“Fine,” I assure him.“In and out, no problems.”
Something flickers across his face, a shadow I can’t quite interpret.His jaw tightens slightly before he nods.“Good.”
Demon coughs dramatically, drawing our attention.“If you two are done making googly eyes at each other, I’ve got shit to do.”He tosses my duffel bag at Zach, who catches it effortlessly.“Your doctor, your luggage duty.”
Zach’s eyes narrow, but there’s no real heat behind it.“Watch it, prospect.”
“Not a prospect anymore,” Demon reminds him with a grin, already heading toward the clubhouse.“Patched in last month.Try to keep up, old man.”
As he walks away, Zach shakes his head, a reluctant smile tugging at his lips.“Kid’s getting cocky.”
“He’s just jealous,” I suggest, leaning slightly into Zach’s side, testing the boundaries of public contact.
Zach’s arm slides fully around my waist in response, pulling me closer.“Of what?”
“This,” I say simply, gesturing between us.The easy comfort we’ve found, the connection that seems to deepen by the hour.
His expression softens, those dark eyes warming as they meet mine.“Yeah,” he agrees, voice dropping to a register that sends shivers down my spine.“He should be.”
We stand there for a moment, the bustle of the clubhouse fading into background noise.Then Zach’s phone buzzes in his pocket, breaking the spell.He checks it with a frown, then sighs.
“Grey needs me,” he explains, tucking the phone away.“Something about the Reapers’ movements.”
Concern tightens my chest.“They’re still in town?”
“Some,” he admits, not sugarcoating it.“But they’re keeping their distance now.This is just…” He pauses, clearly weighing how much to tell me.“Cleanup.Making sure they understand the message.”
I can see Zach’s jaw tighten, his eyes hardening as he reads something else on his phone.Whatever Grey needs him for, it’s serious.
“Shit,” he mutters, running a hand through his hair.“I’ve got to go now.Some of those Reapers just showed their faces at the gas station on Route 9.”
“Now?”I ask, unable to keep the disappointment from my voice.We’ve barely had five minutes together all day.
His expression darkens further, a muscle jumping in his cheek.“Yeah.Now.”He leans in, pressing a quick, hard kiss to my lips.“I’m sorry.I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
I nod, trying to be understanding.“Be careful.”
“Always am.”He hands me my duffel bag, his fingers lingering on mine for a moment longer than necessary.“Go inside.Stay with the others.”
I watch him stride back to his bike, his shoulders rigid with tension.He’s furious, not at me, but at the situation, at being pulled away yet again.As he starts the engine, his eyes find mine one last time, and I see the promise there that he’ll be back, and whoever’s stupid enough to have shown up in Devil Souls territory might not be so lucky.
* * *
Zach
I gun the engine, the familiar roar of my bike vibrating through my bones as I tear away from the clubhouse.My jaw aches from clenching it so hard.Grey’s text replays in my head.Three Reapers spotted at First National.Armed.Police haven’t been notified yet.
The bank.Fucking amateurs.Coming into our territory was their first mistake.Targeting civilians is their last.
The wind whips against my face as I push the bike harder, weaving through traffic.In my side mirror, I catch glimpses of Butcher and Demon following close behind, forming a deadly convoy.No cuts today, we’re in plain clothes, our weapons concealed.Less attention that way.
My phone vibrates in my pocket.I ignore it.Probably Xavier, and thinking about him right now, about his concerned eyes as I left, will only distract me from what needs to be done.The enforcer in me knows sometimes peace comes through violence.
First National comes into view, a squat brick building with large glass windows.Nothing special, except it’s in our town.Our territory.I spot the black sedan parked haphazardly near the side entrance, engine still running.Amateur hour.
I pull into the alley behind the bank, cutting my engine and dismounting in one fluid motion.Butcher and Demon flank me instantly, no words needed between us.We’ve done this dance too many times.
“Security feed shows three of them,” Demon murmurs, checking his phone.“Two inside, one waiting in the car.They’ve got masks, but the jackets are Reaper cuts.”
