Page 68 of Rise of the King (Checkmate 5)

She strokes my jaw and holds me as I lean into it. “Or maybe his girlfriend just told a fart joke. Even the most hardened thug can’t resist a fart joke from a cute girl.”

My heart yearns for her to be right. I never for a moment considered he was better off with me dead. I never felt redundant or unloved. But I’ve been gone for months… maybe he’s over me. Maybe he’s moved on, and my return isn’t welcome.

“I was a junkie, Soph. I was a burden to him.”

“Stop.” Packing her laptop into her bag, she unbuckles her seatbelt and leans into my space. “You’re having a moment again. You just saw your brother for the first time this year, so I’ll allow it, but then you need to pull your shit together. I need you to help me inside, then you have to find the badass killing machine inside you again, because that dude doesn’t suffer from doubt.”

“I miss my brother, Soph. I miss him so much it makes me sick.”

“And I miss my sister.” Her eyes blaze. “The difference is, Kane is right there. He’s right across the street; he’s unharmed, and he’s hugging the person he loves. That should make you happy. We have work to do, so stop beating yourself up over non-existent shit, and pull yourself together.”

Turning away, she pushes the car door open and slides out with her laptop bag in hand. She lets out a hiss of pain and reminds me her feet are sore. Sighing, I rub a hand over my face and breathe. One second, then two. That’s all I get for my moment, then I push out of the car and sweep Soph up as she tries to hobble past. I swing her into the cradle of my arms and drop a soft kiss to her lips when she throws her arms around my neck.

“This place furnished?”

“Yeah, it’s all done up. We just have to get food. Tomorrow, I’ll run out and buy groceries and clothes. You’re supposed to be in the afterworld, so you can’t come. You have to stay in.”

“You can’t possibly think I’m gonna let you drive out of here tomorrow and leave my sight. Not a fucking chance.”

Scoffing, she hits the light switch as we move through the internal garage door and enter a pristine kitchen of white tile and stainless steel appliances. “You’re six and a half feet of tattooed muscle with a scar on your forehead and death in your eyes. You look so much like your brother, people thought you were the same person at one point. You’re supposed to be dead, Jay. How the hell do you expect to walk Main Street without bringing bombs down on us?”

“I’ll wear a beanie and coat. Nobody will know it’s me.”

“And if Kane walks out of the store at the same time as we walk in?” She lifts a brow as I set her on the counter and step between her legs. “You’re willing to blow it all because you didn’t trust me to buy the right chips and salsa?”

“No, you’re not playing fair.”

“No,you’rebeing a baby.” Sitting taller, she pushes a hand through my short hair and smiles. Pressing a kiss just to the left of my scar, she sighs and bathes my face with warm breath. “This is healing up really well. I wasn’t sure you’d pull through.”

“There’ll always be a soft spot. You could push your thumb in there and feel my brains.”

“Gross.” She pushes me away and giggles when I clutch her hips. “Don’t let anybody touch your head, okay? It’s like you’re a baby again, with a soft skull. It’s important you don’t give away your weakness.”

“Maybe I should insert a silver plate into my beanies,” I ponder. “They didn’t put anything into my skull. They said it wasn’t needed.”

“I’ll start knitting tomorrow.” She pulls me in and presses another kiss to my forehead. “Let’s order delivery, eat till our bellies want to explode, then I have a surprise for you.”

“You gonna dance for me?” My eyes light up as I lean back. “I love surprises.”

Snickering, she digs a hand into her laptop bag. “I’m not dancing for you. My feet are killing me, but I got you something else. Here.” Pulling out a set of binoculars, she sets them in my palm and smiles. “They’re not yours, but they’re the same kind. You can go sit by the front window and peep into Kane’s house. He might’ve left the curtains open or something.”

“You’re the best, Sugar Plum.” Turning, I walk away and bring the Diamondbacks up to my eyes.

“Food first!” she snaps. “I’m starving.”

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