“We cannot win this war as two clubs, father,” I said. “Perhaps it is just a superficial change. But I truly believe we need to form a unified front. The Black Reapers have treated us well and taken our side. And when this is all over, I know they will step away and let us return to being Devil’s Patriots. But until this war ends, we need to join them. We need to become Black Reapers.”
A nearly unbearably tense silence filled the room. I certainly hadn’t talked to Lane, Cole, or Brock about this. Spawn didn’t know, but at least he would defer to me or my father. My father couldn’t have known.
He looked first at the other Black Reapers. They looked back at him with understanding. There was no need to intimidate in this environment; we all knew the truth.
“It pisses me off that we’ve come to this,” my father said. “I’ve never lost a fucking battle in my life as a Devil’s Patriot.”
“There’s always a first, Dad,” I said, “and we have to accept you going into a coma? That’s a first.”
He grimaced.
“I know you’re right,” he said. He shook his head. “The instant King is dead, we are Devil’s Patriots. The literal fucking instant he’s dead. I don’t care where we are or what we’re doing. Perhaps this is needed, but when it’s all said and done, I’m not anything other than the president of the Devil’s Patriots.”
“Understood,” Cole said.
No one said a word.
“Fuck it,” Satan said. “This fucking stupid coma makes me agree to dumb shit. Sure. But this had better fucking work.”
“It has to,” I said.
I turned to the actual Black Reapers and gave a curt nod.
“Until we kill King, we are in your debt. We will be Black Reapers.”
“And we will make sure that we do what we are setting out to do,” Lane said. “I want the fucker dead. Cole wants him dead. Brock wants him dead. We don’t care about titles. We only care about making that happen.”
“Then whatever it takes.”
“OK, enough bullshit; get my girl back in here. Shit, next thing you know, you’re going to ask me to change my last name to Cook.”
I snorted. I didn’t dare laugh, but it was as good a sign as any to see my father cracking something resembling a joke. We quickly dispersed outside. Cole went up to me, but I brushed him aside.
“It’s done,” I said. “Let’s go home and reconvene soon. We need to end this.”
Cole nodded. And I would. But now that I had my father’s blessing and recovery, I needed to recover something else.
Someone else.
I went to the cafe first. I stepped outside next, fortunately ending the search there. Leigh was on her phone, texting someone. She looked up and shared that same gaze with me that she had in the hospital hall. But this time, I wasn’t coming for my father.
I was coming for her. And with that in mind, I saw no reason to beat around the bush.
“Come home with me,” I said, “and let’s have that talk.”
