Chase the Pain (Amatucci Family #1) - Sadie Jacks Page 0,26

His mouth was so firm his jaw muscles were twitching. His fingers were clenching and releasing at his sides. The corners of his eyes were pinched.

When I met his gaze, he looked away. “You’re right. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

Dom spun around, fumed silently as he struggled to get himself under control. His eyes clenched shut, I saw his lips moving as he counted to his favorite number. His lips formed the word sixteen. He opened his eyes again. He looked at me. “You promised.”

I nodded. “And I wasn’t too far gone.” I didn’t know how to explain the difference to him. To any of them.

I looked back at Rafe. His eyes were pinched, but worried. Unlike the rage that simmered in Dom’s. “I promise.”

The youngest Amatucci studied me for long silent moments.

I felt like a science experiment. But I let him see that I was fine. These men, this family, were the only ones allowed to see beyond my walls. They had earned it. Tenfold.

Rafe nodded, leaned forward and pressed his lips to my forehead. “I expect an honest answer if it ever gets too high.”

I bit my lip. Nodded. I knew what I could do inadvertently. Since death was never my goal, I allowed them to put restrictions on me. Allowed their love to bind me with silken restraints of family and promises.

“But no morphine.” I looked up into his dark eyes. Let him see the strength of my conviction.

“No morphine.”

I nodded.

My belly snarled.

Everyone laughed.

“Feed her or it’s going to get ugly,” Tali said from the back of the room. She was in new clothes, her hair damp and finger combed. Sundays we usually all went to church. I guess my condition put the kibosh on that tradition.

“Can you walk?” Rafe asked as he gripped my free hand once more.

I shrugged. “I have no idea. I’ll guess we’ll see.” I looked at everyone still standing in my living room. “And I finally have an audience. All my dreams have come true.” I rolled my eyes.

The Amatucci family members laughed.

Ryker didn’t.

Oh well. Except for that bit of sass to Dom, he seemed a little tame. Shame, really. His flirting game was on point.

Rafe took a step back, our hands still grasped. “No time like the present.”

I told my brain what I wanted it to do. But my legs either didn’t get the signal or my brain was being a bitch and not communicating. Or my legs didn’t work anymore.

Since that last thought was untenable, I told my brain again. Move my legs.

Nothing. We stood there, everyone watching me. Just like before. Stuck in a body that wouldn’t do what I told it. Stuck as a victim in a show I couldn’t control.

“Back the fuck up, Penn. You’re not touching her,” Dom said as I felt the heat rise to my cheeks.

“I helped her down the stairs, carried her physically from the hospital. I also know a thing or two about bodies.”

I looked over to see Ryker and Dom in a staring contest.

More like a pissing contest. And I was the one getting peed on.

“If it doesn’t work, I won’t ever try again.” He looked back down at the arm Dom had gripped. He leaned towards the man I considered my brother. Spoke softly in Dom’s ear.

Dom lifted his hand away. “One shot. And I’m holding you to that.”

Ryker nodded. He tossed his briefcase down on my couch. Blew into his cupped hands. When he looked back up at me, his green eyes were dancing with mischief.

He took Rafe’s spot in front of me. His hands not holding mine, but rather my chin. At his touch, I felt my belly pull in, my core muscles jerking back in shock. He didn’t touch me anywhere except my jaw, his touch light. His eyes commanding.

“You look good drenched in pain, pet,” he said so softly, I had to concentrate to make out his words.

Heat flooded my cheeks.

He chuckled. “Close your eyes.”

My lids fell without thought.

His low rumbling growl skated chills down my arms. “Fuck,” he breathed out.

I opened my eyes. “What’s wrong?”

His green eyes were bright as fired emeralds. “Did I say you could open your eyes?”

They fell closed on a sigh.

“And you ask me what’s wrong.”

My brow furrowed. I opened my mouth.

He forced my chin closed. “No talking. Just moving.”

I smiled, kept my eyes closed. “That’s the whole problem here, Mr. Penn.”

Chapter 9 – Ryker

I clenched my back teeth as my formal name spilled from her lips. She didn’t have a