Chapter Ten
Reaper hovered his thumb over his phone screen, the text from Savannah burning a hole in his mind.
Savannah: Hey, just got to Samantha’s place. Heading up now.
A chill seeped into his gut, gnawing at his insides. His instincts—those same instincts that had kept him alive through more brawls and bad deals than he cared to count—screamed at him that something was wrong. He’d trusted those instincts for years, and they never led him astray. Reaper clenched his jaw.
The clubhouse buzzed around him as his brothers returned from the delivery run, the roar of bikes filling the air, the scent of oil and exhaust mingling with old leather.
He was supposed to head in and report to Gunner the Vice President. Protocol demanded it. But protocol could go to hell.
He spotted Dagger, one of the younger members, climbing off his Harley, wiping grease-stained hands on his jeans. “Dagger!” Reaper barked.
Dagger snapped to attention. “Yeah, Boss?”
“ Make the report to Gunner. Tell him everything went smooth,” Reaper said.
Dagger frowned. “You all right?”
“Not sure yet,” Reaper muttered. His gaze hardened. “But I’m gonna find out. Cover for me.”
Without waiting for a reply, Reaper turned to Titan, one of his oldest brothers, a wall of muscle with a mean streak a mile wide.
“ Need you to ride with me. Might need backup, ” Reaper said.
Titan narrowed his eyes, reading the tension on Reaper’s face. He didn’t ask questions. He just nodded. “ Let ’s roll.”
They mounted their bikes, engines roaring to life. Reaper tightened his hands around the grips, his knuckles going white. Every fiber of his being screamed hurry .
The ride to Samantha’s apartment was a blur of speed and adrenaline. Wind whipped against his face, but all he could focus on was getting there. Finding Savannah. Making sure she was safe.
When they finally screeched into the parking lot, Reaper’s heart slammed against his ribs. His eyes scanned the scene, sharp and relentless, and then he saw it—Savannah. Her small frame clung to the back of a sleek black motorcycle, her body stiff with fear.
The Ravager riding it—a wiry bastard with a snake-like face and a patch that read “Raker”—grinned like he’d already won. A growl rumbled in Reaper’s chest, low and primal. Fury ignited in his veins.
“Motherfucker,” he spat. “That’s Raker.”
Titan’s lips curled into a snarl. “Slim’s with him too. Look at the other bike.”
Sure enough, Slim followed close behind, his grin just as vicious. Reaper’s vision narrowed, a red haze threatening to cloud his judgment. They had Savannah. His Savannah. Not for long. He didn’t give a damn about the risk. They were getting her back. Now.
“Let’s go,” he growled, twisting the throttle. His bike lunged forward, Titan close beside him.
The chase was on.
The Ravagers roared onto the highway, engines screaming as they pushed their bikes to the limit. Reaper’s bike vibrated beneath him, a surge of power and fury.
He leaned low, weaving through traffic with surgical precision, his eyes locked on Savannah’s form. He could see her knuckles, white where they gripped the seat. Could feel the fear radiating off her. Hold on, baby. I’m coming .
The wind shrieked past his ears, the rush of adrenaline sharpening his senses. Raker glanced back, his eyes widening in shock as he saw Reaper closing the distance. The bastard’s grin faltered.
“ Yeah, you see me, you son of a bitch, ” Reaper muttered, his voice a low growl. “ And I ’m coming for you.”
Raker gunned the engine, trying to pull away. Slim swerved, falling back to try and block Reaper’s path.
Titan let out a guttural laugh. “ I ’ll handle him.”
Titan’s bike shot forward, a blur of chrome and fury. He smashed his shoulder into Slim’s side, forcing the Ravager to swerve dangerously close to a guardrail. Tires screeched. Metal scraped against concrete. Reaper focused on Raker. He was gaining, inch by inch. Almost there.
He could see Savannah’s head turn slightly, her eyes catching his for a heartbeat. Relief flooded her face, followed by determination. She knew he was here. She knew he’d come for her.
Reaper’s teeth ground together. He reached beneath his leather jacket, his fingers closing around the cold, familiar weight of his pistol. He didn’t want to fire on the road, not with Savannah so close, but if it came down to it…
Raker veered off the highway onto a narrow, winding back road that led into the woods. A stupid move. Reaper knew these roads better than anyone. The bastard was boxing himself in.
They raced between the trees, branches whipping by in a blur of green and brown. Raker’s bike skidded on loose gravel, fishtailing. Savannah’s body wobbled, but she held on.
Reaper’s eyes narrowed. His chance was coming.
Raker took a hard right, leading them into a clearing. It was an old, abandoned logging site, secluded and empty. No witnesses.
Reaper slowed just enough to maintain control, his eyes locked on his prey. Raker skidded to a stop, the bike’s engine growling before it cut off. He yanked Savannah off the seat, his hand clutching her arm like a vice.
“ Stay back, Reaper! ” Raker shouted, his voice cracking with desperation. “ I ’ll break her damn neck!”
Reaper’s feet hit the ground, his boots grinding into the dirt. He didn’t holster his gun. He aimed it squarely at Raker’s forehead, his hands rock-steady.
“You let her go, and maybe I won’t send you to Hell just yet,” Reaper said, his voice deadly calm.
Raker’s laugh was high and brittle. “ You think you can— ”
Savannah’s elbow jabbed back into Raker’s ribs with all the strength she had. He grunted, his grip loosening for a split-second. It was all Reaper needed.
He lunged forward, a snarl ripping from his throat. His fist crashed into Raker’s jaw, the impact reverberating up his arm. Raker stumbled back, spitting blood and curses.
Savannah darted away, her eyes wide but resolute. Titan grabbed her, pulling her safely behind him.
Reaper didn’t take his eyes off Raker. He advanced slowly, gun still raised.
Raker wiped his mouth, his eyes blazing with hatred. “ You think this ends here? ” he sneered. “ You can ’t protect her forever.”
Reaper’s lip curled. “ Watch me. ”
Raker lunged, a knife flashing in his hand. Reaper sidestepped, his movements swift and precise. He brought the butt of his pistol down on Raker’s wrist, the knife clattering to the ground. Before Raker could recover, Reaper’s fist connected with his stomach. The Ravager doubled over, gasping. Reaper grabbed him by the collar, yanking him upright so they were nose to nose.
“ This is for every time you hurt her, ” Reaper growled.
His punch landed with a sickening crack, Raker’s head snapping back. He crumpled to the ground, groaning. Slim stumbled into the clearing, his face bloodied from Titan’s assault. He took one look at the scene and froze.
Titan stepped forward, his eyes cold. “You boys picked the wrong town.”
Slim’s eyes darted around, panic setting in. He turned to run, but Titan was faster. His arm shot out, clotheslining Slim to the ground.
Reaper didn’t look away from Raker, who lay sprawled in the dirt, his chest heaving.
“ It ’s over,” Reaper said quietly. His finger tightened on the trigger. “ You don ’t touch her again.”
Raker’s eyes widened just as Reaper pulled the trigger. The gunshot echoed through the clearing, final and absolute. He ended Slim next. Silence settled, broken only by the ragged breaths of the living.
Reaper exhaled, his shoulders sagging as the adrenaline bled out of him. He turned, his eyes immediately finding Savannah. She was trembling, but her eyes were clear, filled with trust and relief. He crossed the distance between them in two strides. His arms wrapped around her, pulling her tight against his chest. She melted into him, her fingers gripping his jacket.
“ I knew you ’d come for me,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
He leaned back just enough to cup her face in his hands. His thumbs brushed away her tears. “ Always, baby. Always. ”
Her eyes searched his, and then she rose onto her toes, her lips finding his. The kiss was desperate and sweet, full of words they didn’t need to say.
He moved his mouth over hers, the kiss possessive and tender, promising that she was safe now. That she was his.
When they finally pulled back, she rested her forehead against his, her breath mingling with his.
“ Let ’s go home,” he murmured.
She nodded, a small, grateful smile curving her lips. “ Yeah. Home. ”
With one arm around her waist, Reaper led her back to his bike.