REAPER'S KISS(5)

“What?” I asked.

I grabbed for him and he looked ready to burst into tears. He waved his other hand at me. “You heard my words. This will not happen again to me. I cannot lose you. But you might lose me. I’ll always care for you.”

“What’s happening right now?”

Dad looked to the back door and shook his head. “You have to stay right here. Right here. You do not move. I will figure out something for you, my sweet Ava.” Dad touched my cheek. “Oh, you look like your mother. Just so beautiful. Always beautiful. From the day you were born.”

Tears glistened in his eyes as he spoke.

He moved away and I took a step toward him. He put a hand out and shook his head.

Dad turned and hustled away as someone came into the store. Of course this lady wanted to buy almost everything in the store. A damn near week’s worth of groceries and supplies. I had to ring her up, one item at a time, then haggle over an expired coupon. I kept looking to my right, wondering what was happening in the back of the store.

The woman asked me to help her to her car. So I threw a smile on my face and helped her. I loaded up her trunk, declined a one dollar gratuity, and then rushed back into the store. I paced up and down the aisles, wondering what to do.

Who could be in the back? Is someone hurting Dad? Are there more people outside? Am I in trouble? Is someone going to hurt me?

I walked back to behind the counter and figured I would take a chance. I would call for the police. Even if it resulted in Dad getting into trouble, at least he’d survive. I knew a lot of what Dad did was illegal but I couldn’t stand the lose another parent.

I reached for the phone and someone walked into the store.

I dropped the phone and stepped back.

He turned his head and looked at me.

Black hair, piercing green eyes, everything about him screaming wrong, bad, and outlaw.

I swallowed hard.

I wasn’t going to make out of today alive.





He had a cocky strut about him as he grabbed a bottle of soda. As he walked toward the counter, I watched as he looked around the store. His hand then shot out and grabbed a bag of chips. Then he came to the counter. Next he grabbed a pack of gum and put his hands on the counter, grinning at me.

He was dangerously beautiful. Wearing a black leather cut, I knew he was a member of the motorcycle club in town. They were all bad guys, no matter how you looked at it. They hurt people. They stole. They strong-armed the police into doing what they wanted.

I reached for the chips with my hand shaking.

“Hey, you okay?” the outlaw asked me. He touched my hand. “You’re shaking like crazy.”

“Don’t hurt me,” I blurted out.

My face turned red.

“Hurt you? Why would I hurt you?”

“Where’s the rest of your guys?” I asked. “Is that what this is?”

“Sweetie, I’m trying to buy a soda and chips.” He reached for his leather cut and slowly opened it. He took out some money and tossed it to the counter. “Look. Okay?”

I rang up the items and couldn’t help myself as I was stuck between fear and attraction. He was so f*cking good looking it was ridiculous.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked, leaning forward.

I grabbed a bag and he grabbed my wrist.

That’s when the world stopped.

I just stared at him. Those eyes ripping into me.

I shook my head.

“Something’s wrong here?” he asked me.

I nodded.

“You can’t say though?”

I didn’t move.

He reached back and pulled out a gun. I jumped back and let out a whimper.

Suddenly, he was in hunting mode. Looking all around the store. He rushed around the counter, coming at me, gun in hand. I slid into a corner and sat down on an old stool where Dad used to perch himself for hours. The outlaw was taller than me to begin with, but with my sitting, he was like a giant towering over me.

“You sit here and don’t f*cking move,” he said to me.

I swallowed hard. “That’s what my father said…”

“Your father? Is he in trouble?”

I slowly nodded.

The outlaw curled his lip and looked over his shoulder.

I saw an opening and I stupidly took it.

I lifted my foot and kicked forward at his balls as hard as I could.

My mind had only one thing screaming at itself.

Run.





chapter six


(jace)



NOW



Her foot connected a centimeter away from my balls. I jumped back, caught myself swinging the gun in self defense, but I held back. Christ, the last thing I needed on my conscious was hitting a woman with a gun. I stumbled back and into the counter. I knocked over a display of gum.

The woman jumped and lunged at the counter.

She was freaking beautiful. From the second I walked into the store I picked up on the vibe that something was very wrong. At first I thought it was just because someone so pretty was working at a shit hole store.

She was on the counter, crawling across it. The back of her shirt lifted up, showing some skin. She was also showing me a pink set of panties that were clung to her body as her jeans pulled down a little.

I hurried to tuck my gun away and move to the counter. I slipped my hand around her waist and grabbed her. My face was damn near pressing against her ass as I pulled her off the counter. She threw an elbow and cracked me in the side of the head. I walked backwards and put my other hand around her chest, securing her arms. Shit, if anyone walked in and saw the scene it would look like I was hurting this beautiful woman.