Reaper

9

"You got this," Rose whispered as I placed my shaking hand on the door knob of the hospital door. I hadn't seen my mother since my father died. I couldn't look her in the eyes and tell her. Does she even know? Has someone told her yet?

I opened the door and noticed a vase of beautiful flowers sitting on the desk, and heard my mother laughing at something. "Yeah, she's something else, really," she laughed, and I turned to Rose with a puzzled face as I pushed the door further.

Rose and I entered the room completely only to find Azias at her bedside. What the fuck?!

He turned to me, and my mouth quickly let out, "What the fuck are you doing here?!"

My mom frowned, "Do you always greet your boyfriend like that?"

"Boyfriend?!" Rose and I frowned before Rose burst out laughing.

Azias, for whatever reason, lied, "We got into a little argument last night, so she's being a little harsh."

Mother nodded at Azias' words before saying to me, "Nice for you to finally visit," in a sour tone, and I just knew she was going to start up an argument.

"Mom, I-"

"Do you know how hurt I felt finding out that my husband, your father, died and that my daughter didn't even think to tell me?! A whole month went by, and you didn't even visit me!" Mother yelled, and I could see the hurt in her eyes as she did, which made my eyes start to water.

If my dad had died under normal circumstances, she would've been the first person that I would have called. However, he was murdered in front of me, and then I was kidnapped and blackmailed into spying on Azias. How could I ever explain that to her? She would never even agree with me working with my father's killer.

Avoiding eye contact, I sniffled, "I didn't know how to talk to you with it being so recent. I haven't even gone back to the house!"

"I can't imagine how hard that must've been for you, but I would have rather heard the news from my daughter than Valerie!" she scolded. Valerie was our nosy neighbor. It made sense that she was the first to call my mother. Yet again, I should've been the first.

The tears that I had been holding back immediately came streaming down my face, and Azias watched me in silence before cocking his head over to his direction, telling me to come over to him.

I had no idea what he was up to, but I found it best to just comply until we'd leave the hospital. He tapped his laps, and I cautiously sat on him. My nose immediately latched on to his signature cologne as he cuddled me into his chest. It felt right, even though it shouldn't have. I knew this was a facade, but I didn't care. I wanted to play along.

He wrapped his arms around me and pulled my body in closer to his before gently rubbing my back, allowing me to cry on his chest.

"I'm glad you're safe," Mother replied after a moment of silence. "How have you been?"

I sniffled, "I'm managing."

"And you, Rose?" Mother questioned.

"I mean Sapphire can be a bit annoying but," Rose joked.

I chuckled, "Shut up. You love me."

"I do," she admitted before telling my mother that she was fine. "Sapphire's been staying with me since the incident. She's in good hands."

"Why haven't you been staying with this gentleman?" Mother frowned as she watched Azias and me.

"Yeah, Babe, why haven't you?" Azias teased, and I looked into his well amused eyes, while shaking my head at him. He was having way too much fun with this. I pulled away from his embrace, but he wrapped his arms around me again and held me tighter in his arms.

Rose snickered to herself, but I caught it anyways.

I answered, "Felt more comfortable with Rose. He and I...we met not too long ago. Didn't wanna rush things."

"You're welcome to come by whenever you want," he lied, and I rolled my eyes before looking at my mom.

"What's the update on your condition?" I asked.

***

"What the fuck was all of that about?!" I yelled at Azias. We were standing outside the hospital, and the facade had ended.

"Watch ya mouth," he warned.

"No," I shrugged even though I knew he hated when I told him that. Surprised, Rose gave me a have you lost your fucking mind?! look. "How did you know where to find my mother? Why did you find my mother?" He grabbed me by the waist and pinned me to the wall before coldly looking into my eyes, and I felt fear cursing through my body. "I'm sorry!" I quickly apologized as I dodged the nonexistent slap that I was sure was coming.

When I didn't feel anything, I opened my eyes and looked at him, and he held a bit of anger and hurt in his eyes, as if he was disappointed in me for assuming that he would hit me.

He sighed and released my waist before answering, "I was doing a background check on you."

I frowned, "Why...?"

"Because you keep popping up, and I don't trust you," he answered nonchalantly.

"Why visit my mother though?" I frowned, and Rose butted into the conversation.

She pointed out, "To get more info on you," and Azias nodded.

"And you did it again: popped up when I wasn't expecting you to. Who you got keeping tabs on me?" he questioned.

Didn't this dude come to the hospital to see my mother? If anyone popped up on the other, it was him who popped up on me.

"No one," I answered. If anything, I was keeping tabs on him for someone.

He looked at me and then at Rose before looking at me again. "You two won't be returning to the club."

"What?! We did nothing wrong!" Rose angrily let out.

"If you don't trust me, that's fine. Fire me, but don't fire Rose!" I pleaded. She finally found a place that she enjoyed stripping at, and now she was getting fired because of me.

He took his phone out and sent a text before instructing, "The two of you, walk!" He cocked his head to the right, and Rose and I nervously held hands while walking in front of him. A car stopped in front of us at the end of the block, and someone with a gun pointing at us opened the door from the inside. "Get in."

"Reaper, please!" Rose begged.

"Get. In."