Pike (The Pawn Duet #1) - T.M. Frazier Page 0,28

first time I saw him years ago I remember that the colorreminded me of our cat Penny. A blend of rockstar, biker, and fallen angel…with the devil’s eyes.

“Who were you talking to?” he asks, doing his usual twirling of the sharp end of a knife in the palm of his hand.

“My sister,” I answer.

He looks around the room. “Funny, because I don’t see anyone in here, and the only voice I heard was yours.”

“Just because she isn’t here doesn’t mean I can’t talk to her,” I argue.

He whistles. “Ah, so you are still a nut job.” He nods to himself. “Good to know.”

I’d rather be assaulted by the music than his insults. I’d prefer physical hurt than emotional hurt. “I’m crazy?” I ask. “You’re the one playing the villain in this movie. People without mental problems don’t hold people captive.”

“I’ve got my issues, but insanity isn’t one of them. You’re here because you stole from me, not because I’m the crazy one.”

I’m so over his holier than thou act. “Don’t keep playing this off like you’re the innocent one in all of this. You’re no victim,” I yell, growing angrier and more frustrated. “You obviously don’t know what it means to love so deep that you’d do anything for anyone. Anything at all to protect what that love means. You can call me crazy because I talk to my sisters, but it isn’t crazy. It’s love. Unyielding, irrational at times, never-ending love.”

Pike looks at me for a beat or two with an unasked question in his eyes. “No. I don’t know what that means. I don’t fucking want to. But I do know what I’d do to punish those who cross me and fuck with my business, and I assure you it’s much more than anyone would do for the lie that is love.” He smiles, throwing my words back in my face. “And that’s hate. Unyielding, irrational at times, never-ending hate.”

I roll my eyes. “Are you going to get to the torture part of the day, or is this it?”

“Ah, the crazy girl has got jokes. I must not be doing a good job of torturing you if you’re still capable of humor.” His words turn dark. “I’ll have to remind myself to do a better job in the future.” He looks at me as if he’s trying to figure me out. “But for now, we’re going to switch things up a bit.”

I feel the blood drain from my face as I think of all the things his words could mean.

He sees my panic and chuckles. “Don’t worry. There’ll be no knife-play today. In fact––” He taps the end of my nose with the blade. “––I’ve decided that I’m going to keep you alive.” He quickly adds, “For now.”

“Why?” The second the word passes my lips, I want to take it back because it sounds as if I’m questioning his choice. I press my lips together to prevent another one from jumping ship.

“Why?” he repeats. Pike crouches so we’re at eye level. His eyes burning with intensity. “Because I’m going to use you.”

My mind reels. There are a thousand different ways of how Pike could use me racing through my brain and not a single one of them are anything less than terrifying. I swallow hard. “Use me for what?” I dare to ask.

Pike smiles, but it’s not a happy one. It’s the evil kind with nothing but wickedness behind it. The kind that sends a thousand spiders of fear running down my spine. A smile that has been summoned straight from the depths of hell.

“Bait.”

Chapter Twelve

Mickey

“Papa, I messed up,” I confess, my head swimming as his image appears before me.

He smiles and points to the door.

“No, I can’t leave,” I reply, tugging at my restraints. “I’ve tried.”

His eyes drop to the ropes binding my wrists and waves them off as if it doesn’t make a difference that I’m tied to a chair. He points to the high window.

“Really? There’s no way I can—”

He nods his head and smiles. Yes, you can. I hear him say although his lips don’t move. You’re the smartest person I’ve ever known. There is nothing you can’t do.

“I can’t do this. I thought I could. I thought I was strong. I wanted to be strong for you and for mom and for my sisters, but it’s too much.” Tears spill down my face. I’ve been fishing. It never ends well for the bait.

Papa crouches in front of me. You didn’t come this far