Dylan's Reaper: Soul Reapers #3 (2 page)

CHAPTER TWO

Dylan

I
came awake slowly, bathed in a warmth so encompassing I never even knew
something like this existed, especially for someone like me. It seeped into my
limbs, soothing my aching muscles as it made its way to my very soul. A deep
breath told me I was still being carried by my rescuer. The feel of leather
against my hand let me know that he was part of another club, or maybe the same
club, who knew at this point.

Sounds
of night were all around us as I felt my rescuer shift slightly as he carried
me up steps. The shuffling of other feet told me we were not alone. A cell
phone rang, piercing the silence that hung over the group.

“
Answer
it before it wakes her up,
”
my
rescuer rumbled.  The hinges of a screen door squeaked as he carried me over
the threshold and inside. My eyes throbbed to the beat of my heart as I tried
to open them. I whimpered against the extreme discomfort as I tried again and
again.

“
Shhh
sweetheart. I got you. Nothing is gonna happen.
”
He
eventually sat me down on what felt like a real bed. I immediately tried to put
space between us but my aching body would not obey. More feeble sounds escaped
me as I fought against my own body.

“
Relax,
”
he
murmured.
“
Please just relax. I am going to
get you some ice to help with the swelling. I
’
ll
be right back.
”
A slight nod of
my head and his footsteps moved away from me. The door closing signaled that I
was alone. Only then did I roll over and give into the despair that was clawing
to get out. Big, ugly sobs tore through me as the last few days finally caught
up to me.

I
did not know how long I allowed myself to wallow, but all too soon I was being
turned over and into HIS chest. Strong arms encased me as he whispered,
“
Let
it out. Go ahead, I got you.
”
The
ugliness of the last few days washed away with my tears. Sweet murmurings and
the gentle feel of his hands on my body brought me back to the present. I
burrowed deeper into him as his arms tightened around me. Exhaustion pulled me
under as a quiet thank you passed my lips.

Knox

Her
gut wrenching sobs still echoed in my mind even after I left my sleeping beauty
in bed. I stood from the couch feeling the violent energy surging through my
body. To the door and back, to the door and back, I paced trying to alleviate
some of it, but it was no use. I knew if I let it, it would pull me under like
it did my father every time he drank. The anger, the need to inflict my misery
on others, was all too familiar as the need for violence lit my blood on fire.
What started out as a spark at how Logan and Campbell were treated was now a
wild fire that could only be put out with buckets of
their
blood.

This
in-and-out grab was too easy for my liking. After leaving her room, I found out
that Whistler, Tank and Colton had left to race back to our clubhouse because
Crazy Z was able to contact Logan.  We all knew something was up. But what? Did
we have a leak?

Gunner
came down the hall and stopped when he saw me. He leaned against the wall
watching me as I paced back and forth, his hand on the butt of his rifle as it
rested by his side. Gunner was a nomad from Baton Rouge and a retired Army
sharp shooter. He pretty much kept to himself, but was solid with that gun or
any gun put in his hands. And right now I could not ask for a better brother to
be at this safe house with me.

“
You
good?
”
asked
Gunner as he watched me make another pass.

“
Getting
there,
”
I
truthfully answered.
“
What they did to her
was beyond fucked up. I can
’
t get what I saw
out of my head. It is driving me ape shit crazy right now thinking about it.
”

“
Brother,
”
he
warned.
“
You
need to let that shit go for now. Store it away. Not deep down somewhere where
you have to look for it, but right next to your heart so that you have easy
access to it when you need it. When you need the hate and the anger to finish
what we started here tonight.
”

“
Sounds
like you got experience with this brother,
”
I
said as I stopped pacing and really looked at my nomad brother-in-arms.

“
You
have no idea,
”
Gunner mumbled
before he looked away.
“
I am going to take the
first watch from the front here. Put Ax on the back of the house. Someone needs
to check on Baxter then you and Trigger get some sleep.
”

“
I
doubt that is even possible,
”
I
argued.

“
Then
go watch your girl sleep until it
’
s
your turn.
”
My
girl? What made him think that?
But Gunner was out the
front door before I could comment. After Ax was in place, I found Trigger
already asleep on the front couch. Next I checked on Baxter to find him passed
out in the back bedroom, even with being handcuffed to the bed.

With
everything in place, I finally made my way back to the girl . . . my girl.
Maybe!
The thought quickened my steps as I quietly entered the bedroom where she was.
Still curled on her side where I left her, I toed off my shit kickers and sat
my gun on the floor by the bed before crawling in next to her. The minute our
bodies made contact she snuggled into me as I draped my arms around her. We
aligned perfectly as I curled my body around hers with her head resting under
my chin. Relaxing my body, I felt the familiar pull of sleep, letting my eyes
drift close as I pulled her tighter into me.

“
NOOOOOOOOOO.
Stop. Please. Stop.
”
More
words and cries dragged me from sleep. Unsettled, I grabbed my gun as I sat
straight up in bed, taking in my surroundings. Sunlight peeked through the
curtains illuminating the room. Thrashing in the bed next to me pulled my
attention to the woman.

“
Sweetheart,
wake up. You are having a nightmare.
”
I
gently shook her to no avail. She was stuck in her nightmare. A little more
force from me had her sitting up straight in bed right as she yelped in pain
cradling her left arm to her chest.
“
I
got you.
”
My
hushed words were met with resistance. Her attempts to shrug me off did not
work as I pulled her onto my lap to straddle me. I laid the gun beside us
before returning my hand to her hips.

The
puffiness around her eyes was still an angry red with tinges of purples and
black where the swelling was starting to go down. She was going to be sporting
two very big black eyes.

“
Let
me take a look at your wrist,
”
I
said, keeping a hold on her in case she tried to slide off. Damn she felt good
on my lap. 
Stop thinking with your dick jackass!
But man
,
she
was right where she needed to be.

Her
head shook no as her other hand came to protect her injured one.
“
Please,
”
I
added, hoping it would get her to show me. There was a moment of hesitation
before she shook her head again. This little act of defiance was both annoying
and a turn on.
“
Fine, but soon
sweetheart.
”
Her defiance
short lived as her shoulders slumped and a small nod was given in agreement.

“
Tell
me your name.
”
 
I refused to say
please this time around. She buttoned her lips and gave me a firm head shake
no. I could feel my blood rush south as she squirmed to try and get off my lap.
“
Sit
still,
”
I
commanded, earning me a scowl. Damn she was sexy, even all beat to hell you
could tell she was a wild cat.

“
Alright
then, Princess,
”
I
emphasized the last word.
“
Since you don
’
t
seem to want to help me out here, I will just do all the talking.
”

CHAPTER THREE

Dylan

How
did I end up on his lap in bed? One minute I was knee deep in nightmares and
the next I was straddling him trying to curb the lust I felt coming to life. It
seemed that every time I told him no his body responded by growing thicker
against my most sensitive spot. How could I be responding so easily to him? My
mind screamed at me as my body melted against his. What started out as an ache
in my core was turning into an avalanche of need.

Stop
it!
My mind screamed. I did nothing as my nipples pebbled and wetness flooded my
channel as the memory that I was panty-less took center stage in my mind. All I
had to do was drive down my hips onto his to get rid of at least one ache in my
body. His jeans were the only thing separating us from where my body wanted him
to be.

How
the fuck was my body even responding to his when I was as messed up as I was?
What was it about him?

 
“
I
am Knox Montgomery.
”
His
words interrupted my inner slut. What the hell was I thinking? Sex should be
the furthest thing from my mind.
“
And
no it is not short for Knoxville.
”
I
could not help the small quirk of my lips at his playfulness. Even without
seeing him I felt his charisma rolling off of him in waves.
“
I
was born and raised in Knoxville, hence the nickname Knox. I was born a
Matthew, but if you could see me right now you would know I was never meant to
be a Matt.
”
I could not
contain the smile that spread across my face so I quickly turned my head to
prevent him from seeing it.

Too
late.

“
Is
that a smile?
”
Knox teased as
his hand cupped my chin, bringing it back to face him.
“
It
is.
”
His
small victory in his voice. I would have rolled my eyes if I was able to open
them.
“
You
ready to share?
”
His
insistence was both cute and annoying.

Although
all of my instincts told me I could trust him; this experience that I was going
through right now told me that they were a little off when it came to the
opposite sex. He sighed in frustration as I shook my head no again.
“
In
due time princess.
”
He
stated this as a fact, lifting me off his lap and setting me next to him. I
immediately felt the chill of separation between us.

My
stomach growled, saving me from saying anything to fill the silence. Knox
sighed, but from what I was not sure. I maintained my silence, when he finally
said,
“
Let
me get you some food. One of my brothers is an EMT. He is going to look at your
arm.
”
Before
I could react to his words, Knox was off the bed and out of the room.

A
few minutes later what smelled like a nuked, day-old McDonald
’
s
burger sat on my lap as Knox put a large glass in my good hand. Not realizing
how thirsty I was until I started drinking it, I polished it off before I even
touched my burger.

“
I
’
ll
get you some more,
”
Knox
said as I heard him leave the room.

Quick
footsteps entered the room as I felt someone rush to my side. I shrunk away
from this new person as I heard an intake of breath next to my ear.
“
I
can get you out of here,
”
he
whispered.
“
You just need to wait for a little
while until my back-up shows.
”
I
shook my head no as my heart hammered in my chest. Was this a trick? Who was
this person? Before I could ask his footsteps carried him out of the room and
down the hall. I heard voices, but could only make out Knox
’
s
voice.

No
longer desiring the food on my lap I covered it back up as Knox entered the
room.
“
I
thought you were hungry,
”
he
said as he put the cup into my hand. I took it from him and drowned my response
in cool water as I gulped the whole glass down again. A million questions swirled
in my mind as I tried to piece all this together.
“
Well
I have lookout for the next few hours. Gunner is coming in now to check your
wrist.
”
I
heard another set of footsteps as another person, who I assumed was Gunner,
joined us.

“
Hi
there. My name is Gunner and I was an EMT in Louisiana before coming to this
great state. My brother here tells me that you keep cradling your arm. May I
have a look at it?
”

At
first I wanted to refuse, but then I felt Knox by my side. I turned my face to
him as he said,
“
Let him princess. If
something is wrong he can try and fix it.
”
I
nodded as the bed dipped and Knox sat next to me. I leaned against him as I
felt a second set of hands, first on my shoulder and then down my arm. Gunner
’
s
touch was very methodic as he gently prodded down my arm. At my elbow I started
to feel the pressure that bordered on pain. At my forearm, I grimaced, but did
not pull away.
“
It okay,
”
Knox
soothed.
“
Just relax. I got you.
”
My
body sagged even more against him as his arm encircled my waist. There was a
moment of silence before Gunner said,
“
Hold
her.
”

All
logical thought of how I knew Gunner was not going to hurt me, that this was
what was best for me, took flight like a flock of startled birds as he moved to
my wrist. I grunted in pain as he continued to kneed my bones feeling for
something. Knox
’
s grip tightened as he
held me in place. No amount of pulling or pushing relented his hold on me. Knox
continued to whisper what I can only imagine were soothing words as I howled in
pain. Although Gunner was extremely efficient in checking my wrist, the pain
did not ebb as he gently laid my wrist across my chest.

“
It
’
s
definitely broken. Emma will want to look at it before we call Doc. I got some
pain killers in my saddle bag that I can give her. I can also do a make-shift
sling until we get back.
”

“
No
drugs.
”
My
voice raspy from lack of use and all the screaming I had been doing over the
last few days.

“
Holy
shit.
”
From
the surprise in Knox
’
s voice I knew he was
not expecting me to talk.

“
But
it will help you sleep and with the pain.
”
I
could hear the truth in Gunner
’
s words, but
there was no way I was taking any more drugs.

“
No
drugs,
”
I
repeated.
“
Had enough to last me a lifetime,
”
I
croaked as I felt Knox tense next to me.

“
Your
call,
”
Gunner
countered. I had a feeling he was not talking to me when Knox responded,
“
It
’
s
up to her brother. She said no drugs, then no drugs.
”

“
Let
me know if you change your mind,
”
and
with that I heard Gunner leave the room. 

With
just Knox and me in the room I finally breathed a sigh of relief. I took
comfort knowing it was just us. I still felt lost in the dark, even if I was
seldom afraid of the dark. The shadows casted by what was done to me were
haunting me even now that I was awake.

“
Why
don
’
t
you rest and I will come check on you in a little while?
”
Too
numb to do anything but nod, I let Knox help me back into the bed.  A soft
press of his lips to my forehead was the only good-bye I received. My mind
needed to focus on something other than the wrong turns I had taken to get me
here. I needed to figure out what was going on so that I could prepare myself
for whatever came next.

I
thought back to what Crazy Z had said. He had made a trade with the Night
Demons, the club Sam was in. Crazy Z had said a favor for a favor. Getting me
into the Soul Reapers
’
compound
was obviously one favor, but Lucifer, Sam
’
s
MC President never told me about any trade. I stupidly made the deal with
Lucifer that if he left my mom alone I would go with the Hellhounds who would
hand me over to the Soul Reapers. Sam never told me that he knew who my father
was or what club he belonged to. Crazy Z said that Lucifer told him I was the
daughter of one of the Reapers. But the more I thought about it, the more I
wondered. Who was the girl the Night Demons promised the Hellhounds? How did
the Night Demons know that my mom was connected to the Soul Reapers? And why
did the Hellhounds care? She told me she slept with a member of the Soul
Reapers and when he found out she was pregnant he told her to abort me. So she
left Camden City. My mom was a piece of shit parent, but at least she kept a
roof over my head most days and enough cereal in the house that I did not
starve. At least she wanted me more than the damn Reaper did.

My
head hurt with all the possibilities. And who were these people that I was
with? Knox may have playfully told me about himself but nothing about why he
was involved. And who was this stranger whispering he could save me? How did he
play into all of this? And how was I supposed to know who he was when I could
not see him? His voice was masked by the whispering. I growled in frustration
as more and more scenarios played out in my head.

Minutes
or hours could have passed but time still had no effect on me as sleep promised
relief from the questions. I happily allowed my mind to drift to my few moments
with Knox to help guide me into a dreamless sleep.

Knox

“
One
of our trucks is approaching,
”
Ax
informed me as I stared from my look out spot at the back of the house.

Gunner
was already standing at the front door, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as I
walked out onto the front porch. Whistler was driving and what looked to be
Logan and Campbell accompanied him.

The
girls piled out of the car and walked quickly to the steps with Whistler
following behind them.

“
No
one is supposed to be here until morning,
”
I
said with my arms crossed over my chest. Tank and Colton were going to be
pissed.
“
Why
are you here?
”

“
Calm
down Knox,
”
Whistler
directed.
“
One of Baxter
’
s
girls is making the trip with him.
”

“
Since
when?
”
I
demanded to know. This was a battle I did not want to be a part of. I looked
from Logan to Campbell wanting an answer. My eyes fell to the bags in Campbell
’
s
hand getting the answer neither would give me.
“
Does
Tank know? Hell, does Prez know?
”

“
I
don
’
t
know and I don
’
t care,
”
Whistler
ranted.
“
Since
I
’
m
the one driving Baxter
’
s sorry ass out of
here, we can leave now and gain some time on the road.
”

“
You
are leaving now?
”
questioned
Logan.

“
Pretty
much. Get in the house and say your good-byes while I load up the truck.
”

The
girls practically ran up the steps to follow me into the house. I led them
through the house right to the hallway that led to Baxter
’
s
door.
“
The
one on the left is Baxter
’
s. To the right is the
girl
’
s.
”

“
Who
is she?
”
Logan
asked as we came to a stop outside the doors.

“
She
’
s
not talking,
”
I confessed.
Frustration once again licking at my heels. I ran a hand through my hair as I
admitted,
“
I can barely get her to eat
anything.
”