Taming Blade (Kings Reapers MC Book 5) by Nicola Jane (mini ebook reader TXT) 📕

I can’t stop the tears from pouring down my cheeks as she ushers me inside and locks the shop door, turning the ‘Closed’ sign over in the window.

We sit in the back room and she makes me a coffee while I fill her in on everything, skipping the nightmare murder date but telling her I know some secrets of his that I can’t divulge. I explain about Ethan using me to find the secrets.

“I tried to call you several times,” she says. “When Ethan came looking for you, I told him I was worried and he told me he was a cop.”

“Blade took my phone.”

“I knew he was a bastard,” she snaps. “You want me to go there and shout or something?”

I smile sadly and shake my head. “No. It’s over. With him, with Ethan.”

“In his defence, Ethan’s been worried about you too,” she says.

“Ethan was lying all along. I can’t believe he used me to get information on the club.”

“He could have come to me, I’d have fucked him and told him all about Lake,” she jokes.

“I feel like an idiot, Sara. Between them, I feel used, like they’ve been laughing behind my back. When did I get so gullible?”

“Don’t you dare blame yourself,” she warns. “You were looking for love. We all make stupid choices when it comes to men. And who the hell would believe this happened? You read shit like this in those cheap magazines where women sell their stories but you don’t think it’s real.”

A loud banging on the shop door scares us both half to death. Sara peeks out and then, uttering words of violence, she marches to the door and unlocks it. “Is she here?” It’s Blade, so I sink back behind the door.

“How dare you show up here,” screams Sara. “She’s so upset!”

“I know. I’ve come to apologise. To make it right.”

“No chance. Get your lying arse away from her. Don’t you think she’s been hurt enough?”

“What did she tell you exactly?” he asks, his tone suspicious. My heart breaks all over again. After everything, he still doesn’t trust me.

“She told me nothing. She said she can’t tell me and I don’t know if that's because she’s protecting you or if you’ve threatened her.”

“I just need to see her. Sara, please,” he begs.

I step out from behind the door and he looks instantly relieved to see me. “Sunshine,” he whispers.

“My name is Matilda,” I say through gritted teeth. “I need my phone back.”

He takes it from his back pocket and hands it to me. “Please, hear me out,” he starts, but I shake my head because, quite frankly, I’ve heard enough.

“I will never be so stupid again. You’ve taught me a very important lesson,” I say. “To never trust anyone. To keep your circle small and to never, ever, trust a man like you again. If you don’t stay away from me, I’ll move away. I’ll sell Nan’s shop and move. So if you feel anything for me at all, you’ll keep away from me.”

He stares at me for a long minute, his eyes searching, begging for me to listen to what he has to say. When it’s clear I’m not budging, he nods and turns on his heel. Sara reaches for a jar of red liquorice twists, Blade’s favourite. She shoves it hard into his chest and he winces. “Take them. It’s the last of our stock and we won’t be getting any more. That way, you’ll never have an excuse to come back here.”

Chapter Thirteen

TILLIE

Weeks pass. I spend them trying to mend my broken, betrayed heart. I don’t know if I feel lucky or devastated that Blade’s stayed away just like I asked. I miss him. It’s stupid and I’d never tell anyone, especially Sara, but I can’t get him out of my head.

After overhearing Riggs’ conversation with Eva and Cree, I decide to distract myself by finding out more about my dad. I’ve never bothered before. He didn’t seem worthy of my energy or time but knowing he’s dead somehow makes me feel safe to investigate who he was and why the Kings thought it okay to kill him. He might have been an arse, but was he really that bad that he should have died?

I call Ethan because let’s face it, he knows more about it than me . . . and he owes me. He agrees to meet me at a nearby cafe. I’m so nervous, I pour sugar over the table just as he arrives. I smile awkwardly while trying desperately to clean up my mess. “Well, your boy is off the hook,” he says, taking a seat. I stare at him blankly, so he elaborates. “Blade. He got the case closed down. No further investigation. The guys in that club are like fucking oil, slippery fuckers and nothing can stick to them.”

“Firstly, he isn’t my boy. I haven’t seen him since the day I walked away from you both. I asked you here because you owe me.”

He laughs, but when he sees I’m not amused, he leans closer. “Shit, you’re actually serious?”

“You played me. Made a complete fool of me. Now, I need your help.”

“Where did you find the lady balls?” he jokes, and I narrow my eyes. “What exactly do you need my help with?”

“I’m looking for my dad.”

He laughs again. “You’ll have a hard job finding him, Tils. I’ve been looking for him for months. You called the wrong guy. I bet Blade could tell you exactly where his dead, rotting corpse is, but I . . . well, the case is closed now, so I guess I’ll never find out.”

“Where was he last seen? Who was he seen with?” I ask.

“I can only imagine that the last person he was with was Blade. Right before he sliced him up and hid him away. Other than that, I can’t help yah.”

“Maybe your wife should know how serious you take your job,” I snap.