Series: Straight to Hell MC Series by Sam Crescent
Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 43704 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 219(@200wpm)___ 175(@250wpm)___ 146(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43704 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 219(@200wpm)___ 175(@250wpm)___ 146(@300wpm)
Heidi frowned and shook her head. “That’s not mine.”
She looked down at the pen, and then over to Heidi. “It is yours, when I came in I didn’t have a pen, and you handed this to me.” She was a little confused as to why Heidi didn’t want to take the pen.
“It’s fine. I don’t want it. It reminds me of him,” Heidi said.
“Him?” Grace asked.
“Franklin. It was his pen. I took it from his desk because I needed it to sign for a delivery. I guess it was the last thing I took,” Heidi said. “I don’t want it back. I just want to be free of him.”
“He scares you?” Grace asked.
“Terrifies me. There’s ... he’s going to come for me. I know he is. Anywhere else, and he would already be here.” Tears filled Heidi’s eyes. “I don’t know what I’m going to do because we can’t stay here forever. I know that’s terrible, but it’s the only place we’re safe.” Heidi laughed, but she wasn’t entertained, not even a little bit. “Of course, if he decides to burn the place down, then he gets his wish, and I’ll be out. He just wants control. That’s all he does. It’s why he became a judge in the first place.” Heidi pressed a hand to her face. “I’m sorry.”
Grace felt bad for bringing these memories to Heidi. She didn’t continue to bother the other woman, and allowed her to have some space. Rather than push the issue, she put the pen back in her bag.
She began her volunteer duties, and she was there for a good two hours before Reaper finally showed up, and he didn’t look happy. He glared at her as he grabbed her arm and pulled her into the spare bathroom.
“Reaper, what the hell?” Grace asked.
“What did I tell you?”
“I don’t understand.”
“Someone was following you, Grace. Someone could have been waiting in the shadows—”
“It was daylight when I left my job,” Grace said. “It was a slow day, and there was no point in staying there.”
“So, you’re telling me you came from the bubble tea store to here?” he asked.
She opened her mouth, then closed it, because right now the memory of how her apartment looked was very clear in her mind, and she had to be careful.
“I went to my apartment,” she said the words slowly.
She kept her gaze on him at all times. Reaper looked pissed. She had never seen him angry.
“You’re going to tell me nothing was out of place, aren’t you?” he asked.
Why would he ask her that?
She looked at him and tried to think of anything that could help the situation right now. There was nothing. She was drawing on a total blank.
And yet, she knew Reaper was just looking out for her. It had been so long since anyone cared. Her parents didn’t care. They judged. They’re only focus on the later part of their lives, was her sister. Revenge and trying to get justice for her sister.
Grace had forgotten what it felt like to have someone that cared.
Even though she looked into Reaper’s eyes and saw the anger, she understood it, and she also saw worry. He was worried for her safety.
She knew it wasn’t love. They hadn’t known each other long enough for it to be love, but this had to mean something.
She couldn’t help but close the distance between them, and she wrapped her arms around him and held onto him tightly. She didn’t want to let him go, not for a second.
“Grace, is everything okay?” he asked.
“Yeah, just ... please, I know this is crazy, but hold me, for just a second. That’s all I need.”
He wrapped his arms around her, and she closed her eyes, breathing in the scent of his leather, and the oil, and everything that was Reaper. This felt ... good. It felt wholesome. She didn’t want it to end.
“If you want to be pissed at me, do so, because I’m pissed at you for lying to me.” She pulled away and looked into his eyes. “A severed finger is not dealing with an electrical fault.”
“Gena told you.”
“She had no choice. She’s questioning everyone. Is this all because of Franklin Cartright? Heidi’s ex?”
“He doesn’t see himself as an ex, and yes, this is all because of him.”
Grace sighed. “Is everything okay?” she asked. “Please don’t keep anything from me. I need to know the truth so I don’t have to deal with all the surprises.”
Reaper stroked her cheek, and he gripped her chin. “He’s causing trouble with the club,” Reaper said.
“Is this usual?”
“Sometimes, if he has a reason to be pissed off. The only reason I can see is that I’m working here, and he wants his wife back,” Reaper said.
“What are you going to do?”
“Right now, there’s nothing I can do but sit back and wait. I’ll figure it out.”