16. Reaper

16

Reaper

Sarra and I went back to the house to pack our bags. We were moving to a hotel. Bub was healing, and we were picking him up in the morning. I held Sarra in my arms as she slept. She had been so quiet that it worried me. I knew her mind was working overtime.

The pounding on the door woke us up. I put my pants on and opened the door. Sarra's cousins stood there, all six of them.

"What are you guys doing here?" I asked.

"We're taking Sarra with us. Brian is dead. We can keep her safe from here on out," Sean said.

I was pissed. There was no way in hell Sarra was leaving with them. I turned around when I heard a noise. Sarra stood there.

"Why are you all here?" she asked her cousins.

"We came to get you. We're going to take you with us. We can keep you safe from now on."

"What about that lady?" Sarra asked.

"We have news that she is dead. So you don't need a protector any longer," Sean said.

"Well, then, I don't need anyone watching me. Thank you for coming all this way to tell me. I'm going home."

"Wait, what do you mean you're going home? Your house burned down. There is nothing for you to go back to," Shane said.

"Look, I love all of you, but I am not going home with you."

"That's right, she's going with me," I said.

"No, I'm going home. I'm not going with anyone. This has opened my eyes. It doesn't matter where I go. There is danger everywhere. I don't need to be watched like a child any longer," Sarra said, looking at all of us.

"No, I thought we were going on a road trip. I know these men interrupted our trip, but they are all gone. I don't want you to leave. Stay with me," I said, panicking at the thought of her not being with me.

Sarra looked at me. "Do you want me to be with you forever?"

"What do you mean?"

"Will my heart be broken more when our vacation ends, or would it be better if I leave now?"

"That doesn't make any sense. Why would your heart be broken more? I want you with me. I don't want to break your heart. I would never break your heart," I tried to convince her. But in my mind, I wondered if her heart was in danger of being hurt. I didn't want to hurt Sarra, but I refused to let her walk away from what we might have.

She walked up and took my hands. "I love you, Reaper. Can you tell me what your feelings are for me?"

"I care for you, Sarra, you know that. I have never been in love, so I don't know if that is what I feel. I want you more than any other woman I've been with. But I don't know if I'm ready to be with only one woman. I only want to be with you right now, but a year from now, I just don't know. Why are we talking about forever? I thought we were having a great time together."

"We did have a great time together. I no longer have a threat to my life, so you don't have to guard me."

"Sarra, let's go away together without worrying about whether you have to watch your back for someone wanting to kill you. I'll take you to Hawaii."

She shook her head. "I want to be with you, too. Call me in six months, and then you can tell me if you still want to be with me," Sarra said. She walked up and kissed me.

"You take care of yourself, Reaper. Goodbye." She turned to Shane. "We have to stop and get Bub from the vet." She had her bag sitting by the door. I didn't even notice that she had brought it into the room with her.

I walked to the door. "Sarra, I'll call you in six months."

"I hope so." And just like that, she was gone.