Reaper's Salvation: A Last Riders Trilogy by Jamie Begley (reading e books .txt) 📕

a few sips, Reaper had to admit the drink wasn’t bad.

Viper made a few for the other brothers to try.

Reaper took one of the stools as the men stood around talking. It brought back memories of the way he used to be before he cut himself out of their lives. This time, the recollections didn’t bring back the painful imagery of Memphis and Slate. Instead, it was more of an ache that he hadn’t tried to fix the relationships that had been torn away from him.

Glancing up, he saw Shade studying him. “What?”

Holding his drink, Shade lifted one finger to point at him. “Haven’t seen that shirt since we were in a bar in Houston. Looks good on you.”

Reaper looked down at the black, long-sleeved V-neck shirt that had a white trim around the neck and down to midchest around the buttons. He had paired it with tapered black jeans and black boots.

“I still haven’t replaced the clothes I had to leave behind on the island.”

“Why buy more when you have plenty that Viper never got rid of? Be a waste of money, and you’re going to need every penny.” Shade gave a nod toward the door. “Greer’s here.”

Reaper gave a silent groan when Greer strutted through the room with his customary swagger. Spotting him sitting at the bar, Greer took the stool next to him. Plopping his bag of food on the bar, he began pulling out the hamburgers and fries.

“The calvary has arrived. What’d you need?”

Conscious of everyone watching, Reaper decided to wait until Greer finished eating before having him go upstairs to his room with him to talk privately.

“It can wait until you’re done eating.”

“I can do two things at once. What was the hurry of me getting here if you didn’t need something right away?”

Reaper leaned sideways so he could lower his voice. “I took a couple drinks, I need you to fix it.”

“Ah …” Greer made no effort to lower his voice. “You done drinking for the night?”

Closing his eyes tightly, Reaper imagined the pleasure he would get from killing Greer. If he didn’t need him so badly, he would.

“Yes.”

“Okay.” Greer laid a hand on his arm, then slid Reaper’s drink closer to him. “There you go. You got my money?”

Reaper took out his wallet and gave Greer two one hundred dollar bills. Greer pocketed the money and started eating as the brothers stared at Greer, dumbstruck.

Viper leaned over the bar. This time he was the one lowering his voice. “I thought you couldn’t take money for using your gift?”

“You see me do anything?”

Reaper frowned at him. He hadn’t felt anything when Greer touched him.

“No, I didn’t.” Viper furrowed his brow as if he missed something. Reaper was just as confused.

“There you go.”

No longer caring who overheard, Reaper sat and watched Greer continue to eat his meal.

“I need you to fix it where I won’t want another drink.”

Greer cocked an eyebrow at him. “You already said you didn’t want any more. What’s to fix?”

“So I won’t.”

“Then don’t.” Greer shrugged, taking a drink and making a face. “What in the fuck am I drinking?”

“A dark and stormy,” Reaper replied absentmindedly, his mind still on his problem.

“A waste of a good ginger beer and dark rum.” Greer snorted.

Viper started to take the glass away, but Greer snatched it back.

“Didn’t say I wouldn’t drink it.”

“Aren’t you working?” Viper asked.

“I’m on my dinner break.”

Viper narrowed his eyes on him. “You still have the rest of your shift to finish.”

“You see Knox standing around? You worry about you, and I worry about me.”

Reaper shook his head at Viper, trying to get Greer’s attention back to what he needed done.

“I called you, so I won’t want to take another drink.” Patiently, Reaper reexplained. He wouldn’t get anywhere if he lost his temper. “That’s what I paid you for.”

“What? You want me to say thank you?”

“No, I want you to do it.”

“Why, when you did it for yourself.” Greer gave a jut of his chin to Shade. “You got any beer behind there?”

Shade reached under the counter to get Greer a beer.

“Thankee. See? I can remember my manners.” Greer twisted the top off the beer, then went back to finishing his meal.

Irritated, Reaper tried to stare Greer into doing what he wanted.

“You wanting a burger? You know I’m not into sharing my food.”

“No, I want you to do what I paid you to do.”

“I did. Brah, if you want to pay me just to move your glass away from you when you had—” Greer broke off to stare around the group of men around the bar, then turned his eyes back on him. “—nine others around you who could have done the same thing, who am I to argue?”

“Because they can’t fix it so I won’t need another one.”

“You don’t need me to give you willpower when you have plenty of it yourself. If you wanted to move that stool you’re sitting on, would you ask me to lift it for you, or would you do it yourself?”

“I’d do it myself.”

“If you wanted to move that pool table over there, who would you ask for help?”

Reaper swallowed hard. “Any of them.”

“You already know when you can do shit for yourself, and when you need help. The only problem is you need more confidence in yourself when drinking. Any time you need me to show you, I don’t mind coming, but it just seems a waste of money when you have so many people around you willing to do it for free. But that’s me, I reckon.”

Laughter erupted in the background as another present was opened.

Turning in his seat, Reaper watched as Ginny sat on the couch, laughing hilariously as Trudy held up a bra with “Bite Me” printed on the cups.

“Boy, let me ask you a question. Were you addicted to drinking and drugs before Slade kidnapped you?”

“No, I wasn’t.”

“Then you aren’t now, unless I’m not as good as healing as you think I am. Then, if that’s true, you shouldn’t be