Page 75 of Reaper

“Ava,” Reaper calls, gesturing for me to go to him. I feel everyone’s eyes on me as I make my way to him. Reaper searches the crowd but stops when he sees Rage. “You too. Come on, get up here.”

The men cheer. Rage’s eyes widen. He hesitates but then slowly makes his way over to us.

“Everyone, quiet,” Reaper says to the men. “Today, we celebrate... our new patched-in member, Rage!” Cash passes Reaper the cut, and Reaper hands it to a frozen Rage, who looks shocked. But then the corner of his mouth curves into a smile showing all of his teeth.

I cheer and clap along with everyone. Rage puts his hands through the holes and pulls the vest up. It suits him.

Reaper shakes Rage’s hand. “Welcome to the family.” Reaper looks back at everyone. “But that’s not it. We have two more things to celebrate.”

I try to remember what else we’re celebrating today. No one has mentioned anything. Cash passes another cut to Reaper, then Reaper turns to face me.

I look to the side of me, but no one is there. Reaper holds the vest out toward me. I stare at it until recognition flares in my eyes. It’s mine.

“Now, don’t get mad at me,” he says in a charming voice.

There are no negative feelings toward the vest, not anymore. It means so much more than what I first thought the day I saw Elena’s cut. It’s the MC’s tradition, and I want to be a part of that.

“I love you,” he says with emotion in his voice. “And I want everyone to know that you’re mine.”

“I love you, too.”

He holds the vest up to me as I slide my arms in both holes. Everyone cheers again, and I get a little teary but blink those pesky tears away. I examine the cut, my fingers traveling over theProperty of Reaperpatch.

I glance up at him. “Thank you.” I rise on my toes to kiss him on the lips.

Elena rushes to me and hugs me, then leans back and points to both our vests. “Now we’re matching,” she says through a smile but then raises her hand. “I’ve got a surprise for you. I’ll be back.” She runs off.

Milly steps up next, puts her arms around me, and squeezes tight, then pulls back. “In biker terms, welcome to the White family.”

“Thank you,” I reply, my voice struggling to stay even.

Elena comes back with Conan, who is hobbling around with his plastered back leg. “Hey, Conan.” His tail wags, and when he reaches me, I see a collar around his neck. It’s leather, and on it is a patch that saysProperty of Ava.Next to it is theWar Brother’s MClogo. “This is amazing. Thank you!” I tell Elena.

Reaper steps to my side. “I’ve got a surprise for you too.”

“Another one?” I ask in shock. Everyone laughs around us.

He puts his hand in mine, lacing our fingers together, pulling me along the side of the house, with everyone following us. When we get out the front of the clubhouse, there’s a white SUV. “This is yours so you can drive to your course during the week.”

I stand, speechless, my jaw on the ground. I glance up at him. “It’s mine?”

He gives me a nod, then I abruptly leap into Reaper’s arms. “It’s beautiful. Oh my gosh.”

“You got into your course?” Elena yells. “You never told me!”

I pull myself away from Reaper. “I opened the acceptance letter this morning.”

Her hands fly to her mouth. Tears fall down her face, making my stomach drop. I step over to her. “Why are you crying?”

“Because you’ve come so far. I’m beyond proud of you, sis.”

I blink furiously. “Stop crying! You’ll make me cry. But know that I couldn’t be where I am without you.” My life isn’t the same without her in it.

I peer back at Reaper. “If I only got accepted this morning, how did you organize the car so quickly?”

“I knew you would get in. We stored the car at Milly’s house in the meantime.”

I stare at the love of my life.

Being with him, I learned how to smile again. I no longer feel caged, because he’s set me free.