Page 1 of Playing With Piper

Prologue

Blade

Six Years Ago

Piper always looks the prettiest when she thinks nobody is watching her. She’s more carefree. More real. Right now, she’s twirling around in the rain. She’s got her arm outstretched, beckoning me to come closer–to dance with her. I’ll do whatever she asks of me, so it’s no surprise when I’m grasping her hand in mine and pulling her close.

“I’m not a dancer, Piper,” I warn her with a soft smile. Piper grins before shrugging.

“But you’re a lover, so you’ll try anyway,” she tells me happily, throwing her head back as she laughs. The rain falls harder, drenching the both of us. Theneon lights of the movie theater sign shining behind us are nothing compared to how radiant Piper is.

“I’d be a goddamn acrobat if you asked,” I joke, unable to contain the smile tugging at my lips. I don’t think Piper knows the extent of my devotion to her because even though I’m laughing, it’s still true. She can have my heart as it beats in my chest if she just asks for it.

“Jumping through hoops for me already?” Piper teases. I pull her close, leaning down to whisper in her ear.

“Without missing a fucking beat, baby,” I tell her lowly. Piper pulls away. Her smile is contagious when she looks at me. I pull her back into me, so I can kiss her. My lips brush against hers when my body jerks. Pain shoots through my side, making me hiss. Piper’s brows furrow, and I think she’s saying something. I stare at her lips, trying to focus, but the ringing in my ear is deafening. For the first time since meeting Piper, I can’t focus on her, and I fucking hate it. I gnaw on my lip, clenching my eyes shut as I try to regain my composure.

“What did you say, baby?” I ask her, words slurring together as I stumble into her.

“Oh, God. Blade,” Piper gasps, pressing her hand against my stomach while the other lands on my shoulder. It’s only then that I finally look down and locate the source of my pain. Blood seeps into the front of my white t-shirt. I glance up at Piper, and she’s gottears forming in her eyes. Her hand is covering her mouth, but she quickly screams for help. I don’t need help. I just need Piper to keep holding on to me.

My entire body is on fucking fire, but as I’m staring at Piper, I realize that I wouldn’t mind dying with my eyes on her. If she’s the last thing I ever get to see, then I’ll make sure to tell the angels about her. Maybe, the universe could model the next heaven after Piper. People wouldn’t be so scared of dying if they had her to look forward to seeing.

My vision blurs, and time seems to slow down. Somehow, I end up flat on the wet pavement. My eyes are so heavy, but Piper looks so sad. How am I supposed to close my eyes when my girl has tears forming in hers? I reach out to grab her hands, but they’re both pressing on my stomach. Her focus is divided between the flashing lights coming down the street and me, but mine is solely on her.

“You’re too pretty to cry, baby,” I tell her softly. She’s trying so hard to hide the distress in her eyes, so she smiles at me. I can still see through it though. The fear. The confusion. The hopelessness. I want to reach out and wipe away all the bad feelings, but the slightest movement towards her makes my fucking body ache. Piper swipes at the tears falling down her cheek because she’s trying to be strong. She’s trying to pretend like I’m not bleeding out on a slab of dirty concrete.

“The ambulance is almost here. It’s gonna be alright, Blade,” Piper chokes. I lift my hand to push the wet strands of hair away from her eyes. Piper leans into my hand while keeping her pressure even on my stomach.

“Gotta keep your eyes open, Blade. Wanna see those pretty eyes,” Piper hums gently. The sirens are getting louder when I finally pry my eyes back open.

“Just gotta rest for a second, baby. I promise I’ll dance with you again. Just tired,” I mumble, closing my eyes again. I can hear Piper sniffling before she mumbles something.

“Please. Don’t go, Blade,” she whimpers. I don’t get the chance to promise her that I’m right here with her before I finally close my eyes.

~~~~~~

Two weeks later, I’m glaring at the graying doctor. He has a weak smile on his face, and he’s doing everything in his power to piss me off. The incessant beeping of the monitor I’m hooked up to isn’t helping his case.

“Where is my fucking girlfriend?” I ask for the hundredth time since I’d woken up. The doctor sighs, but I’m too irritated to give a shit. I just want Piper.

“Mr. Everett, I’m sorry. The only visitor you’ve had was your brother,” the old man says. He’s holding a clipboard like it makes him important. Paired with thewhite lab coat he’s wearing, I could almost believe that he’s a credible source. He’s not, though, because Piper Hayeswouldn’tabandon me like this. It isn’t in her nature to run away fromme.

I groan, dropping my head back to rest on the dingy hospital bed. Confusion passes through me as I look at the doctor again.

“What did you say?” I ask him. He looks at me in annoyance. Last time I checked, I’m the one recovering from a gunshot wound to the fucking stomach, and my girlfriend has vanished. If anyone gets to be pissed, it’s me.

“Which part, Mr. Everett?” I inhale sharply at the boredom in his tone. I’m about two seconds away from puttinghimin the sterile bed a few feet away from my own.

“About my brother,”I hiss lowly, clenching my teeth. The doctor sighs before nodding.

“He’s been the only one to show up, and he only stayed for a few minutes. Long enough to make sure you were alive, I presume,” Doctor Dumbass answers. I close my eyes, rubbing the bridge of my nose. Another problem to add to the list. Granted, my brother would be at the bottom ofeverylist if it’s in order of importance.

“Take him off my list,” I snap. Dumbass doesn’t say anything else, but he clicks his pen and jots something down.

“And please, for the sake of my sanity and yours, find my fucking girlfriend and turn offthe goddamn beeping.”

Chapter One

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