Pawn (The Pawn Duet #2) - T.M. Frazier Page 0,49

wrist. Exhaling, I loosen my grip on my weapon.

“Pike,” I gasp, relieved and grateful that he’s here.

He’s here.

“Why the hell are you here?” I ask. “I feel like I keep asking you that.”

“Because you do keep asking me that,” he replies. Pike rakes my naked body over with a dark gaze so heated I feel as if I’m melting. His nostrils flare, and I look down, realizing why. In my hurry to get away from the would-be intruder, the blankets are no longer covering me.

Pike lurches forward and yanks them up my body. I tuck them beneath my chin and he spins around to Percy, cracking his knuckles. “Did he hurt you?” he says between his teeth.

“No. He didn’t. I mean, we didn’t,” I stammer.

He looks down at Percy, baring his teeth like a wild animal. “Understand this, if your cock ever gets that close to her again. If you ever look at her for more than a second, I’ll rip your fucking cock off and feed it to the alley cats.”

Percy raises his hand in surrender. “Understood, man. You’re a better man than me. If another man got that close to my old lady, I’d— ”

“Trying to give me ideas?”

“Uh, no.” Percy ties the sash of his robe. “You didn’t ask me if I was hurt.”

Pike scoffs. “You hurt?” His voice laced with sarcasm.

“Fuck yeah, I am. That idea of yours worked great, but shit ain’t going to be right with my dick for a long fucking time.”

Pike smirks. “It’ll feel a lot worse when I cut it off and let you bleed out.”

“This was your idea,” I say to Pike. It’s not a question.

“I’ll take that as my cue to leave.” Percy heads to the door. “I’ll go back out to the party and tell them you’re resting after we—”

Pike growls deep in his throat, standing between me and Percy.

“After, you know, the thing,” Percy backtracks. “Lock the door behind me.”

“Percy, wait!” I raise up to my knees and push Pike aside so I can see Percy.

“Yeah?”

“Thank you. For everything.” I look to Pike.

Percy’s gaze shifts to the floor, obviously uncomfortable with the sentiment. “Uh, yeah. Well, it was all Pike’s idea. I just sent him a message, and well, he’s here now.” He thinks for a moment and lifts his eyes to Pike. “I know me and you got issues that can’t be healed. I accept that. But I’ve known Mickey since we were kids. We may not really be married, but she’s as close to family as I got. I might have put down my gun, but if you hurt one fucking hair on her head, you best believe I’ll be picking it back up.”

12

Mickey

Pike is beyond handsome. From the depth of his eyes and full lips to his sharp square. His oak colored hair falls into his face as he looks me up and down, casually draping over his otherwise very serious features.

His tight, white t-shirt shows every ridge of muscle flexing beneath. His strong thighs cased in light denim don’t hinder him from being almost graceful as he stalks toward me. He turns the metal cuffs around on his wrists.

“Are you okay?” he asks me again.

“I…I think so,” I reply, fixated as he rotates the cuff over and over again. “So much has happened. I haven’t had a moment to take a mental inventory.” He squats down so we are at eye level and gently swings my legs over the side of the bed, resting his hands on my knees.

“But are you okay?” Pike asks again, searching my eyes for the truth, tenderly rubbing his thumbs over the skin above my knees right over the matching scars I received courtesy of a fall off my bike.

“You know, when I was younger, Papa never kissed our boo-boos or held us when we cried. Instead, he’d break down the science of our injury and explain the healing process.” I laugh without smiling. “Not exactly comforting words for a four-year-old who just fell off her bike.”

Papa wasn’t the comforting type, and at first glance, no one in their right mind would think Pike would be either. But he is. At least to me. He’s comfort wrapped around a steel frame. With him, I feel safe. Free.

“What’s got you making that face, Mic?” He pulls me against his chest, and I inhale deeply.

I shake my head. “Physically, I’m fine. Mentally…I’m thinking about my father. Even if this was my real wedding day, knowing what I know now about