Page 13 of Playing With Piper

“What?” I grumble to whoever is disrupting my sulking. Even if they’re unaware that I’m sulking, they shouldn’t be calling me anyways. It’s barely eight in the morning on a Saturday.

“Miss me already, baby” The voice on the other side of the phone teases. My heart sinks.

“You’re an ass,” I scold him.

“Mm, you keep saying that, but you still miss me,” Blade says. I can hear the smirk in his tone. I sigh.

“Where are you?” I ask him softly. I pace around my room as I wait for an answer I’m not sure I’ll get. I hear Blade’s own sigh, and it makes me feel even worse.

“Do you trust me?” Blade mumbles. I can hear the roar of an engine in the background.

“You better be driving towards me, Blade, because I swear if you’re gone again–” I start to threaten.

“Do you trust me?” Blade cuts me off.

“Damn it, Blade! Of course, I do!” I raise my voice. My throat aches with a locked sob, and I do my best to breathe through it.

“Piper, I need you to listen to me. You’re gonna pack a bag. Enough to last you for a while because I don’t know how long this is gonna take. I need you to get in your car and meet me. I’ll text you where, but I need you to hurry, Piper. Can you do that for me?” Blade rushes out. Thumping on his side causes me to furrow my brows as confusion settles inside me.

“What’s going on? Are you with someone?” I ask him skeptically.

“You trust me, Piper. That’s all that matters right now. I can explain later. Okay? Just–I need a few more hours. I’ll see you soon, baby,” Blade says quickly before ending the call. I stare at my phone in shock when a text flashes across my screen. The address is for a dingy hotel a few towns over. I purse my lips and do the only logical thing I can think of.

I start packing.

~~~~~~

Almost three hours later, I’m pulling into the parking lot of the Grim Nook Inn. Charming.

“What the hell are you dragging me into, Blade?” I mumble under my breath. My legs ache as I step out of the car. Blade failed to mention what room he was in, and unfortunately for me, there’s no signal here. To be honest, I’m not even sure there’speoplehere. Huffing, I walk to the main office.

A bell chimes overhead as I open the door. The lights are on, but there’s nobody home. The dirt and grime layer the floor so thickly that the tread of my shoes imprint on it. I grimace and continue to the desk. The dust layer matches the floor, and I opt to use my nail as I ring the bell sitting on the counter. A few seconds later, a grumbling clerk walks out. He gives me ago-to-helllook, but I smile tightly at him.

The worker looks about as clean as the lobby. His greasy blonde hair is slick against his forehead, and his clothes offer alovelystench that can only be described asrot.I clear my throat and any more judgmental thoughts from my head. I have no place to be rude.

“Hi, I’m supposed to be meeting someone here,” I say politely as I try not to breathe too much. The guy– Kurt, according to his scratched up name tag– continues to stare at me. He looks miserable. So, I stare back. Rule number one of girlhood: Never break eye contact with a grungy man. He’ll think he’s won,resulting in an overinflated ego. We sit in silence for entirely too long.

“4B. Upper level. Last room on the left. Better hurry. Looked like your boys were about to kill each other. I really hate the smell of bleach, so don’t let them,” Kurt says with a monotonous tone.

“Boys? No, I’m meetingoneguy here,” I shake my head in irritation. Either this guy is high, or he has a terrible memory. Based on the look of this place, I’d say both.

“Listen lady. Yourboysare the only guests that have checked in to this hotel in the last two weeks. I don’t give a shitwhoyou’re here to meet or how many. Quite frankly, I support the sluts and the whores. Just leave me alone!” Kurt groans irritably. I roll my eyes at him before spinning on my heel and following his directions.

I stand outside the room on the second floor praying that Blade is here. If he isn’t, I might be making a terrible decision. Wouldn’t be the first, but I’m not entirely fond of them.

Just as I raise my hand to knock, the door swings open. I squeal in shock, stumbling backwards a bit. A tattooed arm reaches out to stop me from falling, and I’m immediately met with Blade’s bright smile.

“Hi, baby,” he grins before pulling me into the room.

“Okay, Blade, I’m here, and the lobby guy is a bit of an ass, so start talking before I–Why the fuck isthere a dude tied up and blindfolded on the bed?” I nearly scream when I notice the man on the bed. My eyes are wide in shock as I glance between Blade and the man sitting calmly on the bed. He doesn’t struggle at all, and it’s entirely unsettling. He’s just… content with the situation?

“Blade, what the fuck is happening right now?” I say slowly. Blade looks at me. Then, the man. Back to me. He laughs. Hysterically.

I’m staring at Blade, who’s currently gasping for air between laughs, waiting for him to give meanyinkling of context. At this point, I’m not confident that Blade is in his right mind.

“Piper, you remember Owen, right?” Blade smiles as he gestures to the bed. I raise my eyebrows and purse my lips.

“No,” I shake my head, still staring.

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