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"How did you get the name Reaper, anyway?" Cage asks as he unscrews the vodka bottle cap while Rush uncaps the other bottle of Whisky.
"The man's like the Grim Reaper. When Reap comes for you, it's over. The man can get close to anyone without bein' seen, the same as Shadow. Reaper is just more ruthless with his kills. As you can see," Ace tells them. "People are goin' to see the smoke and call the emergency services. It's time to go."
Cage and Rush pour the alcohol bottles over Harry. The flames burn brighter and the smoke bellows higher. They smash the bottles on the ground at Harry's feet, and one by one we exit the balcony, heading back into the apartment. All of us are coughing as we go. It'll take some time for the smoke to get out of our lungs, but fuck, it was worth it. That cunt is dead, and Esme is safe.
I leave the door to the balcony open, and the smoke from Harry's burning body fills the apartment within seconds. I'm hoping it'll take some time before the firefighters get here and the apartment itself will catch fire.
"Let's meet back at Esme's," Ace says. "She'll want to ensure that everyone is safe, as will Eda and Seri."
The drive to Esme's home takes a while. I watch the smoke plume from Harry's apartment in my mirrors as I drive away, the satisfaction eating at me. My woman's safe and there's one less person we have to worry about in this fucking war. Harry Junior was a wild card. He was someone we had no idea of knowing how he'd react or what he'd do. He was close to his father, and him being killed is going to infuriate Harry Senior like nothing else will.
Tomorrow brings a new day. It's going to be fun to see what that Jacobson asshole does in retaliation.
CHAPTER21
ESME
I'm pacing the floor as time ticks by. I should have never answered the door this evening. I knew Grayson would be pissed when he saw that I was hurt, that he'd do something to Harry, but I can't stop thinking about what could happen to Grayson. What if he's hurt or if Harry calls the cops?
"Es, sweetie," Eda rasps, her voice husky. "Please sit down. You're making me dizzy."
"I'm sorry," I say softly. "I hate this."
She rises to her feet and moves toward me. She's pregnant, a few months along, but you'd never know that. She's glowing and isn't showing yet. I also know that Serenity's pregnant and hasn't announced it yet. The stress is something neither of these women need right now.
"We all hate this, but this is who they are, sweetie. They're never going to stand by and watch as one of their women is hurt. What that bastard did to you today wasn't okay and this isn't your fault."
Serenity pulls me into her arms. "He's taken enough from you, Es. Don't let him put this on you too. You did nothing wrong."
I sigh. She's right, but the mindset of always being blamed for things is hard to escape.
"Undoing all the conditioning that he's done to you takes time," Eda tells me. "It's been years for me, and I still relapse. It's okay to do so, especially when you have people around you who love and support you. You're not alone, Esme. You're ours, and we're here for you no matter what." She steps forward, and together with Seri, holds me tightly. "Trust me, Es, those men aren't going to let anything happen to Reaper. They'll make sure that he's safe."
I take a steadying breath. Having the reassurance from them both is helping immensely.
"How do you get past all the pain?" I ask Eda. I know some of her story. She was abused by her father from a young age, and her mom was an evil bitch, but thankfully, Eda managed to survive the atrocities that happened to her and was able to heal from the trauma. She's found her happiness with Ace and her three beautiful children.
"It takes time," she replies with a soft smile. "But don't be afraid to let people in. We're all here to be a shoulder to cry on whenever you need one."
"Exactly," Seri says as she runs her hand along my shoulder. "You're never alone. No matter what, you've got us, and you've got Reaper."
I smile at her. "I really like him."
"Oh, honey, he really likes you too," Seri says. "Trust me."
"How do you know?" I ask, but I feel it. I can feel how much Reaper wants me and how much he cares. He's sweet and attentive with me.
"You can see by the way he looks at you," Eda says. "He watches you like you're the reason he breathes. To him, you walk on water. It's beautiful to see the tenderness he has with you. But most of all, he gave you his name, Esme. That's fucking huge."
I blink, surprised by that. "Why?"
Eda pulls me to the sofa, and we sit. Seri takes a seat beside me, and I notice that Eda hasn't released my hand. "The men don't let anyone call them by their given name. To them, that's only for the women they'll claim and their family. He's given you his name—something I didn't know, by the way. It means he cares a lot about you, Esme, that he's going to claim you."
My heart races. Claim me? What? Why? I turn to Seri.
"It's a good thing, Es. Trust me, it's the best thing ever. It doesn't mean he'll control you. It means that you're his and everyone knows it. Reaper's made it known now that no matter what, you're his woman. Don't be afraid of that, embrace it. You both deserve happiness."
I hear the rumble of pipes and my heart pounds uncontrollably. They're back.
