Page 12 of Ozzie

Even though John should be transferred to the jail tomorrow, I really don’t want to leave Piper alone. Hopefully, Reed will understand. I can run into the office quickly and grab a laptop so I can write up my latest report here.

I set my alarm and drift off to sleep.

The next morning, I wake long before Piper, so I head to the kitchen to start a pot of coffee before I grab a shower.

The sound of crutches coming down the hall tells me I didn’t plan this well. Piper comes into the kitchen to find me standing in my underwear. Her eyes widen as they slowly move down my body and back up. Her lips curl up.

“I could tell you were muscular under your shirt, but Ozzie, wow.” She comes closer, and the heat in her eyes turns me on, but in boxer briefs, that will become obvious fast, so I grab a towel from the counter and hold it in front of me.

She arches a brow. “No need to hide. I want to see.”

And it’s at that moment, her cousin, Durango, walks in the front door. From where he stands, he can see me almost naked and his cousin standing too close. He storms toward us.

I hold up my hands, forgetting why I was holding them lower. “It’s not what you think!”

Durango’s eyes spot my now half-hard-on. His murderous gaze lands on me. “I’m going to kill you!”

“Durango!” Piper yells. “Nothing happened!”

“It sure as hell looks like it was about to!” He lunges for me, but I duck back out of the way.

I get on the other side of the island, but that doesn’t stop him. He chases me, and I run out the door.

Once I realize my mistake, I turn back, but Durango is there and he slams the door shut before I can get back in. Then the dead bolt engages. He locked me out.

I bang on the door. “Durango! Come on, man. You can’t leave me out here in only underwear.” Seriously, my keys and wallet are in his bedroom.

He clearly needs time to calm down, so I plop down on the steps outside the door, hoping it’s not too much time.

Inside, there’s shouting. Mostly Piper.

Two women jog by and stare as I sit there, trying to look casual. The street grows more crowded as more people wake up. But I sit there for what seems like thirty minutes. Finally, Piper stops yelling, and I can only hope someone will bring me my pants.

“Told you this wouldn’t go well,” Axel says as he walks up.

Great. The last thing I need are witnesses to my humiliation. “What brings you by?”

He grins. “Piper texted and said Durango was not being understanding. Figured I’d stop him before he kills you.” He nods to my bare chest. “You two official now?”

I sigh. “Nothing happened! She slept in her room, and I slept in Durango’s.”

Axel scrunches his face in disgust. “You slept in Durango’s bed?”

I shrug. “It was better than the couch.”

Axel chews his lip. “You serious about nothing happening?”

“Yes. I went to the kitchen to make some coffee before taking a shower. Piper must have heard me because she came into the kitchen. Durango walked in on it all and drew conclusions.”

The door opens, and Piper stands there. She spots Axel. “Thanks for coming. Ozzie, you can come in and get dressed.”

“Maybe you could bring my things here.”

Axel slaps me on the back. “Her neighbors have had enough of a show. Come on. I’ll go first.”

He steps into the house. I follow. Durango is sitting at the kitchen table, glaring.

“She swears nothing happened, but I need to hear it from you.” His eyes bore into me.

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