Page 69 of Sacrifice the Knight (Checkmate 6)

“I won’t.” If anything, I speed up. My thighs burn, but the burn only adds to my pleasure. It’s a punishment of sorts, because I should have left her the fuck alone. But here we are; I’m in her bed, and now my heart bleeds for a whole new family. “Fuck.”

* * *

We’re on the clock,with only fifty-eight minutes until she’s due to clock in at work, I make my way to her kitchen while Katrina’s shower shuts off and her hair dryer flicks on. I’m fully dressed and prepared to toss myself out of her window if her front door opens and Mac comes in.

To avoid that awkwardness and save Katrina’s dignity, I’d be willing to jump to my death. But until then, I flip the coffee machine on and search the drawers for a pan to cook breakfast in. I toss a cast iron skillet on the stove, flick the gas on, then I make my way to the fridge and yank it open.

I shouldn’t make myself so comfortable, but for as long as that front door remains closed and Katrina’s hair dryer on, I can do whatever the fuck I want and pretend it’s totally cool.

I frown at the inside of the fridge. No bacon, but there are eggs, ham, and a pepper, so I yank those out and begin making an omelet. It’s better for her than greasy bacon anyway.

I glance across the counter when vibration catches my attention. I shouldn’t look, but my eyes invariably make their way to Katrina’s lit up screen and flashing name. The phone buzzes, buzzes, buzzes. “Katrina?” I call out and wipe my hand on a towel. “Babe?”

The dryer cuts out and drops the apartment into silence. “Did you call me?”

“Yep. Your phone is ringing, and Mac’s name is flashing.” I pick it up off the counter and walk down the hall. I stop at the bathroom door and grin when I find her stark fucking naked. “Didn’t think you’d wanna miss it.”

“Thanks.” The call has already rung out, so she takes a second to drop toothpaste onto her brush, then press her finger to her lips to shush me. Message received. I don’t exist as far as her kid is concerned.

I nod because I feel like she needs the confirmation I’ll behave, then I turn away and make my way back to the kitchen as she dials.

“Hey, babe.” Katrina’s voice carries through the tiny apartment. In fact, even Mac’s tinny voice makes its way toward me. “How was the lock in?”

I don’t hear his individual words as I finish whisking the omelet and pour the liquid into the already hot pan. It sizzles instantly, creating an aroma in the air my stomach almost jumps out of my body to get to.

“They what?” Katrina laughs. “Bobby and Jack? Really? Who won?” Silence as she listens to her kid tell his story. “No way? I swear, those guys are so stupid. Why are boys so stupid, baby?”

When he answers with something quick and witty, she laughs and makes her way into the kitchen in jeans and her work top. She was dressing and talking on the phone, and neither me or Mac could hear the difference in her voice.

“Don’t grow up to be a big dummy, baby. Be smart. Don’t smack your head against a brick wall just because someone told you it was manly.”

Katrina pauses when she catches sight of me in her kitchen, then her eyes drop to the pan in astonishment. My gut twists when I wonder why she’s so dumbfounded, only to reach the conclusion that nobody ever cooks for her. She already told me that before:she does her own laundry; she cooks her own food. She doesn’t want to get herself off if she doesn’t have to.“Uh-huh,” she murmurs. “Yeah.” She shakes her head as though to clear the fog. Moving toward the fridge, she pulls out an almost-empty bottle of juice and pours it into a single glass. The liquid stops just a quarter of an inch from the lip of the glass, then she tosses the empty bottle into the recycling bin and places the juice in front of me.

I frown, then shake my head. There’s only enough for one; there’s no chance in hell I’m taking it.

Katrina continues to listen to Mac tell his story, but her eye roll is for me. She picks up the glass, takes a sip, lifts a brow, then sets it back in front of me.

We’re going to share.

“I’m glad you had fun, baby. And I didn’t get a visit from the police, so that’s a good sign,” she snickers. I can’t make out Mac’s individual words, but I swear, I hear his eye roll. “You… huh?” She stops halfway across the room and lifts her shoulders. “Really? Tonight?”

I swear I try to mind my own business. I try not to listen into this one-sided conversation, but she’s right there, and I’m pretty sure I went and fell in love like a total fuckin’ douchebag. So despite the fact I tell myself to stop listening, my ears won’t do as ordered.

Katrina’s shoulders remain high, tempting me to hold her close and try to take some of that stress away, and when she turns back to me, her brows almost touch with how severe her frown is. “Are you sure? Oz and Lindsi said it’s okay?” She pauses again while she listens. “I mean… sure.” Her voice breaks. She puts on this brave front for her son, but her voice fucking breaks right in front of me.

“It’s okay with me as long as it’s okay with them… Uh-huh… What am I doing right now?” Her eyes come back to mine. “Making breakfast, then I’m going to work…” She pauses to listen. Nods. “I will. Call me later if you want or come into the diner so I can feed you. I’m gonna miss your face today.” Her smile is wobbly and breaks my heart. “Okay. I’ll see you when you come in. Don’t forget me, okay?” She brings a hand up to nervously fuss with her hair. “Okay. I love you, baby. See you later.”

As soon as she hangs up, I ask. I shouldn’t, because she already laid out the rules which clearly included minding my own damn business when it comes to her son. But I can’t not care. “Is everything okay?” I flip the heat off the stove and move cooked omelet to the side. “You look sad.”

She stares at her dark phone for a whole minute before gathering herself and meeting my eyes. “Everything’s okay. He had fun, and he even made ten bucks on a fight overnight.”

My lips twitch. “Who fought?”

“Bobby Kincaid and Jack Reilly.” She shrugs. “He made a bet with Lucy Kincaid. She lost; he won. Now he’s bragging all over the place like he’s rolling in the Benjamins.” She forces a laugh, but the eyes that meet mine border on heartbreak. “He wants to sleep at Benny’s tonight.”

“Is that a bad thing?” I step around the counter and pull her into my arms. She rests her face on my chest and wraps her arms around my hips. “Are you worried they’ll get into trouble?”

“No.” She clears her throat. “He’d be staying at a cop’s house. I mean, it’s kinda best case scenario for me. But still…”

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