Page 2 of Captured Pawn
“Hell, no, I don’t think so. Matty would be here right now if it weren’t for you and your damn family. Now, get the hell out of my way.”
Dammit, why did my voice have to quaver like that? I wasn’t strong enough to have it out with Nicholas Knight. Not yet. I needed to go home, lick my wounds for a few days, make a plan… I tried again to yank out of his grip, but it only made him move his hands down to squeeze my biceps harder.
The asshole was smug enough to wait until I had no choice but to look back up into his eyes. Even in my heels he was a good six inches taller than me. He’d ditched his usual jeans and black T-shirt for a fitted black suit and tie. He’d even trimmed his normally longer beard to a perfectly groomed scruff that still couldn’t hide his chiseled jaw. For a brief second, he didn’t look like the big bad wolf I knew him to be.
But the slice of grief I’d seen in those dark eyes before had been replaced with his trademark arrogance. Its return made it easier for me to push down my tears and embrace my earlier fury. I flailed, putting all my built-up anger into the fight until he released me. I would have fallen backwards had he not caught me, which only made me angrier.
When he took a step closer, my pent-up despair boiled over and for the first time since Matty and I were kids and he’d been picking on me, I hauled off and slapped that sexy scruff right off the jaw of one Nicholas Knight. My palm connected perfectly with his left cheek with enough force that his head snapped to his right.
When he returned his focus to me, I felt a small measure of victory at the shock in those damn brown eyes. I’d surprised him. I suspected that didn’t happen often. That his cheek was visibly pink lifted my spirits more than I thought possible considering we were still only a few yards from my brother’s casket.
“Be careful, little girl,” he warned. “I know you’re hurting. It’s the only reason I’ll let that one go, but be warned. I won’t be as understanding should you try something like that again.”
I knew he spoke the truth. Nick Knight was not the kind of man that let anyone, especially a woman, intimidate him. He was the one who did all of the intimidating, and that included with my now dead brother. And that, right there, was the problem. He’d used Matty to do his dirty work and look where it had gotten him.
“You have some nerve. Showing up here, acting like I don’t know that it was his side work for you and your family that killed my brother.”
I expected him to deny it, so when he didn’t, I suddenly had no clue what to say next. I was saved from coming up with words when Tricia called out to me from her car several yards behind Nick.
“Let go of me. I’m leaving,” I inform him.
“Yes, you are, but you’re coming with me.”
I let a bark of laughter answer his absurd suggestion as I yanked free of him. I was surprised when he let me detour around him as I headed toward Tricia’s car. In my peripheral view, I sensed him falling into line beside me, easily keeping up with my steps.
Only when I tried to turn toward the stone driveway where a line of cars were parked did he pull me to a stop once again, yanking me around to face him.
“You’re delusional. Why would I ever go anywhere with you?”
He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he glanced toward the line of three waiting SUVs.
“You’ll go with me because Matt asked me to take care of you.”
My laughter was mirthless. “Now I know you’re lying. Matty knows how much I hate you.”
If he was upset by me telling him the truth, he hid it well. “Regardless, he asked. I agreed. So, let’s go.”
His hand was back on my bicep, pulling me into motion just as a bulky guy that looked like a dangerous criminal spilled out of the front SUV and started waving our way.
We were still several yards away when the guy shouted, “Jimmy texted that they’re here! Three vehicles just came through the front gate of the cemetery. We’re out of time.”
One minute I stood grounded in my fury, and the next I found myself thrown over the shoulder of my enemy as if I were a sack of flour. Those hard muscles I’d felt when I’d run into him easily subdued my struggling to be free. And as if the feel of him under me wasn’t jarring enough, he dared place one of his hands directly on my ass to help steady me. The zing of electricity I felt through my skirt only made me madder at myself.
Even in my precarious position, I heard screeching tires and what sounded like an engine backfiring in the distance.
Nick broke out into an all-out run with me bouncing up and down on his shoulder as he yelled to Tricia, “Get in your car and leave! She’ll be safe with me!”
Well, Mr. Knight. I may be safe with you, but you can bet your ass you aren’t safe with me. I can’t wait to make you pay for putting my brother in danger.
CHAPTER2
Nick
I didn’t exactly expect her to welcome me with open arms, but I’d be damned if the snooty bitch wasn’t pounding on my back with her fists. She must have had a death wish.
I could hear the fucking Bishop goons gunning it through the winding path of the cemetery. The irony wasn’t lost on me that the first act I had taken to fulfill my promise to Matt to keep his sister safe was actually putting her in harm’s way. I’d bet my new Harley the assholes were here because they knew I’d be here to pay my respects to my oldest and most loyal friend.
It probably would have been safer to attend the funeral, but I’d skipped the church service. Men like me weren’t exactly welcome on holy ground anyway.
