Page 25 of Burning Bridges

I had hoped they would be too busy with our long list of problems to care. I narrow my eyes at him, letting him know this is not a joke. “I want to know what she's up to.” I stand, taking another drag of my cigarette, needing to move. I feel out of control, my limbs restless, and that’s not good for anyone. Maybe I should have joined them in the gym this morning, worked this tension off.

He cocks a brow, not caring about my mood. “I thought you had her under control.” He smirks. It must be nice to be Kobe, laughing his way through life, not having to carry all the responsibility of our family on his shoulders.

“I do. That’s why I know she’s up to something. It’s the only reason I met with her last night.” That and after all these years, I gave into my baser needs and had to have her, but my brothers don’t need to know that part.

“Maybe she just has a thing for grumpy pricks with control issues,” he jokes.

I throw him a look. “Find Jett. I want him to install a tracking device on her car and phone. I want to know who she’s talking to and her whereabouts at all times. Get eyes or surveillance on the house as well. Something is going on.”

“Sure you’re not just turning into a loved-up stalker? You’re starting to sound a little obsessive when it comes to her, and you’re reminding me of someone.” He clicks his fingers. "Yeah, it’s that guy fromYou.You know, the serial killer who stalks chicks he’s in love with.”

“I wouldn’t know, I haven’t seen it. But this is more about making sure the crazy chick killer doesn’t fuck us over before we have a chance to work out why she’s suddenly so interested in me.”

“You're just uneasy because girls normally run the other way when they see you coming. Piper's not like other girls. She knows what she wants and goes after it. She’s also not scared of you, must be disarming.”

“She should be. She uses the vixen act to get what she wants, but it’s all just that, an act. She’s trying to play me so she can get close to us. I’m positive of it. Something happened after her mom’s funeral when she showed up with that car and a bag full of cash. Someone is suddenly financing her, and I would say that’s why, instead of running in the opposite direction like she should have when I let her off the hook with her loan, she’s hanging around and looking for trouble. And I have it on good authority that the Kings are trying to contact her.”

He finally looks convinced. “What would they want with her?”

“That’s what we need to work out. Tell Jett to check out the video I sent him. It’s one of them dropping off a message for her.” I hand him the envelope with the images Axel passed on to me last night.

He looks them over, pulling a face. “Gator's dead.”

“Appears so.” He wasn’t prettybeforewhoever killed him hacked him up.

“All right, I’ll do some digging, see what I can find, and I’ll get Jett to sort out the tail and tracking. And this.” He pushes his chair back, collecting his glass. “You should really check out that show, though, see how crazy you’re starting to look,” he says before leaving me. This time I don’t think he was joking. My own brother thinks I’m losing my mind. He won’t when I prove how right I am about her, and I will, because I am always right.

After a shower to wash Piper off me so I can get my head on straight, I’m on my way to the club when I decide to take a detour past her salon. I pull into an empty spot directly across the road from her salon window. I’m not hiding in dark corners anymore. I’m quite happy for her to know I’m watching her. And any other fucker who thinks they can mess with her can be warned as well; if they mess with her, they will have me to contend with.

She’s at the front counter talking with a client, wearing a high-neck top with a tight short skirt, back in her usual black, complete with leather heeled boots. She looks sexy as hell, but that’s her thing. She wants men to look, but I know she rarely lets them touch, and that’s why her behavior with me is so out of character for her. Her hair is in a high ponytail, and I get a vision of my hand wrapped around it as I pull her closer to me, her sucking my cock, pretty eyes filled with desire and need. And now that I know what that look is like on her, I can’t unsee it. It makes me want her again, even though I know I shouldn’t.

She glances across the road, catching sight of me, and scowls a filthy look in my direction. It’s what I expected after the way I left her. I knew our next interaction would be a hostile one. And maybe that’s why I need to stop in here this morning. I’m looking forward to it, pushing her a little more. She finishes up with her client and stalks across the road, the look on her face murderous. I open my window so we can have a fun chat.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing, Rivera?” she spits, fury radiating off her like a raging storm.

“Just sitting in my car minding my own business.” I smirk. “Lovely day for a car ride, don’t you think?”

“You’re not. You’re here watching me like a fucking stalker. Haven’t you heard of boundaries? After the way you left me last night, I thought you must have got what you wanted and that would be it. No more creepy shit. But for some reason, you still turn up here to pester me some more.”

I light up a cigarette, blowing the smoke out the window in her direction. “Now come on, Princess, you can’t go acting all hurt today. I wasn’t the one with an ulterior motive.” I grin like the crazy fucker I apparently am, letting her know she’s not hiding anything from me.

“I’m not hurt. Just pissed at myself for being so vapid to ever agree to sleep with you in the first place,” she lashes out with a venom that’s harsh even for her. I must have really done a number on her, leaving her last night. Even while I was walking away, I knew it was the wrong thing to do, but I kept walking anyway, knowing staying would have been worse for us both.

“So, you wouldn’t do it again?” I challenge her. I don’t even know what I’m doing right now, but with her here in front of me, I know I’m not done with her, and maybe I’m curious to see just how far she is willing to go for her cause. Whatever that might be. I know it’s a dangerous game, but I’ve never been one to shy away from a little danger.

“I…” She looks me over, assessing me, and I know she is choosing her next words very carefully. “You said it was just a one-time thing.” Her hand settles on her hip, and I can tell she is considering her options.

“Maybe I have decided I’m not done with you yet,” I say, almost cringing at my own words. I sound like Kobe when he's chasing after some girl.

“Who says that’s your choice to make. After the way you treated me last night, I think I’m done with you.” She crosses her arms over her chest and glares daggers at me. If looks could kill, I’d be dead right now. Lucky they can’t.

I meet her angry eyes with my own gaze, challenging her. “Are you, though?”

Her anger softens a little. She feels this too, the undeniable pull we have toward each other. It’s the same now as the first time I locked eyes with her when I was hiding under the bleachers back when the two of us were at school. She takes the cigarette out of my hand and puts it in her mouth, having a long draw as she studies me. Then she drops it on the ground and stubs it out with her boot. “If we're doing this again, it’s on my terms this time,” she says, trying to sound confident.

“What would your terms be?” I grin, playing along. I’m having way more fun that I should be right now, but I can’t stop myself.

I can see her mind working overtime to figure out what she wants. Me propositioning her was the last thing she expected today. In truth, it was the last thing I expected when I got in my car this morning as well. But here I am, unable to drive away until I have secured another night with her. “I want a meal together, then I want to come back to your place for the night.” Her lips turn up at the side, like she can’t help the smirk from escaping. She gives herself away too easily.

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