REAPER'S KISS(7)

“Looks like it already is bad,” I said. “Stand the f*ck up.”

I dragged Frank to his feet and threw him against a wall.

“You have no idea,” Frank said. “You know who I am?”

“Do you know who I am?” I asked. “You’re in my town doing what?”

Jake stumbled to his right and leaned on a shelf. “Go away, Frank. You’ve done enough here. I have no money for you.”

“Now you get a set of balls?” Frank asked. “Tell you what, Jake, let’s keep it simple. I’ll call it even if you let me take your daughter for a few nights. I’ll bring her back in one piece, I swear.”

“Ava?” I asked.

Frank looked at me. “You know her?”

“What the f*ck do you want with Ava? What does she have to do with this?”

“Nice tits and a round ass,” Frank said. “I’d f*ck every hole…”

I threw my head forward and smashed it against Frank’s face. He started to crumble and I let him fall. I then started to throw my knee forward against his face over and over. The rage was white hot as it burned inside me. I couldn’t believe the feeling… jealousy.

“Stop!” Jake’s voice yelled. “You’ll kill him!”

I jumped back away and collected myself. I was almost out of breath. Frank fell to the side and curled up in the fetal position. He was making noise and I couldn’t tell if he was crying or trying to talk.

I was done with him for now. I turned and set my sights to Jake.

I went right after him, no matter how old he was. I grabbed his shirt and slammed him against a storage shelf. Boxes toppled off the top and back, slamming to the floor with a heavy echo.

“What is this?” I asked.

“Personal.”

I shook him. “Don’t f*ck with me, man.”

“Don’t hurt me,” Jake said.

“Hurt you? I could have killed your daughter. But I didn’t. I could make one phone call right now and have the entire MC here. You know who I am, right?”

“Yes,” Jake said. “God, yes.”

“So if I wanted you hurt or dead, it would have happened by now.”

Jake nodded. “I run business back here. Okay?”

“Games? Drugs? Hookers?”

Jake slowly nodded.

“Fuck,” I whispered. “And your daughter?”

Why the f*ck did you ask that? What does it matter if she gambles, snorts coke, or sucks dick for cash?

I felt that little ping on jealousy again.

“What about her?” Jake asked.

“She work this too?”

“Yes.”

I shoved back and stepped away.

I walked to Frank and grabbed him. I brought him to his feet. “You drive here, *?”

“Yeah,” he said. His nose looked like a smushed meatball.

“Get the f*ck out of here right now,” I ordered. “The town of Bishop is run by us. Find somewhere else to conduct your business and your f*cking shakedowns. I see you come within spitting distance of Ava and I’ll gut you.”

“You don’t get…”

I threw my head forward again and hit his nose a second time. His head flew back and hit the wall. I dragged Frank to the back door of the store and opened it. I shoved him back and outside.

“Get out of here, *.”

I watched as Frank stumbled to his car and sped away.

I shut the door and turned to look at Jake.

“Fuck,” he groaned. “I didn’t expect that.”

I looked around and saw a stack of paper towels. I ripped open a package and tossed a roll to Jake.

“Clean yourself up,” I said. “Your daughter is out there terrified.”

I started to walk and Jake ran after me. He grabbed my arm. “Why?”

“What?”

“Why… this? Frank is a powerful man. His group…”

“I don’t give a shit who he is,” I said. “He’s in my town causing problems.”

“That still doesn’t answer why.”

“You don’t need to know why,” I said. I shook Jake away. “Whatever the f*ck you’re doing here, Jake, you better really reconsider.”

I wanted to walk away as a tough guy. As someone who did a favor to a stranger. That was something I never did though.

But Jake couldn't just f*cking listen.

He ran after me again.

He grabbed my leather cut. “My wife was killed in this store.”

I looked back at him. “What?”

“Someone killed my wife. A long time ago. But this was our place together. All we had was this store and our daughter. I’ll do anything to keep both. If you need to call your thugs and come kill me, then do it. Just don’t hurt my daughter.”

“Thugs?” I asked. “Trust me, Jake, we’re not thugs. We’re your only hope.”

I walked to the front of the store and found Ava right where I left her.

She jumped up. “Is he alive?”

“He’s fine,” I said. “Whatever the hell is going on here… you all need to reel it in and quick.”

“I’ve told…”