Chapter 18
BLADE
It’s good to be home, but for some reason, it’s as if something is missing.
When Delilah left, Ryder and Snake quizzed me on my time with her, and I told them what I know. I left out the part where I can’t stop thinking about her and gave no indication I caught feelings for her.
They know. It was an unspoken understanding, and yet I’m not ready to face what’s happening. Delilah is not of my world. When her memory returns, she will hate what we stand for. How we live and the people we are.
She is obviously refined, rich, and privileged, and despite the fact she’s scared and vulnerable, I’m guessing it will hit her hard when she wakes up to the person she really is.
She deserves a normal life with a professional man. A big house, money to burn, and a lifestyle I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.
But she is Aspen Costello, not Delilah Grimes, and I have yet to meet the woman she was born to be.
When I finish up with the guys, the first place I stop is the bar, and as I throw open the doors, the rush of noise hits me like a huge welcome home.
Fuck, I’ve missed this.
Every room in the compound is soundproofed, and for a very good reason. This is the loudest place in the unit because it’s where the Reapers come to relax. Loud music, jostling, jeering and music, mix with the volume of the huge screens set up on the walls.
Couches slung at intervals hold heavy Reapers, usually with a willing woman on their laps.
A huge bar runs one length of the room with every spirit in existence and a couple of the whores running it.
Bar stools are set against it where the Reapers hit on the whores, mainly banter and suggestive winks, never threats or unruly behavior.
However, there is only one man I’m searching for tonight, and as I head inside, the first person I meet is Flash.
“Good to see you, soldier.”
The last time I saw him was at the hospital while he hovered anxiously over his daughter Imogen’s bed. He must be relieved she’s okay, but he has the added problem that she fell in love with Drake, one of our brothers.
“You okay, man?”
I’m concerned for him, and he nods, a weary expression in his usual twinkling eyes. Flash is the joker of the compound, an easy-going guy, cracking jokes most of the time, but this must have knocked him senseless.
“How’s Imogen?”
“She’s good, thanks. And Delilah?”
“Struggling with her memory.”
“I heard.”
He nods toward the bar. “Come and find me when you’ve settled back in. We’ll grab a beer.”
“Sure.”
He sighs. “It hurts when it’s one of your own.”
“But all the sweeter at the same time.”
“You got that right.”
Flash grins. “Go and get wasted, man. You earned it.”
As he heads off, it strikes me that getting wasted is the furthest thing from my mind. There is only one thing I want, and that is Delilah by my side, where I can watch out for her.
I catch a glimpse of Sunday, one of the whores, and guess my brother won’t be far away.
I check and, of course, he’s propping up the bar, his head buried in a bottle, shoulders hunched, radiating fuck-off vibes.
It draws a smile from me and I head his way, acknowledging the greetings of my brothers along the way.
Sunday sees me coming and smiles. She’s a pretty girl who spends most of her time with my brother, Razor. She calls herself a whore, but to my knowledge he is the only man she wants to be with, and he will never admit he has feelings for her, but he never looks at anyone else.
“Blade.”
She beckons me across and, as expected, Razor doesn’t even glance my way.
A sense of home hits me hard because I would never admit it, but I fucking hate being separated from my twin, and he would never admit it, but it’s the same for him.
I slap him on the back and wink at Sunday. “Good to see you, darlin’. I don’t suppose there’s a cold beer with my name on it.”
“Coming right up.”
Her sweet smile is most welcome, and as I grab the stool next to my brother, he says gruffly, “You took your time.”
“Good to see you too, Razor.”
I toss my eyes as he drains the bottle and then slides his gaze my way.
“What took you so long?”
“It’s been one fucking day.”
“As I said. What took you so long?”
Sunday returns with the beer and raises her eyes.
“He hates it when you’re not here.”
Razor says nothing; he doesn’t speak much, but for some reason she is the only one he entertains. Sunday is cute, a terrible gossip and chatters almost non-stop, which is the complete opposite of my brother, who for some reason can’t stay away from her.
“How’s Delilah?”
Sunday leans on the bar counter and peers at me with concern.
“Struggling to remember who she is.”
“Word is she lost her memory.”
Sunday appears concerned as she wipes the bar with a cloth. “That must suck.”
Another Reaper calls for her attention, and she heads off to serve him, and I notice how Razor’s eyes follow her.
Checking on her, making sure she’s not hit on, I guess, and then he says sullenly, “Shit’s going down.
Ryder’s pissed that Cassie was involved, and that spells trouble for everyone involved. ”
“Have you heard anything?”
Knowing Razor, he’s heard a lot because he’s always listening, calculating, and plotting.
“They’re focusing their efforts on the creep running that twisted society we smashed apart. It’s apparent there’s more of them and Ryder won’t rest until every one of those fuckers is dead.”
“I share his concern.”
I toss the beer back, and he turns, his identical gaze to mine powering through my soul.
“Tell me about Delilah.”
“Nothing to tell.”
“Are you sure about that, brother?”
I say nothing. Lying to my brother is a waste of time, and I don’t have the energy for it. We have always been in tune with one another, and I’m guessing he can tell I’ve already caught feelings.
“Have you told her about the past?”
I’m surprised by his question.
“Why would I?”
I shrug, signaling for another beer from Sunday, who is heading back our way.
“She deserves to know.”
“Why?”
Sunday cracks the bottle open and hands it to me and looks between us.
“What did I miss?”
“Nothing, darlin’.”
I drain the bottle and then slam it on the counter.
“I’m off to shower and grab some food. I’ll leave you two to, well, whatever it is you do.”
Razor says nothing at all, standard procedure, and as I leave them behind, I disguise the smile on my face. My brother is definitely not the easiest man to be around, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I’m much the same, I get it, but there is one difference between us. I shook off the past a whole lot quicker than he did.