Chapter 9 Grim

" I need to know who the fuck this was, Xenon. Everything about this motherfucker. He's after my woman."

"I know, pres."

"He fucking hit her bumper. He almost wrecked her."

"I hear you. I'm on it. We'll fucking get him, pres. He can't hide for long."

This shit was so fucked. As soon as she was safe, someone fucked with her. Un fucking acceptable.

"You want me to keep digging about bike parts too?"

"Yeah." I started to walk away when I spun on my heel. "Maybe they're connected. I don't like surprises. Don't leave me in the fucking dark, Xenon. You're the only one who can figure this shit out."

"I'll have answers for you soon," he swore.

Yeah, not soon enough.

I returned to Trish, slipping into our apartment since I wasn't sure if my family was awake yet. Both Trish and Creed had gone to bed, and I left them resting peacefully together on our bed while I checked in with Xenon. Other than that, I wasn't doing anything else. My woman and my son needed me. Everyone else could fuck off.

I poked my head into the room, noting that Trish's eyes were open. "Hey."

She untangled herself from Creed and slid off the mattress, covering him with a blanket before walking my way. We closed the door to a crack, allowing us to hear when he woke up.

"I've seen that man once before," she began. "I'm sorry I forgot to mention it. At the time, I thought it wasn't a big deal, that maybe I was being paranoid."

"What happened?" I asked, fixing her a cup of hot tea. I ran Earl Gray through the Keurig and set the mug in front of her, reaching into the fridge to set the sliced lemons on the counter.

She smiled as she reached for the honey and added a lemon slice. "He came to the play place the day I took Faith and the kids. They were so tired when we left. Faith had to chase Jessa to get her into the stroller. It was kinda chaotic."

"I bet."

"I buckled Creed in when I noticed the stranger watching me. It gave me a weird vibe, but I got distracted when my sister joined me. I looked back, and he was gone."

"That's bizarre," I agreed. "What did he look like?"

"That's just it. I couldn't say. Average build. Broad shoulders. Maybe six feet tall. He wore a gray hoodie that disguised his features. I didn't see his face. He wore gloves, too."

Fuck. This sounded like a pro. He gave her nothing to go on—no distinguishing marks or characteristics. No tattoos. She didn't know his hair or eye color or even his nationality.

Who the fuck had a vendetta against me?

My Reaper was growing fucking pissed. He almost lost his shit when we rolled up to the SUV and saw her shaking, gripping the steering wheel because she was so fucking scared.

When I found this asshole, he was going to fucking suffer for this. No fast reaping for him. I would drag it out until he screamed and begged for death.

But the worst part of all this was finally settling into a normal life. I didn't want our entire relationship to be tainted by my life in the club, never able to go out and do the shit ordinary people did. We never had many dates. Couldn't go to the movies or a fancy dinner. Razr and the Scorpions MC had made it impossible with our feud.

I promised her I would change that. I swore to make it up to her. And I didn't want this sick fuck to mess this up.

No, I wouldn't let him. I would take Trish out and do the shit I promised. Fuck this asshole. I'd have some of the members follow us and create a perimeter. We'd be safe. Trish would get that sweet, perfect night she always wanted with me. I couldn't let her down.

"Babe."

"Dex?"

"You remember that date you wanted to go on?"

"Yes." She frowned. "It's a weird time to bring that up."

"Maybe, but I won't let this bastard get away with trying to spook us. Xenon is looking into it. We'll find him on camera and his truck. This guy won't be in the wind for long."

"Grim."

She always called me that when she was trying to reason with the overprotective and stubborn part of my personality.

"I want to take you out. Sasha won't mind staying with Creed. He's fine. Fever broke this afternoon. He's been playing with his toys and talking to Cuddles."

She smiled at that. "Seems dangerous. I can't believe I'm the one saying this instead of you."

My Reaper growled. He fucking agreed.

"I know. But I'll be with you. You'll never be alone. We won't be riding out without backup."

She tilted her head, considering my words. "I don't know."

It took some convincing, but I finally got her to agree to our date.

"Look, Trish, we have to live our life, right? There's always going to be an element of danger. We can't let it stop us from enjoying what we want to do and having those dates you've always wanted."

I had her now. I could see it.

"Okay."

I didn't tell her the other reason I wanted to take her out in public. I was hoping I could draw out this cowardly fuck who kept messing with Trish without revealing his identity. If this cocksucker saw us together and thought he could get to her, then he'd try to make a move. When he did, a dozen Reapers would be there to harvest his soul.

I wasn't going to be intimidated by the cocksucker. He wanted to play, we'd fucking play. But I was a master at this game after twenty years, and he would find out fast that he had messed with the wrong club.

Four hours later, I rode out of Tonopah and toward Pahrump. There was a steak house known for some of the best beef in the state. I figured the warm weather and beautiful ride would relax her before we got our fill of steak and shared a big slice of chocolate cake. My ol' lady was gonna get treated like a queen tonight. She deserved it.

Club members followed us at a distance. Not everyone rode a bike. Rael insisted on his Harley. So did Mammoth. Bodie drove one of the SUVs with Shadow. Several other members took cars that wouldn't be recognized or affiliated with our businesses. None of the guys wore their cuts, either. I hated to order them to leave them behind, but they were on recon and guard duty all night. We didn't want this stalker to know how many club members had followed Trish and me.

I held the door open for Trish once we reached the steak house and parked the bike. She entered before me, and I took a moment to appreciate her juicy ass. Fuck. I couldn't wait to get her back home later and grab her hips, pulling her into my face as I stuck my tongue in her pussy.

But that was my dessert. She'd get hers first.

Since I made a reservation, we were seated right away, tucked into the back, where I could see every entrance and exit without appearing too obvious. I didn't trust this fucker not to try to catch us by surprise.

My phone pinged with a text. I took it from my cut and checked the screen.

"Everything okay?"

"Perfect. Everyone is in place."

"That sounds ominous," she joked.

"Babe. I'm taking every precaution. Relax. Enjoy the meal. I want this to be fun for you."

She smiled, reaching over the table to hold my hand. "I know. I appreciate it."

We almost had to waddle out of the restaurant an hour and a half later. I swear to fuck; we ordered enough food to feed fifty people. Trish got that chocolate dessert she wanted, and I had my Kobe steak.

I held the door open for Trish and let her through, balancing the containers of leftovers. We definitely had lunch tomorrow.

I led her to my bike, walking toward it when I saw something sticking out of the seat. On closer inspection, I realized there was a fucking knife shoved through the leather, and a single photograph had been stabbed through the center.

Trish.

A photo of her holding my son at the play area the same day she told me she'd gone with Faith and Jessa.

My woman wasn't paranoid. Someone was targeting her. And I didn't know who, why, or how they fuck they got to my bike.

A roar left my chest as my Reaper surfaced. I dropped the bags of food, pulling her into my chest. My gaze flicked over the entire vicinity as I scanned for threats. We were alone.

My Reaper sensed nothing. No familiar scents. No strange or dark auras. Nothing that would alert me to danger.

I wrapped my arm around Trish and held her against me as I called Xenon. "Someone just stabbed a knife through my fucking seat."

"Shit," he cursed. "You at the restaurant?"

Xenon knew the plan for this evening. I told him to be alert in case that fucker showed up.

"Tap into cameras and find who the fuck did this. I want to know. Drop what you're doing and find them. Fucking now!"

I hung up without waiting for a reply.

Bodie and Shadow pulled up in the SUV. "Need a ride, pres?"

"Yes," I growled, opening the door and helping Trish inside.

"Grim?"

"Yeah, baby?" I asked as I joined her.

"I want my chocolate cake." She sniffled, and I realized she had been crying.

Fuck!

"Yeah, I'll get it."

"No, I will, pres."

Shadow jumped out as I shut the door. He grabbed the bags for us and set them on the front seat. "I'll ride your bike back."

"Thanks." I slapped my keys into his palm. "Try not to rip her any further."

"I'll be gentle." He winked and walked to my Harley, firing it up before following us as Bodie drove back toward Tonopah.

I held Trish against me, fighting every instinct to go hunt this fucker down. She needed me more than I needed his suffering. But that would only last as long as it took to calm her.

The problem was that I still didn't know how the fuck was messing with her. Now, I knew it wasn't just about Trish. She was a way to get to me, and this sick fucker knew my weakness.

It still didn't change the most disturbing news of all.

How the fuck did this guy elude our Reapers?