Page 56 of Reaper
Chapter Twenty-One
Ara
Awareness returned slowly.She could hear the sounds of the shower running, and light footsteps on the floor below, but she couldn’t force her eyes open and confront her new reality.The one in which Reaper was dead.
She had been foolish to call him in a panic.If he hadn’t come through the clearing, she would have taken those bullets that were meant for her, and life would’ve gone on for him.Being selfish had caused Solomon to lose his life, and then Reaper had been taken from her.Although she wanted to believe her healing could’ve been successful, she couldn’t sense Reaper near her, or anywhere in the house for that matter.If he were alive, she would feel it.
Her eyes snapped open.As much as she dreaded it, she needed to see Reaper’s body.Maybe there was something more that she could do to save him.
Although she desired her body to move, she felt sluggish and sore.She stretched her muscles to get them working again, and took a moment to glance around the room.Pain struck and she sucked in a breath when she realized she lay in Reaper’s bed, in his house.They hadn’t been back here, in a place they both thought of as a sanctuary, for over a month.She blinked back tears, not understanding why anyone would bring her here.The place belonged to Reaper, and he was gone now.
The door opened, and for a split second, she hoped that she would see Reaper wandering in, giving her the smile that would make her melt each time he directed it at her.Disappointment clogged her throat when Liv came in, carrying a tray that Ara ignored, as the pain in her chest became unbearable.
Liv smiled at Ara.“I’m glad you’re awake.”The smile dropped off her face when she noticed Ara’s pained one.
“Where’s…”Ara’s voice cracked and she swallowed to complete her question.“Reaper?”
Liv shook her head, and Ara threw back the covers, determined to see him.When Liv looked back through the open door of the bedroom, Ara stood on shaky legs.She stumbled when she tried to lock her knees, and reached for the wall as she tried to balance herself.She had no idea how long she’d been unconscious, but when she tried to walk, she cursed under her breath at her weakness.
Glancing at her friend, she begged, “Please, Liv.”
“I’m right here, beautiful.”
Relief squeezed her heart as tears filled her eyes.She swallowed as the lump in her throat threatened to suffocate her, and it took her a long moment to lift her gaze.
He stood near the doorway, in a black tee and jeans, looking healthy and strong, and yet he made no move toward her.
Her eyes lowered.In the time they had known each other, Reaper had never put distance between them, but now it was if he couldn’t stand to be near her.
Although it had hurt, she understood.
“You need to rest, Ara.You brought Reaper back from death, healed tissue, muscle, and skin damage, and it took a lot of energy,” Liv said.
Unable to speak, she nodded but hoped that Liv wouldn’t leave them alone together.She tried to stem the tears from falling, but a stray one slid down her cheek and she wiped at it angrily.
The blame for everything—having a madman stalk her, putting the assassins in danger, and Reaper being shot—was on her shoulders.Carrying the weight of that burden seemed simplistic now that she knew Reaper lived.She would find a way to live with it, because Reaper would be alive and well.
Liv squeezed Ara’s hand, bringing her out of her thoughts.Ara couldn’t come up with words of thanks, so she squeezed back.She almost spoke when Liv pulled away and headed toward the door, but closed her eyes and listened for the room to empty and the door to close.
Minutes later, she heard a car start before driving away, and she allowed the silence to swallow her.
“I’m sorry,” she choked.
“Why aren’t you looking at me?”
Instead of answering his question, she made a statement of her own.“I have to go.I am sorry.”
She could feel his rage at her words, but he would realize, in time, that she had been nothing but a danger to him.
In the months since she’d entered his life, he’d been gunned down, twice.He was safer as an assassin, on assignment, than he was being around her.He could have a normal life, one filled with friends and maybe someday, another mate.Although that thought crushed her, she knew it was nothing compared to watching him die.
“I shouldn’t have brought danger to you and the others.For that, I apologize.”
Her legs barely held her up as she started for the door.She made sure that she wouldn’t have to touch him, her resolve already shaky.
“You’re my mate, beautiful.You’re not going anywhere.”
Although his words were fierce, she knew better.He hadn’t touched her in the long minutes they had been in the room alone.
