Page 39 of Son of a Witch

“Uhh.” Tor’s brow kicked up and he had a stare down with Knoxe, trying to rattle him and get a sign to win.

Knoxe twisted his face, side on. “Your game won’t work on me, baby.” He twerked his ass, and we all laughed. God, what a one-eighty from the strict, disciplined hardass I met.

“Mmm. Let me spank that.” Tor bit his lip, and Knoxe offered his behind for some action. However, Tor was too weak, in pain and his arms spasmed when he reached out. “Fuck.”

“Got you covered Superguy.” I cracked my hand down on Knoxe’s sexy taut ass three times for Tor.

“Take it easy, buddy.” Pascal gently pushed Tor back and fluffed up his pillows.

This time, Tor smiled and didn’t snap at him.

My soul felt a little lighter at our fun, even if Tor put on a brave face for us, maintaining his joker persona. The team would rally around him, protect him, and support him in any way he needed. Emotional support. Physical support. Financial support. Whatever he needed. He just had to be man enough to ask for it. Hard for a proud guy like Tor when he took the brunt of providing for his family for the last five years.

We kept playing more rounds until the doctor kicked us out. “Tor needs his rest, and his body needs to heal,” Dr. Carmichael said.

Tor tensed and my worry returned.

“Give us five minutes to say our goodbyes,” Knoxe negotiated, and the doctor nodded, standing in the doorway, waiting for us.

My three men hugged and clapped each other.

When it came to my turn, I leaned down to give Tor a goodbye kiss. “See you tomorrow?”

“Wouldn’t miss it, Supergal.” Tor’s fragile smile almost broke me.

He wanted me to stay. Wanted me by his side. Broken pieces of my heart crunched under the doctor’s boot as he herded us out into the corridor.

While Tor put on a brave face for my men, he didn’t feel it inside, and I left even more worried than when I came in.

CHAPTER14

Pascal

This would be a tough match.Astra was becoming a good competitor. Too good. Beat my ass about forty percent of the time now. A worthy opponent.

Smiling sweetly, she swiped my bishop and set it on the table. “One more move, White Lightning, and that’s checkmate.”

White Lightning.The nickname she’d given me after my powers had streaked a section of my brown hair white. My very own superhero name.

“Don’t get too cocky, songbird.” I collected her knight. “I’ve still got a couple of moves left. I’m not handing you your third win in a row.”

Chess was our nightly ritual to relax after a tough day. We hadn’t played in a few weeks, tension being high and all. Tonight seemed as good a night as any to dive back in. My girlfriend was on a winning streak.

She tapped the side of the board, staring up at me, her beautiful, pink lips cracked into a grin. “Are you letting me win?”

I didn’t know why she would think that. Discipline had been drilled into me at a young age by my colonel father. Throwing a match was not in my nature.

“No.” I scratched the back of my neck. “My mind’s been elsewhere.”

I really tried to take her advice to heart and stop blaming myself for Tor’s accident, but it was like the cycle was stuck on repeat.

“So has yours.” I reached out, taking her hand, biting back the slight burn from the contact. “Want to talk about it?”

Every day was getting easier to touch her, thanks to the thief avatar’s medicine dulling my senses. It had also been instrumental in quieting my mind and headaches and helping me interpret her body language better, when previously I’d struggled to read her. Or anyone, for that matter.

Astra ignored my comment, claiming a pawn and slamming it down proudly. “Checkmate.”

Normally, my competitive side would complain over the fourth loss in a row. Another loss to my manhood as Tor would say. But something was off with Astra. Unpleasant and incensed notes drowned out her natural melody.

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