Page 33 of Tarnished Hands

“I’d remove your hands before I do it for you,” I growl.

Piper’s eyes fling open at my words, and her hips stop gyrating. Those devil eyes of hers find mine.

“No, you fuck off. We’re having fun. Aren’t we, sweetheart,” the asshole says.

I reach for her, grab her by the waist, and pull her into me. Her body comes easily, and her hands rest on my chest as the guy’s hands fall to his sides.

“We’re leaving.”

“Like fuck you are,” the guy says. And when I look back at him, I see a gun pointing at my face. Piper just smirks. I move her to my side, and her hands stay on my chest.

“You don’t want to do that,” I warn.

“No?” he says, smiling. “I think I do.” I watch as he moves his finger to the safety, and before he can even get it there, I disarm him and now have the gun in my hand, pointing at his head. “You piece of shit, I’ll kill you for this.” I aim lower and shoot him in the foot. He screams, and I drop the gun. Then I pick Piper up and walk out with her, passing Lucas on the way.

“I’ll clean up your mess, but it will cost you.”

I say nothing. Just give Lucas a simple nod.

When we get to my car, I set her down and open the passenger door.

“I—” She turns and vomits all over the sidewalk. I grab her ponytail to keep it out of the way, and when she’s finished, she wipes her mouth with the back of her hand.

“You good now?”

Piper nods, and I grab a bottle of water from the back seat and hand it to her. She rinses her mouth with it before she climbs into the car. I lean in and buckle her up, catching a whiff—she smells of that man, alcohol, and vomit.

“Why did you come?” she asks, her eyes glassy.

“Drink the water,” I tell her, handing it back to her.

She takes it but eyes me. “You have the prettiest eyes,” she whispers. I look at her then and wonder how I can walk away from her.

“Yours or mine?” I ask.

“Yours,” she says and then turns in the seat. I watch as she brings her legs up and tucks her knees to her chest, her heels barely hanging on her toes. I take the water from her as she closes her eyes.

Then I close the door and walk around to my side.

And by the time I slide into the driver’s seat, she’s softly snoring.

Chapter Nineteen

PIPER

I don’t know where I am.

I know it’s not my bed. My bed isn’t this comfortable. It’s definitely not soft, warm and inviting. So much so, I want to burrow under the covers and stay here forever. Regardless, I’m way too afraid to open my eyes in case I’m at some stranger’s place, and I have no memory of his name.

Where is my knife? I slap a hand on my leg only to find my pants are missing.

Shit! I slept with someone. Someone who wasn’t Ezra.

Fingers squeeze mine. The touch is familiar, but my mind is too groggy to recognize who it is.

“Your knife is beside you.” My eyes spring open at the raspy voice to find Ezra half asleep next to me, holding my hand. “Were you contemplating stabbing me with it?”

“I…” I’m so confused. Why am I here? And how did I get here? Sitting up, I see I still have on my top, and reaching between my legs, I find my underwear is still in position.

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