Page 71 of Pawn's in the Bishop's Game (Checkmate 1)

“Stand up,” Abel hisses. Even over the girl’s sobbing, the hissed message comes across clearly as every man in this room straightens their spines. Blood flows from the back ofLisa’shead and the girl’s hands shake to the same staccato as mine, but I can’t help.

I can’t step out of formation, or I’ll have a bullet in my brain and I’ll never see Jess again.

I’m choosing Jess.

Lisa’s already dead. She’ll never know a moment past tonight. Fortunately for her, she also won’t know the degradation and pain of being raped in this club.

“Girl!” Flynn’s gun hand slides to the right. “I said stand!”

Caught in her grief, sobbing against her sister’s bleeding face, she shakes her head and transfers some of the blood onto her cheek. “No, no, no, no. Please wake up, Lis. We didn’t mean it. We have to go home.”

“Flynn.”

“No.”Shit. Fuck!Jess’ eyes flash through my mind as I grab the crying girl and yank her up. She slams against my side, sobbing, weak legged, but so fucking strong willed, I’m sort of proud of her. “Tell him your name. Right now.”

“Nora.” She swipes a hand over her face, smudging her makeup as her chest struggles for breath. “My name is Nora.”

“How old are you, Nora?”

Her chin wobbles when our eyes meet. With six and a half feet of tattoos and a ticking jaw towering over her, not to mention her dead sister’s blood setting beneath our shoes, I’m surprised she can even speak.

“Sixt…” She hiccups. “I’m sixteen.”

Fuck me.

“Are you pure, Nora?” Abel snickers. “Will Kane take your virginity tonight?”

“Yes, sir.” She hugs her body tight and stares into my eyes. “Please don’t make me do this. We didn’t mean to come out tonight, we were just being crazy. It was just a silly dare.”

And just like Jess, this girl will learn the consequences of going out when she shouldn’t.

Laughing, Abel turns to the perfect lines of cocaine and takes out a hundred-dollar bill from his money clip. Rolling it, he looks over his shoulder. “You’re welcome, Bishop. I know you asked for two, but at least you get to keep the virgin. See what you get when you’re loyal? You get purity. Jay, you pick.”

Every man in this room steps around the dead girl like she’s invisible, and with barely a twitch of his jaw,of courseJay picks the blonde with tits.

It’s irrational that I get pissed at him for choosing the Jess lookalike, but she’s keen, and there’s not a damn thing I can do about it without alerting Abel to my weakness.

When offered the rolled cash, Jay steps to the mirror. He was shaking just minutes ago – defeated, scared, itchy. But like a pro, he leans over, inhales the line, and turns to me with a grin.

“It’s good?” Abel’s grin matches Jay’s. “What do you think? Will we accept the new supplier?”

“It’s fuckin’ good.” He sniffs and brings a hand up to wipe below his nose. “I know why they call it Peppermint. It’s like a fuckin’ sugar high, but better.”

Accepting the rolled bill back, Abel takes a small baggie of coke and places it in Jay’s hand. “All yours,amigo. You work hard, so tonight, you get to party. This is what loyalty and hard work buy you.” He points to the dead girl. “Defiance gets you a bullet in the brain. Never forget who owns you motherfuckers.”

With her hand in Jay’s, the blonde steps closer to the mirror and eyes the next line. Silently raising a demure hand, she asks, “May I?”

Abel offers the cash, but stops halfway. “This is a hundred percent pure, uncut cocaine. If you keel over and die in my club, my men will fuck your corpse until you come back and apologize for dying in my club.”

Nora collapses into my side and howls. Abel’s only reaction is a twitch of his lips as if to say herwhiningis annoying him.

“I won’t.” Batting her lashes and pushing her tits out, the bottle blonde takes the rolled cash and leans over the mirror. “I promise I won’t die.” She runs the tube over the second line and squeaks when she reaches the end. Giggling, she throws her head back and drops the rolled note to the table. “Mmm. It’s good.”

Despite the fact she’s supposed to be Jay’sdate, Abel runs a gentle hand over her jaw. “You like it?”

“Mmhmm.” She bites her lip and steps closer. “Your product has always been the best.”

“That pleases me to hear, young lady.” He takes her hand and tugs her into his chest. “Jay, pick another – I’m keeping this one. Bishop, you’re up.”

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