Reaper's Wrath (Road to Salvation A Last Rider's Trilogy 2)

“He’s not going to be happy you told me.”

Ginny rolled her eyes at him, even though the full effect was lost in the dark. “We both know you would never do anything to hurt me.”

Silas solemnly stared at her. “Sometimes it’s unavoidable hurting the ones we love. I hurt you badly when I let the State take you away.”

“You did what you had to do.” Ginny leaned closer to his comforting warmth. There were so many past hurts that she viewed differently now that she was older. “When I left, I was only concerned with my pain. You were hurting as badly, yet I didn’t care. I wanted you to. I hate myself that I was being so selfish. You’ve lived your whole life keeping our family safe ….” Ginny had to clear the lump in her throat at how much she loved her brother. “Our family is almost grown, except for Fynn. You need to start searching for your own happiness. You deserve to find a woman who will give you the same love and dedication you’ve given to us.”

“I will when the time is right.” He smiled crookedly at her. “I’ll start working on my happiness once Reaper and you are.”

“Why don’t you call him Gavin like I do?”

“I refer to him as Reaper for a good reason, just like everyone else he comes into contact with, Ginny.” Silas’ direct stare had her wanting to look away, yet she didn’t. “Don’t let your love blind you to what type of man was created when he was kidnapped.”

“He just needs time to heal, to learn to trust me.”

“It’s going to be a long and lonely road before Reaper can reach that highway home. Right now, all he is thinking about is reaping a vengeance on those who hurt him. Until those roadblocks are cleared or he finds something more important, he’s never going to see the exit sign.”

“You believe he’s on a quest to pay back the people who hurt him?”

“Yes. I’ve heard his nightmares, same as you. I would too.”

Ginny recalled what Killyama had told her, and she agreed with Silas. Gavin had an endless pursuit before him to find the numerous people responsible for committing or watching the atrocities done to him. However, what he was seeking was unattainable. The dark web protected its own.

“Most quests fail.”

“Unless a hero is sent to help him.” Silas quietly stood, staring down the hallway toward Gavin’s room. “He’s asleep. Go do what you’ve been waiting to do. Give him a few hours of peace.”

Feeling stiff, Ginny used the bannister to help her to stand. “With the luck I’ve had today, he’s still awake,” she whispered.

“It’s after twelve; it’s a new day.”

“That reminds me, you don’t happen to have a four-leaf clover, do you?”

“No, but I have a horseshoe.”

“I can’t keep a horseshoe in my pocket.”

“I’ll have Isaac make you a charm to wear on your bracelet.”

“Can you do me another favor?”

“What?”

“Pretend you want to kill me … at least until Gavin falls in love with me?”

“Ginny, that’s the only thing in the world I wouldn’t do for you,” he said firmly.

“Not even a little?” she pleaded teasingly.

“Not even a little.”

* * *

Ginny warily waited for the bed to stop swinging after he had rolled over. Every attempt to climb onto his bed failed because of his tossing and turning. The way her endeavors were going, Gavin would wake up and spot her before she had time to lull him into a deeper sleep.

Exhausted, sore, and nerves on edge at her failures, Ginny gave up. Taking a step backward, she started to retreat. That was when Gavin changed his sleeping position, turning onto his back to claw at his throat.

She couldn’t leave him to suffer in his nightmare any longer.

Walking back to his bed, she muttered to herself, “Be brave. What’s the worst that could happen?”

“He could freaking kill me,” she answered herself.

“Nothing gained, nothing lost,” she muttered back.

“That’s easy for you to say—you aren’t freaking real.” Her common sense urged her to run.

Before she could talk herself out of the insane idea, she reached out, waking Gavin.

Finding herself lifted, Ginny braced herself for the impact of hitting the floor.

“I told you so,” her common sense gloated, ending when Ginny felt the mattress under her instead of the floor.

“Gavin, it’s me!” Ginny yelled, trying to bring him to his senses.

Glaring down at her in the darkness, Gavin seemed just as vicious as the dog that had bitten her the day before. “What in the fuck are you doing in here?”

“I’m scared.” She pretended to whimper at the loud crack of thunder. “I’m afraid of storms. Can I sleep with you? I promise not make a sound. You won’t even know I’m here.”

“Go back to your room.” He grunted, rising up into a sitting position.