of hours.”
“That’s never enough,” she murmurs, sliding her lips across my jawline. “I want you more and more. Why can’t I ever get enough?”
“Because I’m so damn good at this.”
She giggles as I grin down at her. Rolling her onto her back, I cover her with my body. I’m caught off guard by her warmth as she presses against me, the tension in my spine bleeding away under her touch. Her lips find mine, a soft kiss that tells me everything without uttering a single word.
I’m relieved she’s not fighting me on going to Blackstone’s. It’s one less battle to wage tonight. Until I have to leave, I don’t want to think about anything but her.
“I want to taste you,” I murmur against her skin. There’s a tremor in my voice that betrays how much I need this. How much I need her. The world outside fades into nothingness as I lose myself in the feel of Lexi beneath me, her softness a stark contrast to the asphalt and steel that make up my usual existence.
As I kiss a slow trail down her chest, she sighs and lightly scratches my scalp. A low growl rumbles through me as I dip lower to capture her perfect little nipple between my lips. Sucking and licking, I give it attention until she’s squirming beneath me. Letting up for a moment, I blow warm air across the peak, loving the way it tightens even more.
Her body is pure magic, and I can’t believe she’s letting me take her again. I never knew how good it could be until I met her. Now, she’s all I want.
Trailing kisses lower, I smile as she parts her thighs for me. I settle between them and try to ignore the throbbing hunger in my cock.
“Kiss me,” she whispers.
She’s not asking for it on her mouth, she wants it right on that tight little nub at the apex of her pussy. I know exactly where to land, and when my lips meet her soaking wet flesh, she arches.
“Oh, God, Reaper.”
“Hold still,” I murmur against her trembling skin.
“I can’t. You’re so fucking amazing at this.”
“Mm.” I lap up her juices, sucking up the sweetness like it’s the nectar of the gods. And maybe it is.
As I scrape my tongue up and down the length of her sex, she whimpers. I revel in the sound, loving her animalistic chirps and moans.
When I can tell she’s more than ready for it, I suck on her clit, pulling it tight between my lips and lavishing it with all my attention. She bucks her hips, trying to push my face away, but I don’t let her. Holding her ass in place, I flutter my tongue until she goes rigid.
Her eyes roll, and she gurgles out my name when she comes on my tongue. I lick lightly, bringing her down slowly until she’s shivering and clawing at my shoulders. That’s my cue to move my ass.
Sliding into her welcoming heat, I’m home, right where I belong. As we move together, the slow rhythm is like a balm to all the scars life has etched across my soul. She’s a reward I never saw coming, a patch of calm in the relentless storm of my life. Making love to her, it feels like every wrong turn led me right here, to this moment. I can’t help but marvel at my damn good fortune to have someone like Lexi—so fierce, so tender—in my bed, in my arms.
Our breaths sync, and the world narrows down to the shared heat between us. I plunge into her again and again, building the tension until we’re both teetering on the edge of ecstasy. We crest that high together, and it’s more than just pleasure. It’s a promise, an anchor, something pure in the chaos that waits outside our door.
Afterward, we’re a tangle of limbs and spent desire. Lexi’s eyes lock onto mine, serious and scared. “I don’t want to lose you,” she whispers, fingers tracing the ink on my chest, over my heart.
“Hey,” I say, cupping her face, “I’ll be careful. I swear.” My thumb brushes her cheekbone, and the words are there at the tip of my tongue—I’m falling for you. But the confession sticks in my throat. It’s too much. Once I say it, I can’t take it back. This isn’t the right moment, but soon, it will be. After Blackstone’s dead.
Instead, I just hold her close, letting the silence cocoon us in our own private oasis. She settles against me, slowly caressing my skin. Looking at me with love in her eyes, she smiles.
“What?” I ask gently.
“Nothing. Just … I love you, Reaper. And I know you’re dealing with a lot right now. I just want you to know that I understand why you’re still holding back. Why you can’t say it.”
I clear my throat to try to get the lump out of it. When has anyone ever given me the benefit of the doubt before? Never. But she’s doing it, which makes me fall even harder. I do love her. The realization is fucking terrifying, but it’s there.
“I—”
“Shh.” She puts her finger to my lips. “When you’re ready, not before.”
I bury my face in the valley between her breasts, so she can’t see my expression. The demons of my past circle, trying to drag me back to Hell with thoughts of what Blackstone did to me, but I push those monsters away. He can’t hurt me anymore. I’m going to destroy him.
“It’s time,” she says.
“I’ll be back as soon as I can.” I kiss her silky lips before pulling on my clothes.
With a final look, I leave her in the dim light of my room, the image of her lingering as I prepare for what comes next. Tonight, we ride under a shroud of darkness, a brotherhood seeking justice—or finding death.
Whatever it takes, I’m ready, because when dawn breaks, I intend to see her again.