CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

REAPER

Before I even open my eyes, I reach for her, and come up empty. Forcing my still tired eyes open, I find her side of the bed vacant. I groan with irritation, but get up and toss on some boxer shorts to go find her. I should spank her sexy ass for leaving my bed cold without her, and I just might, the second I find her.

Walking downstairs, I notice it’s quiet, almost as if she isn’t here, but I know that can’t be the case. Maybe she fell back to sleep on the couch. I take a look in the living room and she isn’t there either. When I make it to the kitchen, there’s still no sign of her, except for a handwritten letter on the counter.

My Dearest Nico,

I have some things to take care of. Dangerous things, but things that need to be handled, regardless. As always, I promise to be as safe as I can be, but know I am only doing what has to be done. I carry you in my heart wherever I go, and I expect you to do the same. This time with you has been wonderful, life changing. If I don’t come back, please know I tried. There is no scenario where I wouldn’t. I didn’t leave you, I’m just righting some wrongs. Fingers crossed, I’ll see you soon, to get the spanking I have no doubt you’ll think I deserve.

I love you, Nico.

Always and forever,

~ Living Dead Girl

I trace my fingers over her beautiful writing, as I try to figure out the absolute mindfuck of a riddle she left me. What the fuck is she even talking about? After reading it five times, I still don’t know where she went, and I don’t fucking like it one bit. All the hairs stand up as my neck begins to tingle. If someone hurts her, I’ll slaughter everyone in sight.

Think, Nico, think.

Grabbing my phone off the island, I call Bones, unsure of what to do, but honestly, I haven’t spoken to him since I told him we weren’t family anymore, so it may not go my way.

“Reaper,” he answers quietly, like maybe Athena is still sleeping.

“She’s gone.”

I talk to him while carrying the letter upstairs, to see if I can find out what she’s been up to on my laptop.

“Did you have a fight?”

“No, just the opposite. Everything was perfect. Then I woke up to this fucking letter.”

Opening my laptop, I see it was never turned off, and I remember her closing it when I came into the room. I should’ve gone with my gut, and found out what she was up to. Had I, she’d probably be here now, instead of putting herself in harm’s way.

I read him the letter, and he’s quiet afterward, as I stare at the picture of my uncle’s house on the screen. Running my keystroke program, I see that she was searching the area, directions, as well as contacting a fucking drug dealer. What the absolute fuck? I’m not going to spank her, I’m going to beat her ass until she’s black and blue. But of course, I have to find her first.

“Bones?”

“Yeah,” he responds softly.

“She went to find Frank.”

I hear him walking, and then he says, “Is she a fucking idiot? Jesus Christ, this is bad, Reaper. ”

Nobody knows what Frank is capable of more than I do, so I don’t need him to tell me how bad this is.

“Get over here. I’ll call Kage and Psycho. We are going to need all hands on deck. I don’t have to tell you how dangerous he is, and I assume you’re attached to this girl.”

My voice comes out as low and broken as I feel at this moment.

“I can’t fucking breathe without her, Bones. I don’t even want to.”

“You helped me save my woman, and I’m going to help you save yours. This is what family does.”

I know my brother is angry with me, and maybe he has a right to that, but at the moment I can’t deal with it. There can be nothing I focus on other than finding Bella.

“I’ll see you soon,” I say as I disconnect the call.

Aside from my family, there has been nothing I’ve given a fuck about for my entire life. She’s the only stability I’ve ever known, and the short time she’s been gone has me feeling like I’m unraveling. My chest hurts as an emptiness fills me. My sweet girl wants to make Frank pay for what he did to me, but she has no idea what she’s walking into. He is the most evil man I’ve ever known. And if he gets the upper hand, and he likely will, death will be a walk in the park compared to what he does to her.

She knows how to fight, and is surprisingly skilled at taking normal lives, but mafia men are anything but normal. We are born into a violent criminal world, and are raised with it.

As bad as enduring his torture was, this is worse. Life with Bella made every ounce of pain worth it. If I’m left with nothing, my life may as well end, because it’s all meaningless.

I get dressed quickly, and grab my keys to go to my brother’s house. We know where she is. That’s not a mystery, but will we get there before or after he kills her, that’s the question that causes the lump in my throat to grow.